National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED RISK ASSESSMENT BULLETIN FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

Committee to Review the OMB Risk Assessment Bulletin

Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology

Division on Earth and Life Studies

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This project was supported by Contract No. 68-C-03-081 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-10477-7

International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-10477-7

Additional copies of this report are available from

The National Academies Press

500 Fifth Street, NW Box 285 Washington, DC 20055 800-624-6242 202-334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area) http://www.nap.edu

Copyright 2007 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine


The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.


The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.


The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.


The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.


www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE OMB RISK ASSESSMENT BULLETIN

Members

JOHN F. AHEARNE (Chair),

Sigma Xi, Research Triangle Park, NC

GEORGE V. ALEXEEFF,

California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland

GREGORY B. BAECHER,

University of Maryland, College Park

A. JOHN BAILER,

Miami University, Oxford, OH

ROGER M. COOKE,

Resources for the Future, Washington, DC

CHARLES E. FEIGLEY,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

BARUCH FISCHHOFF,

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

CHARLES P. GERBA,

University of Arizona, Tucson

ROSE H. GOLDMAN,

Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA

ROBERT HAVEMAN,

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison

WILLIAM E. KASTENBERG,

University of California, Berkeley

SALLY KATZEN,

George Mason University Law School, Arlington, VA

EDUARDO MIRANDA,

Stanford University, Stanford, CA

MICHAEL NEWMAN,

The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA

DOROTHY E. PATTON, Retired,

Chicago, IL

CHARLES POOLE,

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

DANNY D. REIBLE,

University of Texas at Austin

JOSEPH V. RODRICKS,

ENVIRON International Corporation, Arlington, VA

Staff

ELLEN K. MANTUS, Project Director

JENNIFER SAUNDERS, Associate Program Officer

NORMAN GROSSBLATT, Senior Editor

MIRSADA KARALIC-LONCAREVIC, Manager,

Technical Information Center

JOHN BROWN, Program Associate

Sponsors

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY1

Members

JONATHAN M. SAMET (Chair),

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

RAMÓN ALVAREZ,

Environmental Defense, Austin, TX

JOHN M. BALBUS,

Environmental Defense, Washington, DC

DALLAS BURTRAW,

Resources for the Future, Washington, DC

JAMES S. BUS,

Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI

COSTEL D. DENSON,

University of Delaware, Newark

E. DONALD ELLIOTT,

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Washington, DC

MARY R. ENGLISH,

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

J. PAUL GILMAN,

Oak Ridge Center for Advanced Studies, Oak Ridge, TN

SHERRI W. GOODMAN,

Center for Naval Analyses, Alexandria, VA

JUDITH A. GRAHAM,

American Chemistry Council, Arlington, VA

WILLIAM P. HORN,

Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot, Washington, DC

JAMES H. JOHNSON JR.,

Howard University, Washington, DC

WILLIAM M. LEWIS, JR.,

University of Colorado, Boulder

JUDITH L. MEYER,

University of Georgia, Athens

DENNIS D. MURPHY,

University of Nevada, Reno

PATRICK Y. O’BRIEN,

ChevronTexaco Energy Technology Company, Richmond, CA

DOROTHY E. PATTON (retired),

Chicago, IL

DANNY D. REIBLE,

University of Texas, Austin

JOSEPH V. RODRICKS,

ENVIRON International Corporation, Arlington, VA

ARMISTEAD G. RUSSELL,

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

ROBERT F. SAWYER,

University of California, Berkeley

LISA SPEER,

Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY

KIMBERLY M. THOMPSON,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

MONICA G. TURNER,

University of Wisconsin, Madison

MARK J. UTELL,

University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

CHRIS G. WHIPPLE,

ENVIRON International Corporation, Emeryville, CA

LAUREN ZEISE,

California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland

Senior Staff

JAMES J. REISA, Director

DAVID J. POLICANSKY, Scholar

RAYMOND A. WASSEL, Senior Program Officer for Environmental Sciences and Engineering

KULBIR BAKSHI, Senior Program Officer for Toxicology

EILEEN N. ABT, Senior Program Officer for Risk Analysis

1

This study was planned, overseen, and supported by the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

