Release of Draft Documents Related to the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, 46589-46591 [E9-21822]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 174 / Thursday, September 10, 2009 / Notices advance-registration forms should be sent to Ms. Joi Ross, APEX Direct Inc., by phone at (630) 372–8080, by fax at (630) 372–4394, or by e-mail at jross@alwayspursuingexcellence.com. Please provide name, organization, and telephone number for follow-up as necessary. Non-English speaking attendees wishing to arrange for a foreign language interpreter also may make appropriate arrangements using these numbers. Correspondence concerning the meeting should be sent to Ms. Victoria Robinson, NEJAC NEJAC Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., (MC2201A), Washington, DC 20460; via e-mail at Robinson.Victoria@epa.gov; by telephone at (202) 564–6349; or by FAX at (202) 564–1624. Additional information about the meeting is available at the Internet Web site: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/ environmentaljustice/nejac/ meetings.html. The Charter of the NEJAC states that the advisory committee shall provide independent advice to the Administrator on areas that may include, among other things, ‘‘advice about broad, cross-cutting issues related to environmental justice, including environment-related strategic, scientific, technological, regulatory and economic issues related to environmental justice. The teleconference call shall be used to receive comments, discuss and provide recommendations primarily regarding EPA’s national enforcement priorities. A. Public Comment: Individuals or groups making remarks during the public comment period will be limited to a total time of five minutes. Only one representative of a community, organization or group will be allowed to speak. Written comments can also be submitted for the record. The suggested format for individuals providing public comments is as follows: Name of Speaker, Name of Organization/ Community, Address/Telephone/Email, Description of Concern and its Relationship to a Specific Policy Issue(s), and Recommendations or desired outcome. Written comments received by 11 a.m. Eastern Time Wednesday, September 23, 2009 will be included in the materials distributed to the members of the NEJAC. Written comments received after that time will be provided to the NEJAC as logistics allow. All information should be sent Ms. Joi Ross listed in the CONTACT section above. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:13 Sep 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 B. Information about Services for Individuals with Disabilities: For information about access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Ms. Joi Ross listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. To request special accommodations for a disability, please contact Ms. Hammond, at least 10 days prior to the call, to give EPA sufficient time to process your request. All requests should be sent to the address, e-mail, or fax number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. Dated: September 9, 2009. Victoria Robinson, Designated Federal Officer, National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. [FR Doc. E9–21829 Filed 9–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0492; FRL–8955–2] Release of Draft Documents Related to the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Availability of draft documents for public comment. SUMMARY: On or about September 4, 2009, the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of EPA is making available for public comment two draft assessment documents: Risk Assessment to Support the Review of the PM Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards—External Review Draft and Particulate Matter UrbanFocused Visibility Assessment— External Review Draft. These draft documents describe the quantitative analyses that are being conducted as part of the review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before October 15, 2009. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2007–0492, by one of the following methods: • https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to a-and-rdocket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0492. PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46589 • Fax: Fax your comments to 202– 566–9744, Attention Docket ID. No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0492. • Mail: Send your comments to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0492. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver your comments to: EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007– 0492. The EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https:// www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://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 e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your e-mail 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/epahome/dockets.htm. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https:// 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 E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1 46590 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 174 / Thursday, September 10, 2009 / Notices material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. This Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket telephone number is 202–566– 1742; fax 202–566–9744. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to the draft document titled, Risk Assessment to Support the Review of the PM Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards: External Review Draft (September 2009), please contact Dr. Zachary Pekar, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (Mail code C504–06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; email: pekar.zachary@epa.gov; telephone: 919–541–3704; fax: 919– 541–0237. For questions related to the draft document titled, Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility Assessment— External Review Draft (September 2009), please contact Ms. Vicki Sandiford, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (Mail code C504–06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; email: sandiford.vicki@epa.gov; telephone: 919–541–2629; fax: 919– 541–0237. For questions related to the preliminary draft document, Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Preliminary Draft (September 2009), please contact Ms. Beth Hassett-Sipple, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (Mail code C504–06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; e-mail: hassett-sipple. beth@epa.gov; telephone: 919–541– 4605; fax: 919–541–0237. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES General Information A. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through https:// www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:13 Sep 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number). • Follow directions—The agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/ or data that you used. • If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. • Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Administrator identifies and lists certain pollutants which ‘‘cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.’’ The EPA then issues air quality criteria for these listed pollutants, which are commonly referred to as ‘‘criteria pollutants.’’ The 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, in varying quantities.’’ Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA establishes primary (healthbased) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants for which air quality criteria are issued. Section 109(d) of the CAA requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria. The revised air quality criteria reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. The EPA is also required to periodically review and revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised criteria. