[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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