Release of Second Draft Document Related to the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, 39253-39254 [2010-16490]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 2010 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES periodically review and revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised criteria.1 Presently, EPA is reviewing the 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.2 A draft of this integrated review plan was released for public review and comment in October 2007 and was the subject of a consultation with the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) on November 30, 2007 (72 FR 63177; November 8, 2007).3 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 and secondary PM NAAQS, the Agency conducted quantitative assessments characterizing: (1) The health risks associated with exposure to ambient PM, and (2) urban visibility impairment associated with ambient 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).4 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). First and second external review drafts of the assessment documents were released for CASAC review and public comment in September 2009 (74 FR 46589; September 10, 2009) and January/February 2010 (75 FR 4067; January 26, 2010), respectively, and were the subjects of CASAC review meetings in October 2009 (74 FR 46586; September 10, 2009) and March 2010 (75 FR 8062; February 23, 2010), respectively. In preparing the final assessment documents, EPA has 1 See https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html for more information on the NAAQS review process. 2 EPA 452R–08–004; March 2008; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/ s_pm_2007_pd.html. 3 See https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ WebProjectsbyTopicCASAC!OpenView for more information on CASAC activities related to the current PM NAAQS review. 4 EPA–452/P–09–001 and –002; February 2009; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/ standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pd.html. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:09 Jul 07, 2010 Jkt 220001 considered comments received from CASAC and the public on these earlier draft documents. The final assessment documents announced today convey the approaches taken to assess PM-related human health risks and urban visibility impairment, as well as present key results, observations, and related uncertainties associated with the quantitative analyses performed. These documents will be available on or about June 30, 2010, through the Agency’s Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ naaqs/standards/pm/ s_pm_2007_risk.html. Dated: June 25, 2010. Jennifer Noonan Edmonds, Acting Director. [FR Doc. 2010–16491 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0492; FRL–9171–6] Release of Second Draft Document Related to the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Availability of draft document for public comment. SUMMARY: On or about June 30, 2010, the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of EPA is making available for public comment a draft document: Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards—Second External Review Draft. This draft document 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 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 August 16, 2010. 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 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39253 • 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. 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 material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1 39254 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 2010 / Notices 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 this draft document, 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; email: hassett-sipple.beth@epa.gov; telephone: 919–541–4605; fax: 919– 541–0237. General Information srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:09 Jul 07, 2010 Jkt 220001 • 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.1 Presently, EPA is reviewing the 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.2 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 Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (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 has completed the Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter 3 and 1 See https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html for more information on the NAAQS review process. 2 EPA 452R–08–004; March 2008; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/ s_pm_2007_pd.html. 3 EPA 600/R–08/139F and EPA 600/R–08/139FA, December 2009; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_isa.html. PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 two quantitative assessment documents characterizing: (1) The health risks associated with exposure to ambient PM and (2) urban visibility impairment associated with PM. The two assessment documents are titled, Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility Assessment and Quantitative Health Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter.4 The second draft Policy Assessment announced today builds on the scientific and technical information available in this review as assessed in the Integrated Science Assessment and the two quantitative assessment documents identified above. This document presents factors relevant to EPA’s review of the primary and secondary PM NAAQS. It focuses on both evidence- and risk-based information in evaluating the adequacy of the current PM NAAQS and identifying potential alternative standards for consideration. The second draft Policy Assessment may be accessed online on or about June 30, 2010, through EPA’s TTN Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/ standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pa.html. The EPA is soliciting advice and recommendations from the CASAC by means of a review of the second draft Policy Assessment at an upcoming public meeting of the CASAC that will be held on July 26–27, 2010 (75 FR 32763; June 9, 2010). Following the CASAC meeting, EPA will consider comments received from the CASAC and the public in preparing a final Policy Assessment. The draft document described above does not represent and should not be construed to represent any final EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. Dated: June 25, 2010. Jennifer Noonan Edwards, Acting Director. [FR Doc. 2010–16490 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2009–0443; FRL–9173–7] EPA Responses to State and Tribal 2008 Lead Designation Recommendations: Notice of Availability and Public Comment Period AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 4 EPA 452/R–10–004 and EPA 452/R–10–005, June 2010; Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_risk.html. E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39253-39254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16490]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492; FRL-9171-6]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Availability of draft document for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: On or about June 30, 2010, the Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards (OAQPS) of EPA is making available for public comment a 
draft document: Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate 
Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards--Second External Review 
Draft. This draft document 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 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 August 16, 2010.

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.
    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 material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket

[[Page 39254]]

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 this draft 
document, 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.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html for more 
information on the NAAQS review process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Presently, EPA is reviewing the 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.\2\ 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 Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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 has completed the Integrated 
Science Assessment for Particulate Matter \3\ and two quantitative 
assessment documents characterizing: (1) The health risks associated 
with exposure to ambient PM and (2) urban visibility impairment 
associated with PM. The two assessment documents are titled, 
Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility Assessment and Quantitative 
Health Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ EPA 600/R-08/139F and EPA 600/R-08/139FA, December 2009; 
Available: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_isa.html.
    \4\ EPA 452/R-10-004 and EPA 452/R-10-005, June 2010; Available: 
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_risk.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The second draft Policy Assessment announced today builds on the 
scientific and technical information available in this review as 
assessed in the Integrated Science Assessment and the two quantitative 
assessment documents identified above. This document presents factors 
relevant to EPA's review of the primary and secondary PM NAAQS. It 
focuses on both evidence- and risk-based information in evaluating the 
adequacy of the current PM NAAQS and identifying potential alternative 
standards for consideration. The second draft Policy Assessment may be 
accessed online on or about June 30, 2010, through EPA's TTN Web site 
at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pa.html.
    The EPA is soliciting advice and recommendations from the CASAC by 
means of a review of the second draft Policy Assessment at an upcoming 
public meeting of the CASAC that will be held on July 26-27, 2010 (75 
FR 32763; June 9, 2010). Following the CASAC meeting, EPA will consider 
comments received from the CASAC and the public in preparing a final 
Policy Assessment.
    The draft document described above does not represent and should 
not be construed to represent any final EPA policy, viewpoint, or 
determination.

    Dated: June 25, 2010.
Jennifer Noonan Edwards,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-16490 Filed 7-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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