[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 32088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8612]


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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]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P