Oregon DEQ: Air Quality Air Toxics Science Advisory committee ATSAC

In accordance with air quality rules, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Air Quality Division, has formed an Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee (ATSAC).

The purpose of ATSAC is to provide DEQ, and in its jurisdiction, the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, with advice on the state air toxics program that is scientifically and technically sound, independent, balanced, useful and timely. ATSAC will address technical issues, not policy issues; risk assessment and engineering issues, not risk management decisions; the adequacy of the scientific foundation on which a DEQ position (e.g., ambient benchmark values) is based, not the position itself. ATSAC is intended solely as a technical advisory body, not as a committee designed to reflect stakeholder views. As such, ATSAC is charged with the following responsibilities:

Reviewing ambient benchmarks for the state air toxics program
Providing advice on development of a risk assessment methodology for the Safety Net Program per OAR 340-246-0190 (5) and (6)
Evaluating potential sources identified by DEQ to determine whether they qualify for the Safety Net Program, as specified in OAR 340-246-0190 through -0230
Evaluating overall progress in reducing emissions of, and exposure to, air toxics by considering trends in emissions and ambient concentrations of air toxics
Periodically advising DEQ on air toxics program effectiveness
Making technical recommendations for program development with respect to: (a) adverse environmental effects of air toxics and (b) risk from exposure to multiple air toxics
Providing, as requested by DEQ, advisory opinions on questions requiring scientific expertise.

Per OAR 340-246-0070(2), the ATSAC must have at least 5, but no more than 7, members with relevant air toxics experience in the following six disciplines: (1) Toxicology; (2) Environmental science or engineering; (3) Risk assessment; (4) Epidemiology and biostatistics; (5) Public health medicine (physician); and (6) Air pollution modeling, monitoring, meteorology or engineering. One member could have more than one field of expertise (e.g., toxicology and risk assessment) or more than one member could be in the same general field, but possess different specialties (e.g., air pollution engineering and air pollution modeling). ATSAC members will serve a three-year term, as volunteers without compensation. Initial terms are staggered for continuity and transfer of work so that members of the first ATSAC may serve more or less than three years.

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