Release of Final Policy Assessment Document Related to the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead, 26751-26752 [2014-10679]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 90 / Friday, May 9, 2014 / Notices Dated: May 6, 2014. Cliff Rader, Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. 2014–10681 Filed 5–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9910–58–OW] Notice of a Public Meeting: The National Drinking Water Advisory Council Lead and Copper Rule Working Group Meeting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a public meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWC) Lead and Copper Rule Working Group (LCRWG). The meeting is scheduled for May 29 and 30, 2014, in Arlington, VA. During this meeting, the LCRWG and the EPA will focus discussions on the Lead and Copper Rule sample site selection criteria. DATES: The meeting on May 29, 2014, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time, and on May 30, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Cadmus Group Inc., 1555 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA, and will be open to the public. All attendees must sign in with the security desk and show photo identification to enter the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information about this meeting or to request written materials contact Lameka Smith, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water; by phone (202) 564–1629 or by email at LCRWorkingGroup@epa.gov. For additional information about the Lead and Copper Rule, please visit: https:// water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ lcr/index.cfm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Details about Participating in the Meeting: Members of the public who would like to register for this meeting should contact Lameka Smith by May 27th, 2014, by email at LCRWorkingGroup@epa.gov or by phone at 202–564–1629. The LCRWG will allocate time for the public’s input at the meeting on May 29 and 30. Oral statements will be limited to five minutes at the meeting. It is preferred that only one person present the ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:53 May 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 statement on behalf of a group or organization. To ensure adequate time for public involvement, individuals or organizations interested in presenting an oral statement should notify Lameka Smith no later than May 22, 2014. Any person who wishes to file a written statement can do so before or after the LCRWG meeting. Written statements intended for the meeting must be received by May 22, 2014, to be distributed to all members of the working group before the meeting. Any statements received on or after the date specified will become part of the permanent file for the meeting and will be forwarded to the LCRWG members for their information. Special Accommodations: For information on access or to request special accommodations for individuals with disabilities please contact Lameka Smith at (202) 564–1629 or by email at LCRWorkingGroup@epa.gov at least 10 days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: April 30, 2014. Peter Grevatt, Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. [FR Doc. 2014–10677 Filed 5–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0108; FRL–9910–59– OAR] Release of Final Policy Assessment Document Related to the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The EPA is announcing the availability of a final document titled Policy Assessment for the Review of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The Policy Assessment (PA) has been prepared by staff in the EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) as part of the agency’s ongoing review of the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfarebased) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead (Pb). It presents analyses and staff conclusions regarding the policy implications of the key scientific and technical information that informs this review. DATES: The PA will be available on or about May 9, 2014. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26751 This document will be available primarily via the Internet at the following Web site: https:// www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pb/ s_pb_index.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Deirdre Murphy, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (mail code C504–06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919–541–0729; fax number: 919–541– 0237; email address: murphy.deirdre@ epa.gov. ADDRESSES: Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA) govern the establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42 U.S.C. section 7408) directs the Administrator to identify and list certain air pollutants and then to issue air quality criteria for those pollutants. The Administrator is to list those air pollutants that in her ‘‘judgment, cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare;’’ ‘‘the presence of which in the ambient air results from numerous or diverse mobile or stationary sources;’’ and ‘‘for which . . . [the Administrator] plans to issue air quality criteria. . . .’’ Air quality criteria are intended 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 . . .’’ 42 U.S.C. section 7408(b). Under section 109 (42 U.S.C. section 7409), the EPA establishes primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants for which air quality criteria are issued. Section 109(d) requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria. The EPA is also required to periodically review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS based on the revised criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that an independent scientific review committee ‘‘shall complete a review of the criteria . . . and the national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards . . . and shall recommend to the Administrator any new . . . standards and revisions of existing criteria and standards as may be appropriate. . . .’’ Since the early 1980’s, this independent review function has been performed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). Presently, the EPA is reviewing the NAAQS for Pb.1 The document, whose SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1 The EPA’s call for information for this review was issued on February 26, 2010 (75 FR 8934). E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1 26752 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 90 / Friday, May 9, 2014 / Notices availability is being announced today, Policy Assessment for the Review of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, presents analyses and staff conclusions regarding the policy implications of the key scientific and technical information that informs this review. The PA is intended to ‘‘bridge the gap’’ between the relevant scientific evidence and technical information and the judgments required of the EPA Administrator in determining whether to retain or revise the current standards. The PA builds upon information presented in the Integrated Science Assessment for Lead prepared for this review by the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) as well as scientific and technical assessments from prior Pb NAAQS reviews, including quantitative risk and exposure assessments developed in the last review. A draft of the PA document was released for CASAC review and public comment in January 2013 (78 FR 2394), and was the subject of a CASAC review meeting on February 5–6, 2013 (78 FR 938). In preparing the final PA, EPA has considered comments received from CASAC and the public on the earlier draft document. This final PA document will be available through the agency’s Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ naaqs/standards/pb/s_pb_index.html. This document may be accessed in the ‘‘Documents from Current Review’’ section under ‘‘Policy Assessments.’’ Dated: May 2, 2014. Mary E. Henigin, Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. 2014–10679 Filed 5–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9910–61–OGC] Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment. AGENCY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (‘‘CAA’’), notice is hereby given of a proposed partial consent decree to address lawsuits filed by the States of New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (collectively ‘‘State Plaintiffs’’); the ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:53 May 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 American Lung Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Clean Air Council and Environment and Human Health, Inc. (collectively ‘‘Environmental Plaintiffs’’); and interveners the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (‘‘Association Plaintiff’’) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia: State of New York, et al. v. McCarthy, No. 13–1553 and consolidated case No. 13–1555 (D. D.C). Plaintiffs each filed a complaint alleging that EPA failed to perform a nondiscretionary duty to review, and, if necessary, revise the new performance standards for new residential wood heaters, at least every eight years. The consent decree would require EPA to sign a notice to take final action by February 3, 2015. DATES: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by June 9, 2014. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID number EPA– HQ–OGC–2014–0363, online at www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred method); by email to oei.docket@epa.gov; mailed to EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; or by hand delivery or courier to EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Comments on a disk or CD– ROM should be formatted in Word or ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption, and may be mailed to the mailing address above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Jordan, Air and Radiation Law Office (2344A), Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 564–7508; fax number (202) 564–5603; email address: jordan.scott@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Additional Information About the Proposed Consent Decree The proposed consent decree would settle claims by the State and Environmental Plaintiffs in deadline suits alleging that EPA failed to perform a nondiscretionary duty pursuant to section 111(b)(1)(B) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7411(b)(1)(B) to review, and, if necessary, revise, the new source performance standards for new residential wood heaters at least once every eight years. The Association Plaintiff has not agreed to settle its PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 claims against EPA and does not join in this Consent Decree. The proposed consent decree would require EPA, by February 3, 2015, to sign a Federal Register notice taking final action with respect to the Wood Heater NSPS Standards, 40 CFR part 60, Subpart AAA, with such modifications as EPA deems appropriate under CAA section 111(b)(1)(B), 42 U.S.C. 7411(b)(l)(B). Under the proposed consent decree, once EPA has met its obligations, and the parties have resolved any claims for litigation costs, the State and Environmental Plaintiffs and EPA agree that this consent decree shall constitute a complete and final settlement of all claims that the State and Environmental Plaintiffs asserted against EPA, in State of New York, et al. v. EPA, Case No. 1:13–cv–1553–GK (and consolidated case). For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the proposed consent decree from persons who were not named as parties or intervenors to the litigation in question. EPA or the Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed consent decree if the comments disclose facts or considerations that indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with the requirements of the Act. Unless EPA or the Department of Justice determines that consent to the consent decree should be withdrawn, the terms of the decree will be affirmed. II. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree A. How can I get a copy of the consent decree? Direct your comments to the official public docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2014– 0363 which contains a copy of the consent decree. The official public docket is available for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. 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 telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is (202) 566– 1752. An electronic version of the public docket is available through www.regulations.gov. You may use the www.regulations.gov to submit or view E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26751-26752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10679]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0108; FRL-9910-59-OAR]


