The Risk Assessment Information System

EPA Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

EPA Ecological Related Guidance

We searched the world wide web for the best available pdf copy of every document listed below and have stored it on the RAIS server. Additionally, we have created a single searchable document for each source, if multiple pdfs were provided. Although every effort has been made to obtain the best available electronic copies directly from their sources, RAIS makes no claims as to the validity, current status, or latest version of each document.

Federal Guidance

Considerations for Developing Problem Formulations for Ecological Risk Assessments Conducted at Contaminated Sites under CERCLA.

Ecological Assessment of Hazardous Waste Sites: A Field and Laboratory Reference. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development. Washington, DC 20460. EPA/540/R-92/003. December 1991.

Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Process for Designing and Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments - Interim Final

Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment . United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA/630/R-95/002F. April 1998.

Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment. EPA/630/R-92/001. U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. 1992. Risk Assessment Forum.

Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Volume II. Environmental Evaluation Manual. Interim Final. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Emergency and Remedial Responce. EPA/540/1-89/001. March 1989. (Superseded by Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Process for Designing and Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments - Interim Final

Wildlife Exposure Factors Handbook. Vol. I. United Staes Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development. Washington, D.C. EPA/600/R-93/187. 1993.

Wildlife Exposure Factors Handbook. Vol. II. Appendix: Literature Review Database. United Staes Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development. Washington, D.C. EPA/600/R-93/187. 1993.

EPA Ecological Soil Screening Levels (Eco-SSL)

Ecological Soil Screening Level (Eco-SSL) Guidance. United States Environmental Protection Agency. OSWER Directive 9285.7-55. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Washington, D.C. The Eco-SSL guidance provides a set of risk-based soil screening levels (Eco-SSLs) for several soil contaminants that are frequently of ecological concern for terrestrial plants and animals at hazardous waste sites. It also describes the process used to derive these levels and provides guidance for their use. The Cover memo, Executive Summary, Guidance Document and Attachments: 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 3-1, 3-2, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4 and 4-5 are on the RAIS.

On March 15, 2005 all previously posted chemical specific documents and several standard operating procedures were updated. The update reflects modifications to the wildlife exposure factors and bioaccumuation models. The changes did not substantially change the final Eco-SSL values. For further information see the Update Sheet. Persons using these documents are urged to replace older versions with the updated versions. In September of 2009 all pdf files below were copied from the Eco-SSL website.

EPA Eco-SSLs References

EPA. November 2003. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Aluminum: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-60

EPA. February 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Antimony: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-61

EPA. March 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Arsenic: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-62

EPA. February 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Barium: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-63

EPA. February 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Beryllium: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-64

EPA. March 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Cadmium: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-65

EPA. March 2005 (Revised April 2008). Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Chromium: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-66

EPA. March 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Cobalt: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-67

EPA. July 2006 (Revised February 2007). Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Copper: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-68

EPA. November 2003. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Iron: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-69

EPA. March 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Lead: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-70

EPA. April 2007. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Manganese: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-71

EPA. March 2007. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Nickel: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-76

EPA. July 2007. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Selenium: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-72

EPA. September 2006. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Silver: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-77

EPA. April 2005. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Vanadium: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-75

EPA. June 2007. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Zinc: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-73

EPA. April 2007. Ecological Soil Screening Levels for DDT and metabolites: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-57

EPA. March 2005 (Revised April 2007). Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Dieldrin: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-56

EPA. March 2005 (Revised April 2007). Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Pentachlorophenol: Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-58

EPA. June 2007). Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Interim Final. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. OSWER Directive 9285.7-78

Region 3 Guidance

Biological Technical Assistance Group (BTAG) Screening Values.

Region 4 Guidance

Region 4 Ecological Risk Assessment Supplemental Guidance (March 2018 Update). Scientific Support Section Superfund Division. 2018.

Amended Guidance on Ecological Risk Assessment at Military Bases: Process Considerations, Timing of Activities, and Inclusion of Stakeholders. Memorandum. U.S. EPA, Atlanta, GA. Region IV. 2000.

Region 6 Guidance

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 2020 TCEQ Ecological Screening Benchmarks, August 2020.

Region 8 Guidance

Region 8 Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

82 document links taken from the EPA Risk Assessment Guidance webpage.

