[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 10080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4470]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5159]


Ecological Risk Assessment Issue Paper Reports

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of two reports on 
ecological risk assessment. An EPA Risk Assessment Forum report 
entitled ``Ecological Risk Assessment Issue Papers'' (EPA/630/R-94/009) 
contains nine papers on topics relevant to ecological risk assessment 
as described in EPA's ``Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment'' 
(EPA/630/R-92/001). The issue papers were peer reviewed at a workshop 
in August 1994. Workshop comments are contained in the report ``Peer 
Review Workshop Report on Ecological Risk Assessment Issue Papers'' 
(EPA/630/R-94/008), along with identification of cross-cutting issues, 
future research needs, and suggestions for possible structures for a 
future EPA ecological risk assessment guideline. Both reports provide 
useful source materials of EPA's first Agency-wide ecological risk 
assessment guideline.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a single copy of either report, interested parties 
should contact the ORD Publications Office, CERI, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 
45268, Tel: (513) 569-7562, FACS: (513) 569-7566. Please provide your 
name and mailing address, and request the document by the title and EPA 
number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. William van der Schalie, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(8101), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20460, Telephone (202) 260-
6743.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The nine issue papers in the report 
``Ecological Risk Assessment Issue Papers'' (EPA/630/R-94/009) are part 
of a long-term effort to develop an Agency-wide ecological risk 
assessment guideline for EPA. Preliminary work on the guideline began 
in 1989 and has resulted in the publication of an ecological risk 
assessment Framework Report and two volumes of ecological assessment 
case studies. The issue papers, which were authored by experts outside 
of EPA, are the next step in the guideline development process. Many of 
the 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 other focus on cross-cutting issues 
(ecological significance, biological stressors, ecological recovery, 
uncertainty, and ascertaining public values in ecological risk 
assessment).
    The issue papers were peer reviewed at a workshop in August 1994. 
The report from this workshop, ``Peer Review Workshop Report on 
Ecological Risk Assessment Issue Papers'' (EPA/630/R-94/008), includes 
recommendations for revising the draft issue papers, identification of 
cross-cutting issues and future research needs, and suggestions for 
possible structures for a future EPA ecological risk assessment 
guideline. The issue papers were revised prior to publication based on 
workshop discussions.
    The issue paper set, along with the Framework Report, case studies, 
and other materials, provide scientific and technical information that 
will help bridge the gap between the preliminary Framework Report and 
the first Agency-wide ecological risk assessment guideline document now 
being written.

    Dated: January 24, 1995.
Joseph K. Alexander,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 95-4470 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
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