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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 56202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22453]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2012-9727-3]

Notification of an External Peer Review Meeting for the Draft 
Framework for Human Health Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of an external peer review meeting.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Office of the Science Advisor announces that Versar, 
Inc., a contractor to the EPA, will convene an independent panel of 
experts to review the draft document, Framework for Human Health Risk 
Assessment to Inform Decision Making. Any member of the public may 
register to attend this peer review meeting as an observer. Time will 
be set aside for observers to give brief oral comments on the draft 
document at the meeting. The draft document is available via the 
internet on the Risk Assessment Forum web page (http://www.epa.gov/raf/frameworkhhra.htm).

DATES: The peer review panel meeting on the draft document, Framework 
for Human Health Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making will be held 
on October 9, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.
    Internet: The draft document can be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/raf/frameworkhhra.htm.
    Instructions: To attend the peer review meeting as an observer, 
register no later than October 2, 2012 by calling Kathy Coon at Versar, 
Inc., on (703) 750-3000 ext. 545 or toll free on (800) 283-7727; 
sending a facsimile to (703) 642-6809 (subject line: HHRA Framework 
Meeting; and include your name, title, affiliation, full address and 
contact information in the body of the facsimile), or sending an email 
to saundkat@versar.com (subject line: HHRA Framework Meeting; and 
include your name, title, affiliation, full address and contact 
information in the body of the email). Space is limited, and 
registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. 
There will be a limited time for comments from the public at the peer 
review meeting. Please inform Versar, Inc., in your registration 
request, if you wish to make oral comments during the meeting.

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: 
fitzpatrick.julie@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA has an established history of 
conducting human health risk assessments. The final Framework is 
intended to foster increased implementation of existing agency guidance 
for conducting human health risk assessments and improve the utility of 
risk assessment in the decision-making process.
    In developing the draft Framework, the relevant recommendations 
presented in the National Research Council's report Science and 
Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment have been taken into 
consideration. Specifically, the recommendations that the EPA formalize 
and implement planning, scoping and problem formulation early in the 
risk assessment process and that the agency adopt a framework for risk-
based decision-making are included in this Framework.
    The draft Framework highlights the important roles of planning and 
scoping as well as problem formulation in designing a human health risk 
assessment process. In accord with long-standing agency policy, it also 
emphasizes the importance of both scientific review and public 
involvement. The Framework presents the concept of ``fit for purpose'' 
to address the development of risk assessments and associated products 
that are for informing risk management decisions. The final Framework 
will also highlight the agency's emphasis on the importance of 
transparency in human health risk assessment and decision-making 
processes.
    This document is not intended to supersede existing agency 
guidance; instead, by citing and discussing existing guidance in the 
context of the proposed framework, it is intended to foster more 
effective implementation of that guidance.
    The EPA previously announced the release of the draft Framework for 
a 60 day comment period (77 FR 44613), which ends on September 28, 
2012. Public comments submitted during the public comment period may be 
viewed at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2012-0579. The EPA will forward all public comments to Versar, Inc., 
for distribution to the members of the review panel. The external 
review draft does not represent agency policy. As it finalizes the 
draft document, the EPA intends to consider the comments from the 
external peer review meeting, along with public comments received by 
September 28, 2012, in accordance with 77 FR 44613.

    Dated: September 6, 2012.
Glenn Paulson,
Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-22453 Filed 9-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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