EPA is initiating a peer review of draft scientific modeling approaches to inform EPA’s evaluation of potential health-based benchmarks for lead in drinking water. The agency is seeking nominations of peer reviewers, providing draft charge questions and including a report related to draft scientific modeling approaches. The focus of the peer review will be on gathering expert scientific input on the use of draft modeling approaches for developing health-based benchmarks for lead in drinking water. The report will discuss modeling approaches, propose input parameters, and review various exposure scenarios for the peer reviewers to consider.

Model values presented in the draft report are included to better illustrate the draft approaches for the peer reviewers. EPA will not be asking the peer reviewers to select a specific value or to provide input on the specific role for a health-based value in proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).  EPA will consider the specific role for a health-based value in the proposed revisions to the LCR after the peer review of the modeling effort has been completed. EPA expects to propose revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule in 2017.

• Pre-Publication Federal Register Notice: Request for Nominations for Peer Reviewers and for Public Comment on Peer Review Materials to Inform the Derivation of a Water Concentration Value for Lead in Drinking Water (PDF)(8 pp, 235 K)
• Draft Charge Questions: Lead in Drinking Water Modeling External Peer Review (PDF)(3 pp, 179 K)
• Report: Proposed Modeling Approaches for a Health Based Benchmark for Lead in Drinking Water (PDF)(82 pp, 2 MB)