Ecological Residual Risk Assessments: Past, Present, Future

Section 112(f)(2) of the Clean Air Act, known as the Residual Risk Program, authorizes the EPA to implement risk-based standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants emissions, in order to protect human and ecological health. The EPA has created human and ecological risk assessment frameworks to help determine these risks. However, due to statutory ambiguities, budget constraints and ecosystem complexities, the EPA has encountered difficulties in determining adverse environmental effects. Using basic statutory interpretation and current literature, this study attempts to provide guidanceas to the legislative intent of the Residual Risk Program. Using this interpretation, the study also attempts to identify and provide solutions to existing gaps and weaknesses in the current ecological residual risk assessment process. These solutions will help generate a more robust and valid ecological residual risk assessment framework that can be used to determine adverse environmental effects, as defined for Section 112(f)(2) of the CAA.Master of Science in Public Healt