With this framework, my comments are unbiased by members of either the Technical Committee or the Public Advisory Committee, and I wish to share some with you now”.

Representation on the Technical Committee:

The Technical Committee appears to be sufficient in number so as to be effective at making decisions while allowing a thorough discussion of any issue prior to moving forward.

Open and Transparent Process:

From the start, the Technical Committee has made it a policy that the process of establishing committees, developing a study Request for Proposal, and conducting the study will be an open and transparent process for all concerned.

Safeguards have been put in place:

A Public Advisory Committee has been formed that provides input to the Technical Committee on decisions made or about to be taken.

An Independent Process Observer has been appointed. (This permits me to comment independently of the Technical Committee.)

A series of public 'open houses' have been planned (dates not yet determined) to keep everyone informed about the studies and eventually, their outcomes. (N.B. A series of public sessions were held in September, 2001, with the first on September 11th. However, the events of that day overshadowed all else.)

The Independent Process Observer is required to issue quarterly reports on the status of the assessments, and comment on decisions made by the Technical Committee and the Public Advisory Committee.

Professional Development:

A Technical Committee workshop was held on March 11, 2002, with an observer from the PAC and myself in attendance. It was excellent, and helped committee members focus on what will be determined by the study as well as what the public should expect to see at the conclusion.

Peer-Review of Documents:

The Committees recognize that all documents should be peer-reviewed to ensure scientific integrity, and I highly recommend a Peer Review Committee be quickly established. Unfortunately, the consultant Request for Proposal (RFP) and hiring of a qualified firm might be completed before a 'peer group' can comment. However, the Technical Committee has assured me the terms of reference for the consultant will be flexible enough to accommodate changes of this nature.

Request for Proposal:

The Technical Committee will use its RFP to obtain a consultant in a completely open, fair, and public process. This is considered more important than a possible slight delay in the study timetable. The RFP will be posted on a public system, such as MERX, which is where most public contracts/proposals are distributed for tender.

Public Advisory Committee Candidates:

Initially, the advisory committee was informed they would have quarterly meetings. But, the reality is that monthly meetings are needed for regular discussion if the PAC is to work closely with the Technical Committee. Two PAC members resigned because they could not meet this requirement. The Technical Committee must quickly find replacements and continue to clarify expectations from PAC members.

The Study Timetable:

If the Technical Committee is too cautious on how to proceed, it may slow down the entire process. For example, some decisions and the development of the consultant RFP have taken longer than expected. However, the Technical Committee has demonstrated a genuine concern that the process be done correctly. As one member said, “It is imperative that this study be done right and done right the first time!”

Decisions Required in the Next Few Months:

Selection of qualified consulting firm to carry out the Human Health Risk Assessment and the Ecological Risk Assessment.

Establishment of a Peer Review Group. Start of the Human Health Risk Assessment and Ecological Risk Assessment studies.

In other, related matters, the Technical Committee has established a timetable to complete the study by 2004. They have created a neutral/non-voting Facilitator position to chair their meetings and ensure that all objectives are met through full participation. Finally, a process has been agreed to obtain a qualified consulting company to complete the risk assessments.