First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter-Ecological Criteria, 15702-15704 [2017-06317]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 15702 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices Particulate Matter—Ecological Criteria (First External Review Draft) should be directed to Dr. Tara Greaver (greaver.tara@epa.gov), EPA Office of Research and Development. Availability of Meeting Materials: Prior to the meeting, the review documents, agenda and other materials will be available on the CASAC Web page at https://www.epa.gov/casac/. Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for consideration by EPA’s federal advisory committees and panels has a different purpose from public comment provided to EPA program offices. Therefore, the process for submitting comments to a federal advisory committee is different from the process used to submit comments to an EPA program office. Federal advisory committees and panels, including scientific advisory committees, provide independent advice to EPA. Members of the public can submit relevant comments on the topic of this advisory activity, including the charge to the panel and the EPA review documents, and/or the group conducting the activity, for the CASAC to consider as it develops advice for EPA. Input from the public to the CASAC will have the most impact if it provides specific scientific or technical information or analysis for CASAC panels to consider or if it relates to the clarity or accuracy of the technical information. Members of the public wishing to provide comment should follow the instructions below to submit comments. Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at a public meeting will be limited to five minutes. Each person making an oral statement should consider providing written comments as well as their oral statement so that the points presented orally can be expanded upon in writing. Interested parties should contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, DFO, in writing (preferably via email) at the contact information noted above by May 17, 2017, to be placed on the list of public speakers. Written Statements: Written statements will be accepted throughout the advisory process; however, for timely consideration by CASAC members, statements should be supplied to the DFO (preferably via email) at the contact information noted above by May 17, 2017. It is the SAB Staff Office general policy to post written comments on the Web page for the advisory meeting or teleconference. Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version of each document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents with signatures on VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 its Web sites. Members of the public should be aware that their personal contact information, if included in any written comments, may be posted to the CASAC Web site. Copyrighted material will not be posted without explicit permission of the copyright holder. Accessibility: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Armitage at (202) 564–2155 or armitage.thomas@ epa.gov. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Dr. Armitage preferably at least ten days prior to each meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: March 10, 2017. Khanna Johnston, Acting Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Staff Office. [FR Doc. 2017–06316 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2013–0620 and Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2014– 0128; FRL–9959–72–ORD] First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter—Ecological Criteria Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public comment period. AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a public comment period for the draft document titled, ‘‘First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter—Ecological Criteria’’ (EPA/600/R–16/372). The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) as part of the review of the secondary (welfare-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and particulate matter. The Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for EPA’s decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. On January 28, 2016, EPA released a separate ISA as part of an independent review for the primary (health-based) NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen (EPA/600/R–15/068). In addition, EPA is currently developing separate ISAs to support the primary SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 NAAQS review for oxides of sulfur and the primary and non-ecological secondary (e.g., visibility, climate, materials damage) NAAQS review for particulate matter. EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). This draft document is not final, as described in EPA’s information quality guidelines, and it does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, Agency policy or views. When revising the document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted during the public comment period specified in this notice. DATES: The public comment period begins on March 30, 2017, and ends on May 24, 2017. Comments must be received on or before May 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: The ‘‘First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter—Ecological Criteria’’ will be available primarily via the internet on EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment home page at https:// www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-scienceassessment-isa-oxides-nitrogen-andsulfur-ecological or the public docket at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2013–0620 and Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2014– 0128. A limited number of CD–ROM copies will be available. Contact Ms. Marieka Boyd by phone: 919–541–0031; fax: 919–541–5078; or email: boyd.marieka@epa.gov to request a CD– ROM, and please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, ‘‘First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter—Ecological Criteria’’ to facilitate processing of your request. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; phone: 202–566–1752; fax: 202–566– 9744; or email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. For technical information, contact Dr. Tara Greaver, NCEA; phone: 919–541– 2435; fax: 919–541–1818; or email: greaver.tara@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Document Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to identify certain pollutants which, among other things, ‘‘cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices welfare’’ and to issue air quality criteria for them. These air quality criteria are to ‘‘accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge useful in indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on public health or welfare which may be expected from the presence of [a] pollutant in the ambient air. . .’’ Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is then to establish NAAQS for each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act subsequently requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria to reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. EPA is also required to review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS (for more information on the NAAQS review process, see https:// www.epa.gov/naaqs). Oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and particulate matter are three of six criteria pollutants for which EPA has established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis for these standards by preparing an ISA (formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document). The ISA, in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for EPA’s decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The CASAC, an independent science advisory committee whose review and advisory functions are mandated by Section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) with independent scientific review of the EPA’s air quality criteria. On August 21, 2013 (78 FR 53452), EPA formally initiated its current review of the air quality criteria for the ecological effects of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur, and the associated secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS, requesting the submission of recent scientific information on specified topics. Similarly, on December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764), EPA formally initiated its current review of the air quality criteria for the particulate matter NAAQS. EPA conducted two workshops—the first on March 4 to 6, 2014, for oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur (79 FR 8644, February 13, 2014), and the second on February 11, 2015 (79 FR 71764, December 3, 2014), for particulate matter—to gather input from invited scientific experts, both internal and external to EPA, as well as from the public, regarding key science and policy issues relevant to the review of the these secondary NAAQS. These science and policy issues were incorporated into EPA’s ‘‘Draft Integrated Review Plan for the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Oxides of Nitrogen VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 and Oxides of Sulfur’’ as well as the ‘‘Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.’’ The Draft Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur was available for public comment (80 FR 69220, November 9, 2015) and discussion by the CASAC via publicly accessible teleconference consultation (80 FR 65223, February 10, 2016). The Draft IRP for particulate matter was available for public comment (81 FR 2297, April 19, 2016) and discussion by the CASAC via publicly accessible teleconference consultation (81 FR 13362, March 14, 2016) prior to release of the final document (81 FR 87933, December 6, 2016). The final ‘‘Integrated Review Plan for the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter’’ will be announced by a separate Federal Register notice. Teleconference workshops with invited scientific experts, both internal and external to EPA, were held on August 25, 26, and 27, 2015 (80 FR 48316, August 12, 2015), and June 13, 2016 (81 FR 89262, May 11, 2016), to discuss initial draft materials prepared in the development of the draft ISA. The ‘‘First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter—Ecological Criteria’’ will be discussed at a public meeting for review by CASAC and the public. In addition to the public comment period announced in this notice, the public will have an opportunity to address the CASAC. A separate Federal Register notice will inform the public of the exact date and time of the CASAC meeting and of the procedures for public participation. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2013– 0620 and Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR– 2014–0128, by one of the following methods: • www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. • Fax: 202–566–9744. • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202– 566–1752. • Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15703 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The phone number for the Public Reading Room is 202–566–1744. Deliveries are only accepted during the docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2013– 0620 and Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR– 2014–0128. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked ‘‘late,’’ and may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA’s policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to make the comments available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information through www.regulations.gov or email that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 15704 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically on www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: February 14, 2017. Mary A. Ross, Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. 2017–06317 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL 9959–89–Region 8] Proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent, Quartz Hill Tailings Pile Within the Central City/Clear Creek Superfund Site, Central City, Gilpin County, Colorado Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of proposed agreement; request for public comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (‘‘CERCLA’’), notice is hereby given of the proposed administrative settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (‘‘EPA’’) and the City of Central, CO (‘‘Settling Party’’). Pursuant to the terms of the proposed settlement, the Settling Party will enact a land use ordinance and conduct operations and maintenance activities over the Quartz Hill Tailings Pile, within the Central City/Clear Creek Superfund Site. In exchange, the EPA will provide a covenant not to sue, and release certain liens against property owned by the Settling Party within the Central City/Clear Creek Superfund Site. The State of Colorado is also a signatory to the proposed agreement. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 2017. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the agreement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the agreement if asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the agreement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. ADDRESSES: The Agency’s response to any comments, the proposed agreement and additional background information relating to the agreement is available for public inspection at the EPA Superfund Record Center, 1595 Wynkoop, Denver, Colorado. Comments and requests for a copy of the proposed agreement should be addressed to Maureen O’Reilly, Enforcement Specialist, Environmental Protection Agency-Region 8, Mail Code 8ENF–RC, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202–2466, and should reference the Central City/Clear Creek Superfund Site, Central City, Gilpin County, Colorado. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amelia Piggott, Enforcement Attorney, Legal Enforcement Program, Environmental Protection AgencyRegion 8, Mail Code 8ENF–L, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202–2466, (303) 312–6410. Dated: February 15, 2017. Suzanne J. Bohan, Acting Deputy Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. [FR Doc. 2017–06118 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OECA–2013–0302; FRL–9957– 76–OEI] Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NSPS for the Graphic Arts Industry (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘NSPS for the Graphic Arts Industry (40 CFR part 60, subpart QQ) (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 0657.12, OMB Control No. 2060–0105), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through February 28, 2017. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (81 FR 26546) on May 3, 2016 during a 60day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An Agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently-valid OMB control number. DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before May 1, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA– HQ–OECA–2013–0302, to: (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by email to docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB via email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Yellin, Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2227A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564–2970; fax number: (202) 564–0050; email address: yellin.patrick@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit: https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. Abstract: Owners and operators of affected facilities are required to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements for the General Provisions (40 CFR part 60, subpart A), as well as the specific requirements at 40 CFR part 60, subpart QQ. This includes submitting initial notifications, performance tests and periodic reports and results, and maintaining records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 60 (Thursday, March 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15702-15704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06317]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-0620 and Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-
0128; FRL-9959-72-ORD]


