[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 21239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08489]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9909-62-ORD; EPA-HQ--ORD-2014-0288]
Notice of Availability of the Framework for Human Health Risk
Assessment To Inform Decision Making
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the
release of the Framework for Human Health Risk Assessment to Inform
Decision Making. This document was developed by the EPA's Risk
Assessment Forum and describes a Framework for conducting human health
risk assessments that are responsive to the needs of Agency decision
making. The document was developed to provide information to Agency
staff and managers, external stakeholders, and the public.
DATES: The document will be available for use by EPA risk assessors and
other interested parties on April 15, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The Risk Assessment Forum Framework for Human Health Risk
Assessment to Inform Decision Making is available electronically
through the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/raf/frameworkhhra.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Fitzpatrick, Office of the
Science Advisor, Mail Code 8105-R, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 564-4212; fax number: (202) 564-2070, Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has an established history of conducting
human health risk assessments to support its decision making. The
Framework describes a process for conducting human health risk
assessments that is responsive to EPA's decision-making needs. The
Framework facilitates implementation of existing and future EPA
guidance for conducting human health risk assessments and improves the
utility of risk assessment in the decision-making process. The risk
assessment design and utility recommendations presented in the National
Research Council's report, Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk
Assessment, are addressed throughout the Framework. Specifically, the
Framework incorporates the recommendations that the EPA formalize and
implement planning and scoping, and problem formulation in the risk
assessment process as well as adopt a framework for informing
decisions.
The Framework highlights the important roles of planning and
scoping as well as problem formulation in designing a risk assessment
that will serve a specific purpose. In accordance with longstanding EPA
policy, it also emphasizes the importance of scientific review and
public involvement. The Framework presents the concept of ``fit for
purpose'' to address to the development of risk assessments and
associated products that are suitable and useful for informing
decisions. EPA expects that this Framework will enhance the agency's
emphasis on the importance of transparency of the human health risk
assessment and decision making.
This document is not intended to supersede existing agency
guidance; rather by citing and discussing existing guidance in the
context of the Framework it is intended to foster increased
implementation of agency guidance.
Dated: April 8, 2014.
Glenn Paulson,
Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-08489 Filed 4-14-14; 8:45 am]
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