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Air quality criteria have been established for PM and NAAQS have been established for PM2.5 and PM10, to provide protection from fine and coarse particles, respectively. Presently, EPA is reviewing the air quality criteria and NAAQS for PM. The EPA’s overall plan and schedule for this review is presented in the Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.1 A draft of the integrated review plan was released for public review and comment in October 2007 and was the subject of a consultation with the CASAC on November 30, 2007 (72 FR 63177; November 8, 2007). Comments received from that consultation and from the public were considered in finalizing the plan and in beginning the review of the air quality criteria. As part of EPA’s review of the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) PM NAAQS, the Agency is conducting quantitative assessments characterizing (1) the health risks associated with exposure to ambient PM and (2) urban visibility impairment associated with PM. The EPA’s plans for conducting these assessments, including the proposed scope and methods of the analyses, were presented in two planning documents titled, Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Scope and Methods Plan for Health Risk and Exposure Assessment and Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Scope and Methods Plan for Urban Visibility Impact Assessment (henceforth, Scope and Methods Plans).2 These documents were released for public comment in February 2009 and were the subject of a consultation with the CASAC on April 2, 2009 (74 FR 11580; March 18, 2009). Comments received from the CASAC consultation (Samet, 2009) 3 as well as public comments on the Scope and Methods Plans have been considered in developing the draft assessment documents being released at this time. The draft documents announced today convey the approaches taken to assess exposures to ambient PM and to characterize associated health risks or urban visibility impairment, as well as present the initial key results, observations, and related uncertainties associated with the quantitative analyses performed. These draft 1 EPA 452R–08–004; March 2008; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_ 2007_pd.html. 2 EPA–452/P–09–001 and –002; February 2009; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/ standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pd.html. 3 See https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ 4620a620d0120f93852572410080d786/350899 ec134552948525746600691de5!OpenDocument. E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 174 / Thursday, September 10, 2009 / Notices documents will be available on or about September 4, 2009, through the Agency’s Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/ s_pm_index.html. These documents may be accessed in the ‘‘Documents from Current Review’’ section under ‘‘Risk and Exposure Assessments.’’ The EPA is soliciting advice and recommendations from the CASAC by means of a review of the draft documents at an upcoming public meeting of the CASAC scheduled in Chapel Hill, NC. Information about this public meeting, including the date and location, will be published as a separate notice in the Federal Register. Following the CASAC meeting, EPA will consider comments received from the CASAC and the public in preparing revisions to these assessment documents. In addition, on or about September 15, 2009, EPA will make available a third draft document: Policy Assessment for the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Preliminary Draft. The development of this document is a result of recent changes to the NAAQS review process. On May 21, 2009, Administrator Jackson called for key changes to the NAAQS review process including reinstating a policy assessment document that contains staff analyses of the scientific bases for alternative policy options for consideration by senior Agency management prior to rulemaking. This document, which builds upon the historical ‘‘Staff Paper,’’ will serve to ‘‘bridge the gap’’ between the scientific information and the judgments required of the Administrator in determining whether it is appropriate to retain or revise the standards. In conjunction with this change, EPA will no longer issue a policy assessment in the form of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR).4 The preliminary draft Policy Assessment (PA) builds upon information presented in the Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (Second External Review Draft) 5 and the two draft assessment documents described above. This preliminary draft PA will include several chapters but is not intended to be a complete draft PA document in that it will not include staff conclusions on a range of policy options that could be appropriate for the 4 See https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html for a copy of Administrator Jackson’s May 21, 2009 memorandum and for additional information on the NAAQS review process. 5 EPA/600/R–08/139B; July 2009; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/ s_pm_2007_isa.html. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:13 Sep 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 Administrator to consider concerning whether, and if so how, to revise the primary and secondary PM NAAQS. It is instead being released for informational purposes to facilitate a discussion with CASAC on the overall structure, areas of focus, and level of detail to be included in an external review draft of the document, which EPA plans to release for CASAC review and public comment later this year. The preliminary draft PA may be accessed online through EPA’s TTN Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html. This document may be accessed in the ‘‘Documents from Current Review’’ section under ‘‘Policy Assessments.’’ The discussion with CASAC on this preliminary draft PA will be held at the same meeting that CASAC will review of the second draft ISA and the two draft assessment documents described above. The draft documents briefly described above do not represent and should not be construed to represent any final EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. The EPA will consider any public comments submitted in response to this notice when revising the documents. Dated: September 2, 2009. Jeffrey S. Clark, Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. E9–21822 Filed 9–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0044; FRL–8955–3] Risk Management Programs Under Section 112(r)(7) of the Clean Air Act as Amended; Contractor Access to Confidential Business Information and Address Change for the Submission of Risk Management Plans AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The EPA has authorized the following contractor to access information that has been, or will be, submitted to EPA under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended: CGI Federal, Inc. and its subcontractor, Management Support Technology, Inc. (MSTI), (GSA Contract #GS–35F4797H to #1518, expiring March 30, 2012). The EPA announces a new address to which Risk Management Plans (RMPs) are to be sent. Some of the information submitted under section 112(r) may be claimed to be confidential business information (CBI) by the submitter. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46591 DATES: RMPs may be sent to the new address effective September 21, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Armando Santiago, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, MC: 5104a, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460. The EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information under section 112(r) of the CAA that EPA may provide the above-mentioned contractor and its subcontractor access to these materials on a need-to-know basis. This contractor will provide technical support to the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response in the receipt, processing and storage of Risk Management Plans submitted to EPA under the CAA. In accordance with 40 CFR 2.301(h), EPA has determined that the contractor and its subcontractor require access to CBI submitted to EPA under sections 112(r) and 114 of the CAA in order to perform work satisfactorily under the abovenoted contract. The contractor’s and subcontractor’s personnel will be given access to information submitted under section 112(r) of the CAA. Some of the information may be claimed or determined to be CBI. The contractor’s and subcontractor’s personnel will be required to sign nondisclosure agreements prior to receiving access to CBI. All contractor access to CAA CBI will take place at the contractor’s facility. The contractor will have appropriate procedures and facilities in place to safeguard the CAA CBI to which the contractor and its subcontractor have access. Clearance for access to CBI is scheduled to expire on March 30, 2012 or at contract termination. Risk Management Plans submitted to EPA should be mailed to: Risk Management Plan (RMP) Reporting Center, P.O. Box 10162, Fairfax, VA 22038. Courier deliveries and express mail should be addressed to: RMP Reporting Center, c/o CGI Federal, 12601 Fair Lakes Circle, Fairfax, VA 22033. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: August 28, 2009. Deborah Y. Dietrich, Director, Office of Emergency Management. [FR Doc. E9–21824 Filed 9–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46589-46591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21822]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492; FRL-8955-2]


