EPA Releases IRIS Handbook for Public Review & Comment

EPA has released the ORD Staff Handbook for Developing Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Assessments, or “IRIS Handbook,” for public review and comment. This Handbook provides operating procedures for developing assessments to the scientists in the IRIS Program that are ultimately used by EPA’s program office to make critical regulatory decisions. The IRIS Handbook implements recommendations and input from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), EPA Agency reviewers, other Federal Agencies, EPA’s Science Advisory Board, and workshops involving input from experts in systematic review.  The comment period ends on March 1, 2021. Please refer to the official notice on the Federal Register website and on Regulations.gov in Docket No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2018-0654 for additional information on the Handbook and information on how to submit comments.

The steps in the overall IRIS process have not changed. The IRIS Handbook is designed so that it can be updated, as needed, to allow for incorporation of method refinements, advances in assessment science, and any updates in EPA guidance.