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 RVISL 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 external scientific peer review of the RVISL calculator.

September 28, 2020 to November 1, 2020 (Independent Peer Review)

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

• Peer Review Charge Questions
• Matrix of Peer Review Comments
• Dr. Rodolfo Avila (AF Consult AB, Sweden)
  
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Certification Review
• Cynthia Barr (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)
  
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Certification Review
• Ryan Schierman (Formerly with: Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Uranium Recovery Program)
  
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Certification Review
• Carl Spreng (Retired: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
  
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Certification Review
• Matthew Williams (Michigan Department of Great Lakes, Energy and the Environment)
  
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Certification Review

April 1, 2020

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

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

December 4, 2019

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

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