Swackhamer to lead EPA panel on regulations

(Sept. 17, 2008 ) — Deborah Swackhamer, an internationally recognized expert on toxic chemicals in freshwater lakes and rivers from the University of Minnesota, has been appointed as chair of the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Stephen Johnson, administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced today.

Swackhamer, professor of environmental health sciences and co-director of the Water Resources Center at theUniversity of Minnesota, brings extensive research and experience applying science to environmental protection to the position. Her research interests focus on chemical and biological processes affecting the behavior and fate of toxic organic contaminants such as PCBs, dioxins and pesticides in the aquatic environment, particularly bioaccumulation of persistent compounds in fish in the Great Lakes.

The SAB is an independently chartered Federal Advisory Committees composed of external scientists and engineers. The SAB’s principal mission includes reviewing the quality and relevance of the scientific and technical information being used or proposed as the basis for EPA regulations. Every year, EPA solicits nominations for members to serve on the SAB. The chair will serve a two-year term.

• More about the SAB