[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18099-18100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8740]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5187-1]
Colloquium on Ecological Risk Assessment Guideline Development
agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
action: Notice of meeting.
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summary: This notice announces a colloquium sponsored by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Forum to discuss
development of an Agency-wide guideline based on EPA's ecological risk
assessment framework. The Agency is especially interested in exploring
the experiences of individuals or organizations who have used the
framework for evaluating ecological risk.
dates: The colloquium will begin on Wednesday, May 3, 1995 at 8:00 a.m.
and end at 5:00 p.m. Members of the public may attend.
addresses: The meeting will be held at the Old Town Holiday Inn, 480
King Street, Alexandria, Virginia (Tel: 703/549-6080).
Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA contractor, is providing
logistical support for the colloquium. To attend the colloquium, call
Eastern Research Group at 617/674-7374. Space is limited.
for further information contact: Bill van der Schalie, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Risk Assessment Forum (8101), 401 M
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460, Tel: (202) 260-6743.
supplementary information: EPA is developing an Agency-wide guideline
for ecological risk assessment based on the process described in the
EPA report Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment (EPA/630R-92/001).
This colloquium will provide an opportunity for members of the public
to: (1) Be informed as to the purpose and proposed structure of the
guideline; (2) discuss their own experiences with the Agency's
framework for ecological risk assessment and (3) provide information
for Agency consideration in guideline development.
The ecological risk assessment guideline is being prepared by EPA's
Risk Assessment Forum, which includes senior scientists from the
Agency's program offices, regional offices, and laboratories.
Historically, the Forum is best known for developing Agency-wide human
health risk assessment guidelines, but since 1989,the Forum has been
working towards preparation of similar guidance for ecological risk
assessment. Based in part on consultations with EPA's Science Advisory
Board, the Forum approached ecological risk guidelines in a step-wise
fashion, beginning with the source materials listed below. (Copies of
these published documents may be obtained by calling EPA's Center for
Environmental Research Information (CERI) in Cincinnati, Ohio at (513)
569-7562 and referencing the EPA document numbers provided.)
Summary Report on Issues in Ecological Risk Assessment
(EPA/625/3-91/018). This report summarizes discussions between EPA
scientists and outside experts on issues relevant to guidelines
development based on a [[Page 18100]] series of colloquia that
inaugurated the Forum guidelines development effort.
Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment (EPA/630/R-92/
001). The peer-reviewed Framework Report describes basic concepts and
terminology for the ecological risk assessment process.
A Review of Ecological Case Studies from a Risk Assessment
Perspective (EPA/630/R-92/005) and A Review of Ecological Case Studies
from a Risk Assessment Perspective Volume 2 (EPA/630/R-94/003). These
reports contain 17 peer-reviewed case studies that explore the
relationship between the ecological risk assessment process described
in the Framework Report and several types of ecological assessment.
Ecological Risk Assessment Issue Papers (EPA/630/R-94/009)
and Peer Review Workshop Report on Ecological Risk Assessment Issue
Papers (EPA/630/R-94/008). Some issue paper topics correspond directly
to sections of EPA's ecological risk assessment framework (conceptual
model development, characterization of exposure, effects
characterization, and risk integration methods), while others focus on
cross-cutting issues (ecological significance, biological stressors,
ecological recovery, uncertainty, and ascertaining public values in
ecological risk assessment). The issue papers were revised based on
comments received at an August, 1994 peer review workshop. The
scientific background information in the papers will help provide a
bridge between the basic concepts described in the Framework Report and
the more substantial ecological risk assessment guidelines.
Work on the first ecological risk guideline, based on an expansion
of the ecological risk framework, was recently initiated. As with
previously published human health risk guidelines, the new ecological
risk assessment guideline is intended to improve the quality of EPA's
risk assessments, promote Agency-wide consistency; and inform the
scientific community and the public. Guidelines are not rules for those
outside of the Agency; they are intended primarily for use by EPA and
contractors doing work for the Agency. While guidelines address major
issues of concern, they do not provide detailed ``how tos'' or contain
extensive background material for novice readers. Finally, guidelines
are not program-specific; it is left to individual programs within EPA
(e.g., Superfund, pesticides) to adapt the Agency-wide guidelines to
their own needs.
Dated: March 27, 1995.
Robert J. Huggett,
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 95-8740 Filed 4-7-95; 8:45 am]
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