Recent Additions for 2015

EPA is announcing a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the draft document titled, "External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides-Health Criteria." The original FR notice, published on Nov. 24, 2015, provided a 60-day public comment period. During the comment period EPA received a request to extend this comment period for an additional 30-days, extending the comment period until Feb. 24, 2016. [Federal Register Notice: Dec 24, 2015]

EPA is announcing the availability of the final report, "Issue Paper on Physiological and Behavioral Changes in Pregnant and Lactating Women and Available Exposure Factors." This issue paper provides a summary of information from the published literature related to behavioral and physiological changes during pregnancy and lactation that may affect women's exposure or susceptibility to environmental contaminants.

EPA is announcing a workshop on temporal exposure issues to be held in Research Triangle Park, NC on January 27-29, 2016. Meeting registration and expert nominations are now open. Nominations for experts to participate in the workshop and additional comments will be accepted until December 21, 2015.

EPA has posted a final agenda for its upcoming Advancing Systematic Review Workshop, to be held in Arlington, VA, on December 16-17, 2015. In-person registration closes December 11, 2015.

EPA is announcing the availability of the External Review Draft of the Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides- Health Criteria for public comment and independent peer review. [Federal Register Notice Nov 24, 2015]

EPA will be making a presentation about the IRIS Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic during the public session of the NRC meeting on December 2, 2015. In preparation of this event, EPA has posted the background materials it submitted to the National Research Council for the December 2-3, 2015 meeting of the committee formed to peer review the draft IRIS assessment of inorganic arsenic.

EPA's Office of Land Management and Emergency Management (OLEM) announced the availability of updated Regional Screening Level (RSL) tables. The New Tables were generated to reflect changes in the toxicity and chemical-specific parameters as per the RSL hierarchies.

EPA announced a workshop on Advancing Systematic Review for Chemical Risk Assessment in Arlington, VA on December 16-17, 2015. Meeting registration and expert nominations are now open. Nominations for experts to participate in the workshop and additional topics will be accepted until November 5, 2015.

EPA announces the availability of the draft document, "Stormwater Management in Response to Climate Change Impacts: Lessons from the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes Regions", for a 30-day public review and comment period. This report supports the goal to provide insights gleaned from workshops and assessments that EPA and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) held with local planners on ways to further the adoption of climate change adaptation practices in stormwater management. Documentation from the workshops formed the basis for assessing common challenges and opportunities across the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes regions. [Federal Register Notice October 7, 2015]

The agenda for the September 2-3, 2015 workshop on Epigenetics and Cumulative Risk Assessment has been posted. Registration for in-person attendance remains open until August 26. In preparation for the workshop, an introductory webinar on epigenetics, "Epigenetics 101", will be held on August 24 from 3:00pm - 4:30pm. Registration for the workshop and the introductory webinar are available under the registration button.

EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) is hosting a workshop on Epigenetics and Cumulative Risk Assessment in Arlington, VA on September 2-3, 2015. The purpose of the workshop is to examine the state-of-the-science with respect to the role of the environment in inducing epigenetic changes in the regulation of gene expression. The workshop will emphasize exposure to both chemical and non-chemical stressors and differential susceptibility to the development of common non-communicable diseases.

EPA announced a teleconference workshop to evaluate preliminary draft materials that will inform the development of the NOx and SOx Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for ecological effects. The workshop was held by teleconference from August 25-27, 2015. The workshop was open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served basis and participation was by teleconference only. [Federal Register Notice Aug 12, 2015]

EPA announced a workshop on Epigenetics and Cumulative Risk Assessment to be held in Arlington, VA on September 2-3, 2015. The purpose of the workshop was to examine the state-of-the-science with respect to the role of the environment in inducing epigenetic changes in the regulation of gene expression. The workshop will emphasize exposure to both chemical and non-chemical stressors and differential susceptibility to the development of common non-communicable diseases.

EPA is announcing the availability of the draft report, Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (External Review Draft) for public review and comment. This draft assessment provides a review and synthesis of available information concerning the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water resources in the U.S. [Press Release Jun 4, 2015] [SAB Federal Register Notice Jun 4, 2015]

EPA announces the availability of the document, IRIS Progress Report and Report to Congress. This report, responsive to language in the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act and submitted to Congress on February 6, 2015, provides Congress, stakeholders, and the public with an update on the implementation of recommendations from the National Research Council (NRC) on the IRIS process.

EPA is announcing upcoming science workshops to discuss and evaluate topics in risk assessment that are designed to engage the broader scientific community, interested stakeholders, and the public. These workshops will not only inform ongoing work within NCEA, but also enhance our understanding of current scientific challenges that may be addressed through new research. Four workshops are currently planned in 2015-2016.

EPA has posted scoping and problem formulation materials and key scientific topics specific to the IRIS assessment for PCBs (effects other than cancer), for the June 17-18 IRIS public science meeting. Meeting registration is now open.

EPA announced an extension of the public comment period until April 30, 2015 as announced in a March 20, 2015 Federal Register Notice.

EPA has announced the availability of preliminary discussion topics specific to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for the upcoming June IRIS public science meeting that will be hosted in Arlington, Virginia on June 17-18, 2015.

EPA has announced two schedule adjustments for the remaining 2015 IRIS bimonthly meetings first the April 29-30, 2015 meeting is cancelled; and secondly, the bimonthly meeting originally scheduled for September 2-3, 2015 will be moved to August 26-27, 2015. The next bimonthly meeting is scheduled for June 17-18,2015 and materials to be posted in the near future.

EPA posted the agenda for the February 2015 IRIS Bimonthly Public Meeting on BBP, DIBP, and DBP. The deadlines for registration and comments are posted on the February 25-26, 2015 IRIS Bimonthly Public Meeting.

EPA is announcing the availability of the Second External Review Draft of the Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen - Health Criteria for public comment and independent peer review as announced in a January 30, 2015 Federal Register Notice.

EPA announces the availability of the final report "Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence" in a January 15, 2015 Federal Register Notice.

EPA announces the availability of the final report "Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence" in a January 15, 2015 Federal Register Notice. The purpose of this report is to summarize the current understanding about the connectivity and mechanisms by which streams and wetlands affect the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of downstream waters. In addition, EPA's Response to Peer Review Comments document was also posted.