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Performance assessments (PAs) and risk assessments (RAs) evaluate the impact of a proposed remedial action on human health and the environment, and provide a demonstration of compliance and important technical inputs to meet regulatory requirements for: 1) waste form development and implementation; 2) tank closure activities; 3) waste site closure activities (e.g., cribs and trenches); 4) in-situ decontamination and decommissioning; 5) soil and groundwater remediation; and 6) management of disposal facilities (e.g., land-fills or near surface disposal facilities). The PAs and RAs or P&RAs become public documents upon completion.  As such, the Department of Energy (DOE) needs to ensure that P&RAs continue to be performed and documented consistently and to high standards. 

DOE EM sponsored the Performance Assessment Community of Practice in 2009, to:

a) provide means to address consistency early and throughout PA process;
b) foster early and sustained communication among CERCLA, NEPA, RCRA, and DOE O 435.1 activities involving LLW, tank closure, and D&D;
c) provide a forum to share information regarding state of the art and specific models, data and approaches; and
d) serve as an enduring data and modeling resource to minimize duplication of effort across DOE and train future generation of PA professionals

In late 2013, the group was broadened as P&RA CoP to emphasize:

a) the need for an integrated regulatory framework when cleanup work at a given site is subject to overlapping environmental regulations (CERCLA, RCRA, NEPA, and DOE Order 435.1); and
b) the importance of risk assessments in non-DOE self-regulated cleanup activities

The goal of the Performance & Risk Assessment Community of Practice (P&RA CoP) is to foster exchange of information regarding preparation of performance assessments and risk analyses in support of environmental decisions across agencies and practitioners; enhance consistency in the preparation of P&RAs across the DOE; and to develop appropriate peer guidance and/or recommendations for P&RAs such that they are based on sound science and are defensible (see the P&RA CoP Charter of December, 2013). 

Interagency Performance & Risk Assessment Community of Practice Charter

An interagency steering committee was expanded in August 2013 to guide the activities for the P&RA CoP. 

Disclaimer: Display of the presentations and discussion material of the P&RA CoP Webinars and Technical Exchanges on this Website should not be construed to imply or in any manner state that the Department sanctions or endorses the entity that the P&RA CoP presenter is affiliated with; further, the views expressed in the presentation or discussion are those of individual P&RA CoP members only, and not necessarily the views of the Department.