Title Date Keywords
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part A 1989 Superfund
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part B 1991 Superfund
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part C 1991 Superfund
Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment 1992 Ecological
Wildlife Exposure Factors Handbook 1992 Wildlife, Ecological
Estimating Radiogenic Cancer Risks 1994 Cancer Risks
Estimating Site-Specific Exposure to Contaminants in Indoor Dust 1995 Region 8, Soil, Dust
Model Site Conceptual Model for RI/FS Baseline Risk Assessments of Human and Ecological Health 1995 Region 8, Modeling, Human Health
Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessment: Part 1. Planning & Scoping 1997 Cumulative Risk
Guiding Principles for Monte Carlo Analysis 1997 Guidance Document
Policy for Use of Probabilistic Analysis in Risk Assessment at EPA 1997 Probabilistic Analysis
Framework for assessing non-occupational, non-dietary (residential) exposure to pesticides 1998 Pesticides, Non-dietary
Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment 1998 Guidance Document
Viewpoints on Bioavailability for Wildlife 1998 Region 8, Ecological, Wildlife
Background Soil Arsenic Concentrations Table for Regions (XLS) (2.5MB) 1999 Region 8, Arsenic, Soil Concentrations
Contingencies for Regional Evaluation and Response for Various Levels of Dioxins Measured in Denver's Front Range Reference Surface Soils (Figure 3) 1999 Region 8, Dioxin, Soils
Ecological Risk Assessment and Risk Management Principles for Superfund Sites, (Issuance of Final Guidance) 1999 Guidance Document, Superfund
Guidance for identifying pesticide chemicals and other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity 1999 Pesticides, Toxicity
Regional Background Soil Arsenic Concentrations Table (XLS) (2.5MB) 1999 Region 8, Arsenic, Soil
Report of the Workshop on Selecting Input Distributions for Probabilistic Assessments 1999 Human Health
Choosing a percentile of acute dietary exposure as a threshold of regulatory concern 2000 Pesticides, Regulatory
Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use In Fish Advisories - Volume 2: Risk Assessment and Fish Consumption Limits - Third Edition 2000 Fish
Risk Characterization Handbook 2000 Risk Characterization
Stressor Identification Guidance Document 2000 Stressors, SI, Ecological, CADDIS
The use of data on cholinesterase inhibition for risk assessments of organophosphorous and carbamate pesticides 2000 Pesticides, Inhibition
General principles for performing aggregate exposure and risk assessments 2001 Pesticides, Aggregate
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part D 2001 Superfund
Acute oral toxicity up-and-down procedure 2002 Pesticides, Oral
Consideration of the FQPA safety factor and other uncertainty factors in cumulative risk assessment of chemicals sharing a common mechanism of toxicity 2002 Pesticides, Safety, Assessment
Denver Front Range Study of Dioxins and Surface Soil Summary Report 2002 Region 8, Dioxin, Soil
Determination of the appropriate FQPA safety factor(s) in tolerance assessment 2002 Pesticides, Safety, Tolerance
Framework for the Economic Assessment of Ecological Benefits 2002 Economic
Guidance on cumulative risk assessment of pesticide chemicals that have a common mechanism of toxicity 2002 Pesticides, Toxicity
A Summary of General Assessment Factors for Evaluating the Quality of Scientific and Technical Information 2003 Risk Assessment, Factors
Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment 2003 Cumulative Risk
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part E 2004 Superfund
Guidance for thyroid assays in pregnant animals, fetuses and post-natal animals, and adult animals 2005 Pesticides, Thyroid
Framework for Developing Suspended and Bedded Sediment (SABS) Water Quality Criteria 2006 Sediment
Available information on assessing exposure from pesticides in food - A User's Guide 2007 Pesticides, Food
Framework for Metals Risk Assessment 2007 Metals
Cumulative Health Risk Assessment of Multiple Chemicals, Exposures, and Effects: A Resource Document 2008 Cumulative Risk
Framework for Application of the Toxicity Equivalence Methodology for Polychlorinated Dioxins, Furans and Biphenyls in Ecological Risk Assessment 2008 Dioxin
Test Method Collections 2008 Test Methods
Considerations for Developing a Dosimetry-Based Cumulative Risk Assessment Approach for Mixtures of Environmental Contaminants 2009 Cumulative Risk
