UNITED STATES ENVIRQNMENTAL PROTECT/ON AGENCY
                                 WASHINGTON, D.G. 20460
                                    TO 25 KB
                                                                          OFFICE OF
                                                                      THE ADMINISTRATOR
 MEMORANDUM

 SUBJECT:   Peer Review Handbook..

 TO:          Assistant Administrators
              General Counsel
              Chief Financial Officer
              Inspector General
              Associate Administrators
              Regional Administrators
       We are very pleased to present this Peer Review Handbook to guide Agency scientists
 and managers on the organization and conduct of peer review.  EPA has a long, rich history of
 peer review.  EPA staff and others are most familiar with reviews undertaken by standing peer
 review bodies, such as the Science Advisory Board and the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel. In
 addition, EPA programs, regions and laboratories regularly sponsor peer reviews for major
 reports, generic risk assessment guidelines, research plans, and  specific risk assessments as well
 as contribute to the peer reviewed scientific literature.

       The June 1994 Peer Review Policy reconfirms and expands EPA's commitment to peer
 review of scientific and technical work products used in Agency decision-making.  Shortly after
 the Policy was issued, EPA program and regional offices adopted office-specific Standard
•Operating Procedures (SOPs) to assist implementation of the policy. Now, drawing on Agency
 experience with the SOPs, the Science Policy Council, the Peer Review Coordinators from each
 of your offices, and ORD's National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance
 has created a single peer review guidance document for Agency-wide use. The Peer Review
 Handbook supersedes the original SQPs. Agency offices and regions may supplement this
 guidance with additional guidance specific to their organizations.

       The new Handbook complements the 1994 Policy by providing a plain English, question-
 and-answer format that offers all users a focused, user-friendly reference on peer review issues.
 We believe that the Handbook is an excellent reference for you  and your staff, and that use of the
                                                                             Printed on Recycled Paper

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Handbook will assist the Agency in meeting its goal of enhancing the quality and credibility of
Agency decisions through peer review of the underlying scientific and technical work products.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator

Attachment
Fred Hansen
Deputy Administrator

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