MN SF3686

Every new or revised water quality standard must be supported by a technical support document that has undergone external, scientific peer review, except when adopting unchanged EPA criteria that have already been peer reviewed.

The commissioner must release draft technical support documents for public comment before peer review and before finalizing the document.

The commissioner must provide public notice of external peer review through the rulemaking process request for comments, including identification of the draft document, proposed peer review charge, and availability of public comments to reviewers.

External peer review must evaluate whether technical support documents and proposed standards are based on sound scientific knowledge, methods, and practices, following EPA Peer Review Handbook guidance, with reviewers who did not participate in developing the scientific basis.

Panel review must be used when the agency develops significant new science or science that expands significantly beyond current documented scientific practices or principles.