Secretaries' Science Advisory Board

About the Board

In August 2017, Governor Roy Cooper expanded the scope of the Science Advisory Board on Toxic Air Pollutants. Under the board's new charter, the scope of its work has expanded to a broader focus on the impact of new and emerging chemicals. The board will help the state departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services by examining new and emerging chemicals and providing guidance on how to manage the compounds to better protect public health and the environment. The new charter increases the membership of the board from eight to 16 members. All members of the board are appointed by the DEQ and DHHS secretaries. Members come from academic institutions and the public and private sectors.  

Among its duties, the board will help DEQ and DHHS by reviewing and evaluating contaminants released to the environment; acting as consultants on DEQ’s determinations to regulate releases of contaminants; and assisting the agencies in identifying contaminants of emerging concern and helping determine whether the contaminants should be studied further. Experts on the panel will also help evaluate the human health impacts of exposure to hazardous contaminants and give input to DHHS as the agency establishes health goals for emerging contaminants.

Tom Augspurger, Ph.D., a supervisory fish and wildlife biologist/environmental contaminants specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Raleigh, and an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences Toxicology Program at N.C. State University, assumed the role of chair effective Nov. 27, 2018. Dr. Augspurger will continue his work with the federal agency and NCSU while serving in a private capacity as board chairman. The board provides technical assistance and advice on ways North Carolina can better address issues related to chemicals in the environment, including hexavalent chromium and new and emerging contaminants such as GenX.

Science Advisory Board Members

Science Advisory Board Charter

Future Meeting Schedule

*Dates subject to change

The Board may schedule Special Topic meetings as needed in 2024.