KARL E. GUSTAVSON, Senior Program Officer

K. JOHN HOLMES, Senior Program Officer

ELLEN K. MANTUS, Senior Program Officer

SUSAN N.J. MARTEL, Senior Program Officer

SUZANNE VAN DRUNICK, Senior Program Officer

STEVEN K. GIBB, Program Officer for Strategic Communications

RUTH E. CROSSGROVE, Senior Editor

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

OTHER REPORTS OF THE BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY

Assessing the Human Health Risks of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues (2006)

New Source Review for Stationary Sources of Air Pollution (2006)

Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals (2006)

Health Risks from Dioxin and Related Compounds: Evaluation of the EPA Reassessment (2006)

Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards (2006)

State and Federal Standards for Mobile-Source Emissions (2006)

Superfund and Mining Megasites—Lessons from the Coeur d’Alene River Basin (2005)

Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion (2005)

Air Quality Management in the United States (2004)

Endangered and Threatened Species of the Platte River (2004)

Atlantic Salmon in Maine (2004)

Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin (2004)

Cumulative Environmental Effects of Alaska North Slope Oil and Gas Development (2003)

Estimating the Public Health Benefits of Proposed Air Pollution Regulations (2002)

Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices (2002)

The Airliner Cabin Environment and Health of Passengers and Crew (2002)

Arsenic in Drinking Water: 2001 Update (2001)

Evaluating Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs (2001)

Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act (2001)

A Risk-Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated Sediments (2001)

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Chemicals (five volumes, 2000-2007)

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury (2000)

Strengthening Science at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2000)

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment (2000)

Ecological Indicators for the Nation (2000)

Waste Incineration and Public Health (2000)

Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment (1999)

Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter (four volumes, 1998-2004)

The National Research Council’s Committee on Toxicology: The First 50 Years (1997)

Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens in the Human Diet (1996)

Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest (1996)

Science and the Endangered Species Act (1995)

Wetlands: Characteristics and Boundaries (1995)

Biologic Markers (five volumes, 1989-1995)

Review of EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (three volumes, 1994-1995)

Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment (1994)

Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children (1993)

Dolphins and the Tuna Industry (1992)

Science and the National Parks (1992)

Human Exposure Assessment for Airborne Pollutants (1991)

Rethinking the Ozone Problem in Urban and Regional Air Pollution (1991)

Decline of the Sea Turtles (1990)


Copies of these reports may be ordered from the National Academies Press

(800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313

www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

Preface

In an effort to improve the overall practice of risk assessment in the federal government, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released its Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin on January 9, 2006, with a stated objective to “enhance the technical quality and objectivity of risk assessments prepared by federal agencies.” The bulletin presents specific standards for risk assessments disseminated by federal agencies. OMB and the sponsoring agencies (Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration) requested that the National Research Council (NRC) conduct a scientific review of the bulletin.

In this report, the NRC’s Committee to Review the OMB Risk Assessment Bulletin provides its assessment of the OMB bulletin. The committee evaluates the standards presented in the bulletin, comments on the impact of the bulletin on the practice of risk assessment in the federal government, identifies critical elements missing from the bulletin, evaluates the consistency of the bulletin with previous reports of NRC and other organizations, and determines whether the draft bulletin has met OMB’s stated objective.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by persons chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise in accordance with procedures approved by NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards of objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following for their review of this report: Lawrence Barnthouse, LWB Environmental Services, Inc.; Robert J. Budnitz, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; David Gaylor, Gaylor and Associates; J. Paul Gilman, Oak Ridge Center for Advanced Studies; Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa; Jonathan Levy, Harvard School of Public Health; Roger O. McClellan, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Ali Mosleh,

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

University of Maryland; Gilbert Omenn, University of Michigan Medical School; and Paul Slovic, Decision Research.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by B. John Garrick, Laguna Beach, California, and John C. Bailar, III, University of Chicago. Appointed by NRC, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the committee and the institution.

The committee gratefully acknowledges the following for making presentations to the committee: Linda Abbott, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Nancy Beck, Office of Management and Budget; Al Cobb, U.S. Department of Energy; Shannon Cunniff, U.S. Department of Defense; Homayoon Dezfuli, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Steve Galson, Christopher Portier, and Christine Sofge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; John Graham, RAND Graduate School; Judith Graham, American Chemistry Council; George Gray, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Stephen Heinig, Association of American Medical Colleges; Alan Krupnick, Resources for the Future; Gilbert Omenn, University of Michigan Medical School; William Perry, U.S. Department of Labor; Lorenz Rhomberg, Gradient Corporation; Jennifer Sass, Natural Resources Defense Council; and Robert Shull, OMB Watch.

