External peer review provides the main mechanism for independent evaluation and review of environmental models used by the Agency. For more general information on how EPA develops and evaluates models, see the EPA document Guidance on the Development, Evaluation, and Application of Environmental Models. The copy linked to includes some yellow highlighting of text used in this website for describing peer and verification reviews.

The purpose of peer review is two-fold:

1. To evaluate whether the assumptions, methods, and conclusions derived from environmental models are based on sound scientific principles.
2. To check the scientific appropriateness of a model for informing a specific regulatory decision. (The latter objective is particularly important for secondary applications of existing models.)

Peer review charge questions and corresponding records for peer reviewers those questions should be incorporated into the quality assurance project plan.

Mechanisms of external peer review include (but are not limited to):

• Using an ad hoc panel of scientists.
• Using an established external peer review mechanism such as the SAB.
• Holding a technical workshop.

When conducting an "independent external" scientific peer review of the PRG calculator model, EPA has used a peer review contractor to conduct the peer review process (e.g., select the peer reviewers, provide charge questions, summarize the peer review comments in a chart). EPA staff may provide comments on potential peer reviewers and charge questions. Later, EPA, with ORNL support, has developed responses to the peer review comments. See below material for the independent external scientific peer review of the PRG calculator.

EPA has also had more focused external "non-independent" external peer reviews on early drafts of the PRG calculator. EPA requested and received review by the Army Corps of Engineers Center for Excellence under an interagency agreement. See below material from these non-independent peer reviews

June 22, 2021 to September 20, 2021 (Independent Peer Review)

Matrix of Peer Review Comments with EPA Resolution
EPA PRG Calculator Review Complete Package, which includes:

• Peer Review Charge Questions
• Matrix of Peer Review Comments
• Dr. Christian Kunze (IAF Radionuclide Laboratory)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Joint Review)
  
  • Review
• Dr. Boby Abu-Eid
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Dr. Karen Pinkston
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Dr. Rodolfo Avila (AF Consult AB Sweden)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Dr. Stephane Pepin (FANC - Belgium)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Carl Spreng (Retired. Former USDOE, former Colorado DPHE)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Brooke Stagich (Savannah National Laboratory)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form

October 30, 2014 to January 15, 2015 (Independent Peer Review)

Matrix of Peer Review Comments with EPA Resolution
EPA PRG Calculator Review Complete Package, which includes:

• Peer Review Charge Questions
• Matrix of Peer Review Comments
• Thomas A. Schneider (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Joint Review)
  
  • Review
• Christepher A. McKenney
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Leah S. Parks
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Adam L. Schwartzman
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form
• Leo van Velzen (Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group)
  
  • Review
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest Form

May 5, 2021

Non-Independent Peer Review of EPA PRG Calculator draft revisions, which includes:

• Word document transmitted by email from:
  
  • Michael Filips (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

July 26, 2019

Non-Independent Peer Review of EPA PRG Calculator draft revisions, which includes:

• Email transmitting comments from:
  
  • David Hayes (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

August 24, 2016

Non-Independent Peer Review of EPA PRG Calculator draft revisions, which includes:

• Email transmitting comments from:
  
  • Julie Clements (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

July 29, 2004

Non-Independent Peer Review of EPA PRG Calculator User Guide, which includes:

• Email transmitting comments from:
  
  • Brian Hearty (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
  • Anita Meyer (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)