Release of Draft Documents Related to the Review of the National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Availability of draft documents for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: On or about September 4, 2009, the Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of EPA is making available for public 
comment two draft assessment documents: Risk Assessment to Support the 
Review of the PM Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards--
External Review Draft and Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility 
Assessment--External Review Draft. These draft documents describe the 
quantitative analyses that are being conducted as part of the review of 
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate 
matter (PM).

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before October 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0492, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) 
to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-
0492.
     Fax: Fax your comments to 202-566-9744, Attention Docket 
ID. No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492.
     Mail: Send your comments to: Air and Radiation Docket and 
Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver your comments to: EPA 
Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC. 
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2007-0492. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://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 e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through https://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail 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/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://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

[[Page 46590]]

material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only 
in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air 
Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. This Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
Docket telephone number is 202-566-1742; fax 202-566-9744.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to the draft 
document titled, Risk Assessment to Support the Review of the PM 
Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards: External Review Draft 
(September 2009), please contact Dr. Zachary Pekar, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (Mail code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; e-mail: 
pekar.zachary@epa.gov; telephone: 919-541-3704; fax: 919-541-0237.
    For questions related to the draft document titled, Particulate 
Matter Urban-Focused Visibility Assessment--External Review Draft 
(September 2009), please contact Ms. Vicki Sandiford, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (Mail code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; e-mail: 
sandiford.vicki@epa.gov; telephone: 919-541-2629; fax: 919-541-0237.
    For questions related to the preliminary draft document, Policy 
Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards: Preliminary Draft (September 2009), please 
contact Ms. Beth Hassett-Sipple, Office of Air Quality Planning and 
Standards (Mail code C504-06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; e-mail: hassett-sipple.beth@epa.gov; 
telephone: 919-541-4605; fax: 919-541-0237.

