finds failed to conform in a significant respect with
applicable risk characterization guidance.
(3) RESPONSE TO REPORT.—Within 12 months
of receiving a report pursuant to paragraph (2), the
Administrator shall prepare and issue revised ver-
sions of any risk characterization that the independ-
ent body identified as failing to conform in a signifi-
cant respect with applicable risk characterization
guidance. Such revised risk characterizations shall
conform to the applicable risk characterization guid-
ance or include an explanation of why the Adminis-
trator considers such conformance to be inappropri-
ate.
SEC. 5. STUDY OF COMPARATIVE RISK ANALYSIS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—As part of the Program, the Direc-
tor shall conduct, or provide for the conduct of, a study
using comparative risk analysis to rank dissimilar environ-
mental risks and to provide a common basis for evaluating
strategies for reducing or preventing those risks. The goal
of the study shall be to develop and rigorously test methods
of comparative risk analysis. The Director shall consult
with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy regarding the scope of the study. Not later than 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Admin-
istrator, in collaboration with other appropriate Federal
agencies, shall enter into a contract with the National Re-
search Council to provide technical guidance on approaches
to using comparative risk analysis and other considerations
in setting environmental priorities.
(b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—The study shall have sufficient
scope and breadth to evaluate comparative risk analysis
and to test approaches for improving comparative risk
analysis and its use in setting priorities for environmental
risk reduction. The study shall compare and evaluate a
range of diverse environmental risks, both as to risks to and
within an environmental medium and risks across environ-
mental media.
(c) STUDY PARTICIPANTS.—In conducting the study,
the Director shall provide for the participation of a range
of individuals with varying backgrounds and expertise, both
technical and nontechnical, comprising broad representa-
tion of the public and private sectors.
(d) DURATION.—The study shall begin within 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act and termi-
nate within 2 years after the date on which it began.
(e) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING COMPARATIVE
RISK ANALYSIS AND ITS USE.—Not later than 90 days
after the termination of the study, the Director shall submit
to the Administrator a report that evaluates the results of
the study and that has been subject to scientific peer review.
Not later than 30 days after receiving the report from the
Director, the Administrator shall forward a final report to
the Congress with the results of the scientific peer review
and recommendations regarding the use of comparative risk
analysis and ways to improve the use of comparative risk
analysis for decisionmaking in the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency.
(f) SAVINGS.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to prohibit or discourage the performance after the
date of the enactment of this Act of any comparative risk
analysis.
SEC. 6. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.
To promote the conduct, application, and practice of
risk assessment in a consistent manner under Federal law
and with respect to different environmental media, and to
identify risk assessment data and research needs common
to more than one Federal agency, the Director of the Office
of Science and Technology Policy, acting through the Na-
tional Science Technology Council, shall—
(1) periodically survey the manner in which
each Federal agency involved in risk assessment is
conducting such risk assessment to determine the
scope and adequacy of risk assessment practices in
use by the Federal Government;
(2) provide advice and recommendations to the
President and the Congress based on the surveys con-
ducted and determinations made under paragraph
(1);
(3) establish appropriate interagency mecha-
nisms to promote coordination among Federal agen-
cies conducting risk assessment with respect to the
conduct, application, and practice of risk assessment
and to promote the use of state-of-the-art risk assess-
ment practices throughout the Federal Government;
(4) disseminate to all relevant Federal agencies
the results of the study referred to in section 5 and
any activity of the National Research Council that is
complementary to the study and, as appropriate, co-
ordinate the implementation of such results by all
such agencies;
(5) establish appropriate mechanisms between
Federal and State agencies to communicate state-of-
the-art risk assessment practices; and
(6) periodically convene meetings with State gov-
ernment representatives and Federal and other leaders
to assess the effectiveness of Federal-State cooperation
in the development and application of risk assess-
ment.
SEC. 7. SAVINGS PROVISION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify any
requirement or standard provided for in another provision
of law that provides for risk assessment or is designed to
protect health, safety, or the environment. Nothing in this
Act shall be construed to require the conduct of a risk assess-
ment or a risk characterization by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency that is not required by law.
SEC. 8. RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH PRIORITIES.
(a) IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITY RISK ASSESSMENT
RESEARCH ISSUES.—
(1) REPORT.—Within six months after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall
submit to the Congress a report that identifies at least
10 environmental research issues—
(A) correlating to the environmental haz-
ards which the Administrator estimates to be in
the category of highest risk;
(B) regarding which there are, as deter-
mined by the Administrator, significant sci-
entific uncertainties with respect to the assess-
ment of such environmental risks; and
(C) with respect to which such uncertainties
could be significantly reduced through research.