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About Risk Assessment Support

Why Risk Assessment is Important

EPA assesses the risks of chemicals and pollutants as part of making regulatory and other decisions that affect human health and the environment. While assessments vary depending on the specific problem being analyzed, most EPA assessments consist of several basic steps.

A detailed description of the risk assessment process, along with more resources and information, can be found at EPA's Risk Assessment Portal. 

Risk Assessment Forum

EPA's Risk Assessment Forum (RAF), promotes consensus on risk assessment issues and develops agency risk assessment guidelines, white papers, tools, and trainings. The RAF was established to:

  • Promote Agency-wide consensus on difficult and controversial risk assessment issues and
  • Ensure that this consensus is incorporated into appropriate Agency risk assessment guidelines.

RAF products are intended to guide the entire agency, rather than any specific program. RAF guidelines and products undergo extensive internal and external review prior to adoption. 

The Science and Technology Policy Council (STPC) reviews, finalizes, and approves products developed by the Forum.

  • RAF Projects
  • RAF Products and Publications
  • RAF Charter

Scientific Leadership

  • Risk Assessment Support
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    • About Human Subjects Research
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Contact Us about Programs of the Office of the Science Advisor
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 30, 2025
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