The committee is also grateful for the assistance of the NRC staff in preparing this report. Staff members who contributed to this effort are Jennifer Saunders, associate program officer; Norman Grossblatt, senior editor; John Brown, program associate; Radiah Rose, senior editorial assistant; and James J. Reisa, director of the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology. Primary among the staff was Ellen K. Mantus, project director, whose knowledge, careful working with the committee, and extreme diligence brought this report to completion.

I would especially like to thank the members of the committee for their efforts throughout the development of this report.


John F. Ahearne, Chair

Committee to Review the OMB Risk

Assessment Bulletin

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

5

 

OMISSIONS FROM THE BULLETIN

 

78

   

 Engineered Systems,

 

78

   

 Sensitive Subpopulations,

 

79

   

 Exemptions, Waivers, and Deferrals,

 

80

   

 The Role of Risk Assessment Policy and Default Options,

 

82

   

 Externally Generated Risk Assessments,

 

83

   

 Risk Communication,

 

85

   

 Impacts,

 

87

   

 References,

 

87

6

 

IMPACT ON THE PRACTICE OF RISK ASSESSMENT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

 

88

   

 The Absence of Information to Evaluate the Impact of the Bulletin on Agency Risk Assessment Practices,

 

89

   

 Benefits,

 

90

   

 Costs,

 

93

   

 Are the Goals of Enhancing Technical Quality and Objectivity of Risk Assessment Met by the Proposed Bulletin?

 

103

   

 References,

 

104

7

 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

105

   

 Conclusions,

 

107

   

 Recommendations,

 

110

   

 References,

 

111

 

 

APPENDIX A: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE OMB RISK ASSESSMENT BULLETIN

 

113

 

 

APPENDIX B: OMB PROPOSED RISK ASSESSMENT BULLETIN

 

122

 

 

APPENDIX C: STATEMENT OF TASK

 

149

 

 

APPENDIX D: PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA

 

151

 

 

APPENDIX E: QUESTIONS FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES FROM THE COMMITTEE AND AGENCY RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

 

155

   

 Agency Responses to Questions,

 

157

   

 Consumer Product Safety Commission,

 

163

   

 Department of Defense,

 

169

   

 Department of Energy,

 

183

   

 Department of Health and Human Services,

 

192

   

 Department of Housing and Urban Development,

 

219

   

 Department of Interior,

 

223

   

 Department of Labor,

 

235

Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

BOXES

1-1

 

Types of Risk Assessment

 

13

4-1

 

Principles and Objectives of a PRA Standard

 

48

TABLES

3-1

 

Goals for Risk Assessment as Stated in Bulletin and Clarified in Supplementary Information

 

31

4-1

 

Summary of Bulletin and Supplementary Information on Range of Risk Estimates and Central Estimates

 

38

4-2

 

Previous NRC Reports Addressing Issues of Uncertainty and Central Risk Estimates

 

40

4-3

 

Technical and Scientific Circumstances That Prevent the Current Applicability of the Bulletin

 

62

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF THE PRPPOSED RISK ASSESSMENT BULLETIN FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×

This page intentionally left blank.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R1
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R2
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R3
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R4
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R5
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R6
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R7
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R8
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R9
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R10
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R11
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R12
Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R13
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R14
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R15
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2007. Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11811.
×
Page R16
Next: Summary »
Scientific Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $84.00 Buy Ebook | $64.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

Risk assessments are often used by the federal government to estimate the risk the public may face from such things as exposure to a chemical or the potential failure of an engineered structure, and they underlie many regulatory decisions. Last January, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a draft bulletin for all federal agencies, which included a new definition of risk assessment and proposed standards aimed at improving federal risk assessments. This National Research Council report, written at the request of OMB, evaluates the draft bulletin and supports its overall goals of improving the quality of risk assessments. However, the report concludes that the draft bulletin is "fundamentally flawed" from a scientific and technical standpoint and should be withdrawn. Problems include an overly broad definition of risk assessment in conflict with long-established concepts and practices, and an overly narrow definition of adverse health effects—one that considers only clinically apparent effects to be adverse, ignoring other biological changes that could lead to health effects. The report also criticizes the draft bulletin for focusing mainly on human health risk assessments while neglecting assessments of technology and engineered structures.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!