[Federal Register: June 2, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 32088]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn06-74]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8178-2]
Release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Third
Edition of the Peer Review Handbook
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to
providing quality environmental information to its partners and the
public. This commitment is integral to its mission to protect human
health and the environment. High quality information enables
stakeholders to effectively participate in managing human health and
environmental risks. Peer Review, the evaluation of a product by
experts in that field, is a critical tool used to ensure that only
high-quality, sound science is released. Peer Review has a long and
exemplary history at the EPA. In response to recommendations in the
1993 SAB report Safeguarding the Future: Credible Science, Credible
Decisions, EPA issued an Agency-wide policy for peer review. In 1994
EPA reaffirmed the central role of peer review and instituted an
Agency-wide implementation program. In 1998, a Peer Review Handbook was
created as a single, centralized form of implementation guidance for
Agency staff and managers. An updated Peer Review Policy was signed by
the Administrator on January 31, 2006. A third edition of the Peer
Review Handbook is now being released. It incorporates insights gained
from implementing the program over the last decade as well as the
provisions of the OMB Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer
Review (PRB). The OMB PRB contains provisions for the conduct of peer
review at all federal agencies in order to enhance transparency and
accountability. The OMB Bulletin applies to ``influential scientific
information'' and ``highly influential scientific assessments.'' Peer
Review brings independent expert experience and judgment to Agency
issues and plays a large part in ensuring that EPA's decisions rest on
sound, credible science and data.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Go to http://www.epa.gov/ PeerReview
or contact Barbara Klieforth, (202.564.6787) Science Policy Council
Staff, Office of the Science Advisor, U.S. EPA.
Dated: May 24, 2006.
George Gray,
EPA Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. E6-8612 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
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