On Aug. 8, 2005, Registration Division (RD) Director Lois Rossi announced approval of a reorganization of the RD. The new organization includes the creation of a new branch, the Inert Ingredient Assessment Branch (IIAB), and a new team, the Alternative Risk Integration Assessment Team (ARIA) in the Risk Integration, Minor Use and Emergency Response Branch (RIMUERB, formerly known as MUIERB). According to the EPA, the new organization provides flexibility to add product management team leaders, senior scientists or senior registration specialists to the existing branches. These staff additions will be accomplished over time depending on workload, staff skill mix and RD’s allocation of full-time equivalents and GS 14 to 15 positions.

As a first step in the implementation of its reorganization, the EPA announced that the IIAB has been officially established as a separate branch. Pauline Wagner will serve as the IIAB’s Branch Chief. A second step in the implementation of the RD reorganization involves the formal creation of the ARIA Team. ARIA will provide scientific risk assessment support for selected RD registration actions such as registration applications for minor uses and emergency exemptions.

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Aug. 25, 2005