CCME Risk Assessment Action Plan
A risk assessment action plan was developed for the Harmonization of Regulatory and Technical Approaches (HORTA) Task Group of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to suggest ways in which the CCME could implement the recommendations of the CCME workshop "Risk Assessment as an Environmental Management Tool". Advice was provided on how the CCME could proceed including how a risk management framework could be developed and incorporated into the decision-making process. Suggestions on training program requirements were also provided. One of the conclusions of the study was that the CCME needed to determine the scope and complexity of the risk management guidance, which it wishes to provide.

Technical assistance on hazardous waste management to CCME
CCME/ Environment Canada retained SENES to provide technical assistance to harmonize the regulations pertaining to the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste Regulations (EIHWR) within Canada. The three aspects on which SENES provided advice pertained to:

• rationale for waste derived-from and mixture rule;
• explanations on disposal and recycling options and practices; and
• technical understanding of the problems associated with disposal of chromium-bearing leather waste in municipal landfills.

U.S. Uranium Miner Regulations
On behalf of the American Mining Council (now the National Mining Association), a team of specialists was formed under the direction of SENES to examine the available scientific evidence on epidemiology, radiobiology (including animal experiments), microdosimetry, and uranium miner exposure data for the purpose of evaluating the risks associated with modern day uranium miner exposures.

Relative Environmental Hazards of Chemical Contaminants

A methodology was developed for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to identify those substances with the greatest need for regulatory control. As part of the study, comprehensive environmental behaviour profiles for 32 chemicals were compiled. The substances included several organic solvents, pesticides, and metals and chemicals such as acrylonitrile, aluminium, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, benzo(a)pyrene, benzene, cadmium, carbon tetrachloride, diazinon, hexachlorobenzene, lead, mercury, methylene chloride, mirex, phenol, pentachlorophenol, toluene and several chlorinated benzenes.

Proposed Benzene Regulations
In July 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued proposed regulations for emissions of benzene from various types of industrial sources. The proposed regulations used several elements of risk assessment and risk management, which would influence subsequent regulations for other hazardous air pollutants. An oral presentation and written comments were provided to the EPA concerning ways to incorporate uncertainty into risk assessment, the need to balance individual and cumulative risks, and options for truncating risk calculation procedures in space and time.