Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Volume 3 Part A: Process for Conducting Probabilistic Risk Assessment (RAGS 3A)
RAGS Vol. 3 Part A provides technical guidance on the application of probabilistic methods to human health and ecological risk assessment. This guidance focuses on Monte Carlo analysis (MCA) as a method of quantifying variability and uncertainty in risk. Primarily targeted toward the risk assessor, it is intended, both in content and format, to be most accessible to those readers who are familiar with risk assessment and basic statistical concepts.
The guidance has undergone extensive review by Superfund and other programs within the Agency.
Federal Register Notice regarding RAGS Vol. 3 Part A.
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Volume 3 Part A: Process for Conducting Probabilistic Risk Assessment (RAGS 3A) (PDF) (385 pp, 8 MB). If you need help accessing the content of this PDF document, please use our online contact form to request assistance.
-
Cover (PDF) (19 pp, 82 K) includes Table of Contents, Accronyms and Abbreviations, Acknowlegdements, Work Group Members
-
Chapter 1 (PDF) (34 pp, 483 K) Overview of Probabilistic Approach to Risk Assessment
-
Chapter 2 (PDF) (19 pp, 349 K) Workplan and the Tiered Approach
-
Chapter 3 (PDF) (27 pp, 1.5 MB) Using Probabilistic Analysis in Human Health Assessment
-
Chapter 4 (PDF) (49 pp, 2 MB) Probabilistic Analysis in Ecological Risk Assessment
-
Chapter 5 (PDF) (25 pp, 536 K) Probabilistic Analysis Risk Assessment and Preliminary Remediation Goals
-
Chapter 6 (PDF) (25 pp, 364 K) Communicating Risks and Uncertainties in Probabilistic Risk Assessments
-
Chapter 7 (PDF) (16 pp, 383 K) Role of the PRA in Decision Making
-
Appendix A (PDF) (37 pp, 959 K) Sensitivity Analysis: How Do We Know What's Important?
-
Appendix B (PDF) (52 pp, 461 K) Selection and Fitting of Distributions
-
Appendix C (PDF) (16 pp, 171 K) Characterizing Variability and Uncertainty in the Concentration Term
-
Appendix D (PDF) (27 pp, 384 K) Advanced Modeling Approaches for Characterizing Variability and Uncertainty
-
Appendix E (PDF) (19 pp, 153 K) Definitions of Terms Relevant to PRA and References for Further Reading
-
Appendix F (PDF) (6 pp, 29 K) Workplan and Checklist for PRA
-
Appendix G (PDF) (6 pp, 23 K) Frequently Asked Questions for PRA
-
Appendix H (PDF) (3 pp, 37 K) Index