General Information

A. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of 
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk 
or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM 
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and 
page number).
     Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act 
(CAA), the Administrator identifies and lists certain pollutants which 
``cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be 
anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.'' The EPA then issues 
air quality criteria for these listed pollutants, which are commonly 
referred to as ``criteria pollutants.'' The 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, in varying quantities.'' Under section 
109 of the CAA, EPA establishes primary (health-based) and secondary 
(welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants for which air quality criteria are 
issued. Section 109(d) of the CAA requires periodic review and, if 
appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria. The revised air 
quality criteria reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the 
effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. The EPA is also 
required to periodically review and revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, 
based on the revised criteria.
    Air quality criteria have been established for PM and NAAQS have 
been established for PM2.5 and PM10, to provide 
protection from fine and coarse particles, respectively. Presently, EPA 
is reviewing the air quality criteria and NAAQS for PM. The EPA's 
overall plan and schedule for this review is presented in the 
Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
for Particulate Matter.\1\ A draft of the integrated review plan was 
released for public review and comment in October 2007 and was the 
subject of a consultation with the CASAC on November 30, 2007 (72 FR 
63177; November 8, 2007). Comments received from that consultation and 
from the public were considered in finalizing the plan and in beginning 
the review of the air quality criteria.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ EPA 452R-08-004; March 2008; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pd.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As part of EPA's review of the primary (health-based) and secondary 
(welfare-based) PM NAAQS, the Agency is conducting quantitative 
assessments characterizing (1) the health risks associated with 
exposure to ambient PM and (2) urban visibility impairment associated 
with PM. The EPA's plans for conducting these assessments, including 
the proposed scope and methods of the analyses, were presented in two 
planning documents titled, Particulate Matter National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards: Scope and Methods Plan for Health Risk and Exposure 
Assessment and Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards: Scope and Methods Plan for Urban Visibility Impact 
Assessment (henceforth, Scope and Methods Plans).\2\ These documents 
were released for public comment in February 2009 and were the subject 
of a consultation with the CASAC on April 2, 2009 (74 FR 11580; March 
18, 2009). Comments received from the CASAC consultation (Samet, 2009) 
\3\ as well as public comments on the Scope and Methods Plans have been 
considered in developing the draft assessment documents being released 
at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ EPA-452/P-09-001 and -002; February 2009; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pd.html.
    \3\ See https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/4620a620d0120f93852572410080d786/350899ec134552948525746600691de5!OpenDocument.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The draft documents announced today convey the approaches taken to 
assess exposures to ambient PM and to characterize associated health 
risks or urban visibility impairment, as well as present the initial 
key results, observations, and related uncertainties associated with 
the quantitative analyses performed. These draft

[[Page 46591]]

documents will be available on or about September 4, 2009, through the 
Agency's Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html. These documents 
may be accessed in the ``Documents from Current Review'' section under 
``Risk and Exposure Assessments.'' The EPA is soliciting advice and 
recommendations from the CASAC by means of a review of the draft 
documents at an upcoming public meeting of the CASAC scheduled in 
Chapel Hill, NC. Information about this public meeting, including the 
date and location, will be published as a separate notice in the 
Federal Register. Following the CASAC meeting, EPA will consider 
comments received from the CASAC and the public in preparing revisions 
to these assessment documents.
    In addition, on or about September 15, 2009, EPA will make 
available a third draft document: Policy Assessment for the Review of 
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Preliminary Draft. The 
development of this document is a result of recent changes to the NAAQS 
review process. On May 21, 2009, Administrator Jackson called for key 
changes to the NAAQS review process including reinstating a policy 
assessment document that contains staff analyses of the scientific 
bases for alternative policy options for consideration by senior Agency 
management prior to rulemaking. This document, which builds upon the 
historical ``Staff Paper,'' will serve to ``bridge the gap'' between 
the scientific information and the judgments required of the 
Administrator in determining whether it is appropriate to retain or 
revise the standards. In conjunction with this change, EPA will no 
longer issue a policy assessment in the form of an Advance Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR).\4\
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    \4\ See https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html for a copy of 
Administrator Jackson's May 21, 2009 memorandum and for additional 
information on the NAAQS review process.
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    The preliminary draft Policy Assessment (PA) builds upon 
information presented in the Integrated Science Assessment for 
Particulate Matter (Second External Review Draft) \5\ and the two draft 
assessment documents described above. This preliminary draft PA will 
include several chapters but is not intended to be a complete draft PA 
document in that it will not include staff conclusions on a range of 
policy options that could be appropriate for the Administrator to 
consider concerning whether, and if so how, to revise the primary and 
secondary PM NAAQS. It is instead being released for informational 
purposes to facilitate a discussion with CASAC on the overall 
structure, areas of focus, and level of detail to be included in an 
external review draft of the document, which EPA plans to release for 
CASAC review and public comment later this year.
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    \5\ EPA/600/R-08/139B; July 2009; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_isa.html.
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    The preliminary draft PA may be accessed online through EPA's TTN 
Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html. This document may be accessed in the ``Documents from 
Current Review'' section under ``Policy Assessments.'' The discussion 
with CASAC on this preliminary draft PA will be held at the same 
meeting that CASAC will review of the second draft ISA and the two 
draft assessment documents described above.
    The draft documents briefly described above do not represent and 
should not be construed to represent any final EPA policy, viewpoint, 
or determination. The EPA will consider any public comments submitted 
in response to this notice when revising the documents.

    Dated: September 2, 2009.
Jeffrey S. Clark,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. E9-21822 Filed 9-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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