Release of Final Policy Assessment Document Related to the Review 
of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing the availability of a final document 
titled Policy Assessment for the Review of the Lead National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards. The Policy Assessment (PA) has been prepared by 
staff in the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) 
as part of the agency's ongoing review of the primary (health-based) 
and secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards 
(NAAQS) for lead (Pb). It presents analyses and staff conclusions 
regarding the policy implications of the key scientific and technical 
information that informs this review.

DATES: The PA will be available on or about May 9, 2014.

ADDRESSES: This document will be available primarily via the Internet 
at the following Web site: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pb/s_pb_index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Deirdre Murphy, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (mail code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 
919-541-0729; fax number: 919-541-0237; email address: 
murphy.deirdre@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA) 
govern the establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42 
U.S.C. section 7408) directs the Administrator to identify and list 
certain air pollutants and then to issue air quality criteria for those 
pollutants. The Administrator is to list those air pollutants that in 
her ``judgment, cause or contribute to air pollution which may 
reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare;'' ``the 
presence of which in the ambient air results from numerous or diverse 
mobile or stationary sources;'' and ``for which . . . [the 
Administrator] plans to issue air quality criteria. . . .'' Air quality 
criteria are intended 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 . . .'' 42 U.S.C. section 
7408(b). Under section 109 (42 U.S.C. section 7409), the EPA 
establishes primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS 
for pollutants for which air quality criteria are issued. Section 
109(d) requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of 
existing air quality criteria. The EPA is also required to periodically 
review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS based on the revised 
criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that an independent scientific 
review committee ``shall complete a review of the criteria . . . and 
the national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards . . . 
and shall recommend to the Administrator any new . . . standards and 
revisions of existing criteria and standards as may be appropriate. . . 
.'' Since the early 1980's, this independent review function has been 
performed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).
    Presently, the EPA is reviewing the NAAQS for Pb.\1\ The document, 
whose

[[Page 26752]]

availability is being announced today, Policy Assessment for the Review 
of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, presents analyses 
and staff conclusions regarding the policy implications of the key 
scientific and technical information that informs this review. The PA 
is intended to ``bridge the gap'' between the relevant scientific 
evidence and technical information and the judgments required of the 
EPA Administrator in determining whether to retain or revise the 
current standards. The PA builds upon information presented in the 
Integrated Science Assessment for Lead prepared for this review by the 
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) as well as scientific 
and technical assessments from prior Pb NAAQS reviews, including 
quantitative risk and exposure assessments developed in the last 
review. A draft of the PA document was released for CASAC review and 
public comment in January 2013 (78 FR 2394), and was the subject of a 
CASAC review meeting on February 5-6, 2013 (78 FR 938). In preparing 
the final PA, EPA has considered comments received from CASAC and the 
public on the earlier draft document. This final PA document will be 
available through the agency's Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web 
site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pb/s_pb_index.html. 
This document may be accessed in the ``Documents from Current Review'' 
section under ``Policy Assessments.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The EPA's call for information for this review was issued on 
February 26, 2010 (75 FR 8934).

    Dated: May 2, 2014.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2014-10679 Filed 5-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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