About the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC)
The EPA Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) provides advice, information, and recommendations to EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) on technical and management issues of its research programs.
The BOSC was established as a discretionary federal advisory committee on May 28, 1996, and operates in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2. Because the BOSC is a Federal Advisory Committee, it must comply with FACA and related regulations. Consequently, the Board has an approved charter, which must be renewed biennially, announces its meetings in the Federal Register, opens its meetings to the public, and provides opportunities for public comment on issues before the Board.
EPA established the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) to provide advice, information, and recommendations about the Office of Research and Development (ORD) research program. The mission of the BOSC is to:
- Evaluate science and engineering research, programs and plans, laboratories, and research-management practices of ORD and recommend actions to improve their quality and/or strengthen their relevance to EPA's mission.
- Evaluate and provide advice concerning the utilization of peer review within ORD to sustain and enhance the quality of science in EPA.
- Review ORD's program development and progress, ORD's research planning process, and research program balance, including implementation of the ORD Strategic Plan.
- Provide peer review including evaluation of ORD's peer review policies, and review ORD offices, national laboratories and centers, and research plans and products.
- Provide advice on human resources planning, such as scientist career development and rotational assignment programs, and the appropriate scope and design of training programs for environmental research professionals.
The BOSC is comprised of an Executive Committee, which includes approximately 20 members, and is supported, by subcommittees and workgroups for any purpose consistent with the BOSC's charter. Such subcommittees or workgroups may not work independently of the chartered Executive Committee, and must report their recommendations and advice to the BOSC for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees and workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the BOSC, nor can they report directly to ORD.
Members of the BOSC Executive Committee, subcommittees, and workgroups represent a distinguished body of scientists and engineers who are recognized experts in their respective fields. These individuals are drawn from institutions such as academia, industry/business, federal, state and local governments, non-governmental and environmental organizations, research laboratories, and other relevant entities.
All BOSC members are special government employees and must not have a conflict of interest, or have an appearance of not being able to provide impartial advice. All members must comply with annual ethics reporting and training requirements. Full Membership List
Meeting Minutes
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2015
- Meeting Summary - January 13, 2015 (PDF)(9 pp, 51 K)
2014
- Meeting Summary - July 24-25, 2014 (PDF) (20 pp, 157 K)
- Conference Call Summary - July 17, 2014 (PDF) (6 pp, 38 K)
- Conference Call Summary - July 10, 2014 (PDF) (7 pp, 47 K)
- Conference Call Summary - July 3, 2014 (PDF) (6 pp, 38 K)
- Conference Call Summary - July 3, 2014 (PDF) (7 pp, 44 K)
- Conference Call Summary - July 1, 2014 (PDF) (6 pp, 42 K)
- Conference Call Summary - June 25, 2014 (PDF) (6 pp, 41 K)
2012
2011
2010
- Meeting Summary - October 18-19, 2010
- Conference Call Summary - August 25, 2010
- Meeting Summary - July 12-13, 2010
- Conference Call Summary - April 1, 2010
- Meeting Summary - February 4-5, 2010