UC TSR&TP Public Advisory Committee
Fall 2000 Meeting
Air
Resource Board Building, Sacramento
Friday, October 27, 2000
MINUTES
Present:
Jim Stratton, Chair, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Marc Aarens, UCOP
Steve Book, Dept. of Health Services
Arthur Fong, IBM Environmental Programs
Greg Frantz (for Syed Ali), State Water Resources
Control Board
Kean Goh, Dept. of Pesticide Regulation
Bruce Jennings, CA Assembly Env. Safety & Toxic
Materials Committee
Bruce LaBelle (for Jim Allen), Dept. of Toxic Substances
Control
Charles Lapin, Lapin & Associates
Jerry Last, Director, TSR&TP
Cathie Magowan, UCOP
Andrew Standeven, Amgen Inc.
Lisa Stevenson, Program Manager, TSR&TP
Jeffery Theiss, Pfizer Global Research & Development
Mika Pringle Tolson, Public Relations & Grants
Coordinator, TSR&TP
William Vance, CA Environmental Protection Agency
Winona Victery, US Environmental Protection Agency
Mandisa
Zeigler-Frye, Program Coordinator, TSR&TP
Not Present:
Syed Ali, CA Water Resources Control Board
Richard Clark, TOSCO
Mark DeSaulnier, Supervisor, Contra Costa County
Robert Gundel, Chiron Corporation
Jim Hunt, Associate Director, TSR&TP
Jody Sparks, Toxics Assessment Group
Bob Spies, Applied Marine Services
Leslie Stewart, League of Women Voters
Kip Wiley, CA Senate Office of Research
Arthur
Winer, Associate Director, TSR&TP
Jim Stratton brought the meeting to order at 10:10am.
He asked everyone to introduce themselves and share their background for the
new members, then gave a brief overview of the program. Minutes from the spring
2000 meeting were reviewed for final approval. Jim Stratton moved to approve
the minutes, Kean Goh seconded. All were in favor, none opposed.
Stratton proceeded to anticipatory research by soliciting the committee’s
comments and suggestions for the current list of research needs on the
TSR&TP website. Stratton mentioned chrome VI as an topic of much recent
public concern. Stratton shared his desire for TSR&TP research to be policy
relevant. He commented that interactions between genes and the environment are
also very important; he was pleased to see research projects in this area presented
at the last TSR&TP Annual Symposium. Charles Lapin suggested children's
health and whether developing juveniles are more susceptible to toxics than
older children as an important research area. Winona Victery recommended expanded
research on the cumulative effects of chemicals and how to do risk assessments
of chemical interactions. Arthur Fong said that the high tech industry is very
concerned with the Precautionary Principle, taking action to minimize risk up
front, even in the absence of solid evidence. Jerry Last explained the purpose
of the committee’s suggestions for research needs, which are posted
on the web as a mechanism to encourage investigators to consider these issues.
Stratton mentioned that OEHHA held a workshop on emerging environmental challenges
in June 2000 that addressed science and policy. Proceedings are posted on their
website http://www.oehha.ca.gov.
The next topic discussed was how UC can better assist with state, public interest,
and private industry needs. Kean Goh stressed the need for a UC component to
communicate the risk of such agriculture interface problems as the glassy-winged
sharpshooter. In response, Marc Aarens noted UC has an Agricultural Extension
Agent in every county and perhaps they can help communicate with the public.
Stratton solicited other comments to which Lapin suggested a more structured
arena of interaction for faculty and researchers to get involved. Andrew Standeven
expressed the need for college graduates with good oral and written communication
skills. Jeffery Theiss added his experience at University of Texas which had
a cooperative program with the petrochemical industry that was beneficial to
both parties. He suggested the UC system consider a similar approach.
Last gave the report from the Director’s Office. He discussed the favorable
outcome of the 15-year Review of the TSR&TP program. Feedback from the report
included enhancing the role of the Executive Committee in program governance
and creating a structured strategic plan in writing. A sub-group of the Executive
Committee met and composed the Strategic Plan, which included a request for
increased funding to address social science, nanotechnology, and other upcoming
research areas. The Executive Committee is scheduled to discuss the plan during
their Fall meeting in November 2000 and copies are available for review. Last
said the outcome of this process will produce a stronger Executive Committee
with a more active chairperson and the inclusion of a vice chair. Standard criteria
for succession to the chair position and the directorship have also been established
along with the plan to increase interaction between the Executive and Advisory
Committees by cross meeting. Cathie Magowan made a brief presentation on UCOP's
perspective of the review. She said the reviewers were particularly impressed
by TSR&TP's Centers of Excellence (lead campuses). She explained the review
process which entails UC committees making recommendations based upon the reviewers'
comments. Then Vice Provost Robert Shelton will act on the recommendations.
Magowan relayed Shelton’s request that all Multicampus Research Unit (MRU)
advisory committee members serve 3 year renewable terms. Letters will be sent
to each member detailing their term. Stratton requested that UCOP send thank
you letters to non-active members. Magowan responded that she would work on
that. Magowan said that Shelton's office will also be developing a generic charge
for advisory committees, and she will personalize the charge for each MRU.
Last invited the committee to the 14th Annual Symposium which will be held at
Granlibakken in Lake Tahoe on April 20-21, 2001. Lisa Stevenson announced the
reorganization of the Director’s Office, which included the departure of
Paul Davis, Mika Pringle Tolson transitioning from coordinator to webmaster,
and Mandisa Zeigler-Frye as the new Program Coordinator. The committee broke for
lunch at 12:12 p.m.
The committee reconvened at 12:45 p.m. Stratton introduced Howard Day from the
Department of Geology at UC Davis to give a presentation on naturally-occurring
serpentine asbestos. Day described the various mineral forms of serpentine asbestos
and their different health effects on humans. Last followed with a presentation
on the risk analysis and toxicology of asbestos. He said the risk from asbestos
seems to come from breathing it, rather than ingesting it. Last concluded that
the absolute risk of developing cancer from asbestos is small compared to smoking
and other things that one can control.
The committee was undecided on the location of the next meeting, however the
new Cal EPA building was suggested. Last commented that attendance at meetings
held in Sacramento tend to be higher than other locations.
Future agenda items suggested included a presentation on nanotechnology and
getting a speaker to articulate the program’s new directions.
The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
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