Navy Guidance for Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments Web Site

A comprehensive online resource for ecological risk assessment provides guidance for U.S. Navy staff and support contractors.

Need/Opportunity

• Ecorisk assessment guidance for implementing U.S. Navy policy
• Comprehensive, accessible, easily-updated resource

The U.S. Navy needed a means of providing guidance on implementing its policy on the design and conduct of ecological risk assessments within its Environmental Restoration Program. The guidance had to be readily accessible to project managers and support contractors worldwide, with updates immediately available to all users. EVS met this need by developing the Navy Guidance for Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments web site (the Ecorisk web site).

Approach

• Provide detailed guidance
• Provide tools, software, and links to other resources
• Provide case studies and issue papers
• Provide news and e-mail

Working with technical experts from the Navy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EVS compiled the web site content primarily from ecological risk assessment training materials previously developed by EVS for the Navy. The web site provides extensive resources and tools for ecorisk assessment, including (1) overviews of Navy and Superfund policy and regulations, (2) software, and links to other resources, (3) risk documents, (4) case studies and issue papers, and (5) relevant news of interest to Navy staff. The site features a broadcast e-mail service and will soon host a discussion list.

Results

• Site launched in fall 2000
• Used by Navy field offices, headquarters, contractors
• Model for human health risk assessment guidance web site

Launched in the fall of 2000, the Ecorisk web site has been used extensively by staff and support contractors at Navy Headquarters and field offices. The web site's approach, design, and layout have since been copied for the Navy's Human Health Risk Assessment web site.

Benefits

• Provides easily accessible, comprehensive resource
• Reduces time and costs for ecorisk assessments
• Provides a uniform framework ensuring consistency across the Navy complex
• Enhances communication

The Ecorisk web site provides convenient access to a comprehensive resource on ecological risk assessment guidance that complies with Navy policy and federal regulations. This "one-stop-service" reduces the time and costs involved in planning and conducting ecorisk assessments for Navy projects. The web site also provides a uniform framework for designing and conducting assessments that ensures consistency across the Navy complex. By providing a focal point for ecorisk information, news, and current events, the site has enhanced communication within the Navy ecorisk community.