Peer Review: EPA's Implementation Remains Uneven

In response to this recommendation, EPA issued its Peer Review Handbook in February 1998 and provided peer review training in May 1998. The handbook provides guidance on planning, conducting and documenting peer review, and developing training materials to ensure that managers and staff are aware of their peer review responsibilities. It also expands the discussion of the definitions of peer review, peer input, public comment, and stakeholder involvement. According to EPA, the handbook provided the basis for the training provided to all peer review coordinators. In addition to providing an overview of the handbook, the training focused on the role, benefits and need for peer review, the peer coordinator's role, desk aids for decisionmakers, peer review leaders and coordinators and the peer review tracking system.

EPA has made policy changes to expand the list of products nominated for peer review and to provide explanations for why individual products are not nominated for peer review. In 1997, EPA: (1) implemented an agency-wide annual update process for the candidates for peer review to ensure that all products are listed; (2) implemented a peer review product-specific audit program; (3) conducted a management assessment of the processes used to decide whether to review products; and (4) tasked the Office of Research and Development with providing feedback to managers on the completeness of the list of candidates. As a result of these initiatives, all technical and scientific products are put on the list of candidates considered for peer review. Also, program managers now include on a separate listing products not considered for peer review.