FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2007
Contact: OMB Communications, 202-395-7254

OMB AND OSTP STATEMENTS ON UPDATED 1995 PRINCIPLES FOR RISK ANALYSIS

Washington—Today the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science Technology and Policy (OSTP) issued an updated memorandum outlining principles for conducting analyses of health, safety, and environmental risk.

This memorandum reaffirms risk analysis principles previously released by OMB in 1995 and reinforces them with more recent guidance from the scientific community, Congress, and the Executive Branch.

“Accurate risk analyses are necessary for agencies and other decision makers to make wise risk management decisions,” said Susan Dudley, Administrator for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB. “This memorandum is one aspect of our efforts to improve the quality of the information which the federal government produces and relies on. It reflects the recommendation by the National Academy of Science that OMB outline goals and general principles to increase the quality, objectivity, and utility of Agency risk analyses. This update will make it easier for agencies to adhere to these well-established principles.”

“The Federal government strives to incorporate the best science and analytical tools in the development of guidance and policies for the environment, health and safety. The goal of this updated memo is to assist the agencies in doing just that, in regard to their risk analysis activities," said Dr. Sharon Hays, Associate Director/Deputy Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Like the 1995 memo, the principles are divided into five parts: general principles, principles for risk assessment, principles for risk management, principles for risk communication, and principles for priority setting.

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