First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for 
Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter--
Ecological Criteria

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a public 
comment period for the draft document titled, ``First External Review 
Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of 
Sulfur, and Particulate Matter--Ecological Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-16/
372). The draft document was prepared by the National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and 
Development (ORD) as part of the review of the secondary (welfare-
based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of 
nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and particulate matter. The Integrated 
Science Assessment (ISA), in conjunction with additional technical and 
policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for EPA's decisions 
on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of 
possible alternative standards. On January 28, 2016, EPA released a 
separate ISA as part of an independent review for the primary (health-
based) NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen (EPA/600/R-15/068). In addition, 
EPA is currently developing separate ISAs to support the primary NAAQS 
review for oxides of sulfur and the primary and non-ecological 
secondary (e.g., visibility, climate, materials damage) NAAQS review 
for particulate matter.
    EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean 
Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date 
and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). 
This draft document is not final, as described in EPA's information 
quality guidelines, and it does not represent, and should not be 
construed to represent, Agency policy or views. When revising the 
document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted during the 
public comment period specified in this notice.

DATES: The public comment period begins on March 30, 2017, and ends on 
May 24, 2017. Comments must be received on or before May 24, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The ``First External Review Draft Integrated Science 
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate 
Matter--Ecological Criteria'' will be available primarily via the 
internet on EPA's Integrated Science Assessment home page at https://www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-oxides-nitrogen-and-sulfur-ecological or the public docket at https://www.regulations.gov, 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-0620 and Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-
0128. A limited number of CD-ROM copies will be available. Contact Ms. 
Marieka Boyd by phone: 919-541-0031; fax: 919-541-5078; or email: 
boyd.marieka@epa.gov to request a CD-ROM, and please provide your name, 
your mailing address, and the document title, ``First External Review 
Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of 
Sulfur, and Particulate Matter--Ecological Criteria'' to facilitate 
processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment 
period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; 
phone: 202-566-1752; fax: 202-566-9744; or email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov.
    For technical information, contact Dr. Tara Greaver, NCEA; phone: 
919-541-2435; fax: 919-541-1818; or email: greaver.tara@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Document

    Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to 
identify certain pollutants which, among other things, ``cause or 
contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or

