Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0288-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Framework for Human Health Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making; Availability
Posted Date: 2014-04-15T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 21239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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: 
fitzpatrick.julie@epa.gov.

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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