United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-09-18 monographic deposited born digital 36 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-1168T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T P0b002ee18038a95b f:d081168t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T GAO-08-1168T Chemical agents Chemical exposure Chemical regulation Chemical research Chemicals Data integrity Health hazards Information disclosure Information infrastructure Information management Interagency relations Policy evaluation Program evaluation Public health Regulatory agencies Reporting requirements Risk assessment Risk management Assessments Transparency EPA Integrated Risk Information System Testimony A84291 The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) contains EPA's scientific position on the potential human health effects of exposure to more than 540 chemicals. Toxicity assessments in the IRIS database constitute the first two critical steps of the risk assessment process, which in turn, provides the foundation for risk management decisions. Thus, IRIS is a critical component of EPA's capacity to support scientifically sound environmental decisions, policies, and regulations. This testimony discusses (1) highlights of GAO's March 2008 report, Chemical Assessments: Low Productivity and New Interagency Review Process Limit the Usefulness and Credibility of EPA's Integrated Risk Information System; (2) key aspects of EPA's revised IRIS assessment process, released on April 10, 2008; and (3) progress EPA has made in completing assessments in fiscal year 2008. For the March 2008 report, GAO reviewed and analyzed EPA data and interviewed officials at relevant agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). For this testimony, GAO supplemented the prior audit work with a review of EPA's revised IRIS assessment process announced on April 10, 2008. We also updated our information on EPA's assessment productivity through September 12, 2008. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T.pdf GAO-08-1168T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-1168T Testimony GAO-08-1168T; EPA Science: New Assessment Process Further Limits the Credibility and Timeliness of EPA's Assessments of Toxic Chemicals; Chemical agents Chemical exposure Chemical regulation Chemical research Chemicals Data integrity Health hazards Information disclosure Information infrastructure Information management Interagency relations Policy evaluation Program evaluation Public health Regulatory agencies Reporting requirements Risk assessment Risk management Assessments Transparency EPA Integrated Risk Information System