[[Page 15703]]

welfare'' and to issue air quality criteria for them. These air quality 
criteria are to ``accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge 
useful in indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on 
public health or welfare which may be expected from the presence of [a] 
pollutant in the ambient air. . .'' Under section 109 of the Act, EPA 
is then to establish NAAQS for each pollutant for which EPA has issued 
criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act subsequently requires periodic 
review and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria 
to reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the 
pollutant on public health or welfare. EPA is also required to review 
and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS (for more information on the 
NAAQS review process, see https://www.epa.gov/naaqs).
    Oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and particulate matter are 
three of six criteria pollutants for which EPA has established NAAQS. 
Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis for these standards by 
preparing an ISA (formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document). 
The ISA, in conjunction with additional technical and policy 
assessments, provides the scientific basis for EPA's decisions on the 
adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible 
alternative standards. The CASAC, an independent science advisory 
committee whose review and advisory functions are mandated by Section 
109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) with 
independent scientific review of the EPA's air quality criteria.
    On August 21, 2013 (78 FR 53452), EPA formally initiated its 
current review of the air quality criteria for the ecological effects 
of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur, and the associated 
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS, requesting the submission of recent 
scientific information on specified topics. Similarly, on December 3, 
2014 (79 FR 71764), EPA formally initiated its current review of the 
air quality criteria for the particulate matter NAAQS. EPA conducted 
two workshops--the first on March 4 to 6, 2014, for oxides of nitrogen 
and oxides of sulfur (79 FR 8644, February 13, 2014), and the second on 
February 11, 2015 (79 FR 71764, December 3, 2014), for particulate 
matter--to gather input from invited scientific experts, both internal 
and external to EPA, as well as from the public, regarding key science 
and policy issues relevant to the review of the these secondary NAAQS. 
These science and policy issues were incorporated into EPA's ``Draft 
Integrated Review Plan for the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard for Oxides of Nitrogen and Oxides of Sulfur'' as well as the 
``Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
for Particulate Matter.'' The Draft Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for 
oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur was available for public 
comment (80 FR 69220, November 9, 2015) and discussion by the CASAC via 
publicly accessible teleconference consultation (80 FR 65223, February 
10, 2016). The Draft IRP for particulate matter was available for 
public comment (81 FR 2297, April 19, 2016) and discussion by the CASAC 
via publicly accessible teleconference consultation (81 FR 13362, March 
14, 2016) prior to release of the final document (81 FR 87933, December 
6, 2016). The final ``Integrated Review Plan for the Secondary National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, 
and Particulate Matter'' will be announced by a separate Federal 
Register notice.
    Teleconference workshops with invited scientific experts, both 
internal and external to EPA, were held on August 25, 26, and 27, 2015 
(80 FR 48316, August 12, 2015), and June 13, 2016 (81 FR 89262, May 11, 
2016), to discuss initial draft materials prepared in the development 
of the draft ISA.
    The ``First External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for 
Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter--
Ecological Criteria'' will be discussed at a public meeting for review 
by CASAC and the public. In addition to the public comment period 
announced in this notice, the public will have an opportunity to 
address the CASAC. A separate Federal Register notice will inform the 
public of the exact date and time of the CASAC meeting and of the 
procedures for public participation.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at 
www.regulations.gov

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-
0620 and Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0128, by one of the following 
methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-9744.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004.
    The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The phone 
number for the Public Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Deliveries are only 
accepted during the docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you 
provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies 
of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages 
consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and 
three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2013-0620 and Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0128. Please ensure that 
your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. 
Comments received after the closing date will be marked ``late,'' and 
may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA's policy to include 
all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to 
make the comments available online at www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided, unless a comment includes 
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not 
submit information through www.regulations.gov or email that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. The www.regulations.gov Web 
site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know 
your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body 
of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without 
going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

[[Page 15704]]

    Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
on www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: February 14, 2017.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2017-06317 Filed 3-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.