EPA's Strategic Plan for Evaluating the Toxicity of Chemicals 2009 Chemicals, Strategic Planning
Guidance Document on the Development, Evaluation and Application of Environmental Models 2009 Guidance Document, Models
Probabilistic Methods to Enhance the Role of Risk Analysis in Decision-Making (External Review Draft) 2009 Risk Management
Report on Population-Level Ecological Risk Assessment Workshop 2009 Population Levels
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part F 2009 Superfund
Documents for Recommended Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for Human Health Risk Assessments of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds 2010 Dioxin
Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making 2010 Ecological
Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making at EPA: A Path Forward - Results of a Colloquium in Response to Science Advisory Board and National Research Council Recommendations 2010 Risk Management
Use of the local lymph node assay and reduced dose protocol for LLNA in assessing pesticide products 2011 Pesticides, Assessment
EPA Scientific Integrity Policy 2012 Policies
Guidance for considering and using open literature studies to support human health risk assessment 2012 Pesticides, Literature Studies
Guidance for waiving or bridging of mammalian acute toxicity tests for pesticides and pesticide products 2012 Pesticides, Toxicity Tests
Standard Operating Procedures for Residential Pesticide Exposure Assessment 2012 Pesticides, Human Health, Ecological
Standard Operating Procedures for Residential Pesticide Exposure Assessment 2012 Chemicals
Validation of an In Vitro Bioaccessibility Test Method for Estimation of Bioavailability of Arsenic from Soil and Sediment Guidance Document 2012 Region 8, Arsenic, Soil, Sediment, Guidance Document
An in vitro method for estimation of arsenic relative bioavailability in soil regional guidance document 2013 Region 8, Arsenic, Soil
Issue Paper for PCB Characterization at Regional Superfund and RCRA Sites 2013 Region 4, Risk Characterization
Measurement of Arsenic Relative Bioavailability in Swine - Regional Guidance Document 2013 Region 8, Arsenic, Measurement
Part 158 toxicology data requirements: guidance for neurotoxicity battery, subchronic inhalation, subchronic dermal and immunotoxicity studies 2013 Pesticides, Neurotoxicity
Developing a tiered framework for extrapolation modeling 2014 Pesticides, Extrapolation
Guidance for Applying Quantitative Data to Develop Data-Derived Extrapolation Factors for Interspecies and Intraspecies Extrapolation 2014 Guidance Document, Toxicokinetic, Toxicodynamic
Process for establishing and implementing alternative approaches to traditional in vivo acute toxicity studies 2014 Pesticides, Vivo Acute Toxicity
Regional Human Health Risk Assessment Supplemental Guidance 2014 Region 4, Human Health, Guidance
Alternate testing framework for classification of eye irritation potential of EPA-regulated pesticide products 2015 Pesticides, Classification
Cumulative Risk Assessment Lessons Learned: A review of Case Studies and Issue Papers 2015 Cumulative Risk
Ecological Risk Assessment for Pesticides: Technical Overview 2015
Indirect Dietary Residential Exposure Assessment Model (IDREAM) Implementation 2015 Pesticides, Exposure
Occupational pesticide handler exposure data 2015 Pesticides, Handler
Peer Review Handbook - 4th Edition 2015 Peer Review
Regional Ecological Risk Assessment Supplemental Guidance 2015 Region 4, Ecological
Regional Removal Management Levels (RMLs) User's Guide 2015 Region, Superfund, Guidance, RMLs
Generic Ecological Assessment Endpoints (GEAE) for Ecological Risk Assessment (2nd Edition) and Technical Background Paper 2016 Guidance Document, Technical Report, Endpoints, Ecological, GEAE
Final Test Guidelines for Pesticides and Toxic Substances Various Test Guidelines,Pesticides, Toxics
Advances in genetic toxicology and integration of in vivo testing into standard repeat dose studies Various Pesticides, Toxicology
Calculating Preliminary Remediation Goals Various Region 8, Superfund
Occupational pesticide post-application exposure data Various Pesticides, Post-Application
Radiation Protection Document Library Various Radiation Protection, Ecological
Watershed Ecological Risk Assessment Various Watershed, Ecological


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