Notice of Workshop and Call for Information on Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter, 71764-71766 [2014-28278]

Download as PDF 71764 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 232 / Wednesday, December 3, 2014 / Notices REGIONAL STATE AND TRIBAL BROWNFIELDS CONTACTS—Continued Region State Tribal 9—AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU Eugenia Chow, 75 Hawthorne St. (SFD–6–1), San Francisco, CA 94105, Phone (415) 972–3160 Fax (415) 947–3520. Mary K. Goolie, 222 West 7th Avenue #19 (AOO), Anchorage, AK 99513 Phone ((907) 271–3414 Fax ( 907) 271–3424. Jose Garcia, Jr., 600 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1460, Los Angeles, CA 90017, Phone (213) 244–1811 Fax (213) 244–1850. Mary K. Goolie, 222 West 7th Avenue #19 (AOO), Anchorage, AK 99513 Phone ((907) 271–3414 Fax (907) 271–3424. 10—AK, ID, OR, WA ........... tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES XI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and is therefore not subject to review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011). Because this action is not subject to notice and comment requirements under the Administrative Procedures Act or any other statute, it is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or Sections 202 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1999 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104–4). In addition, this action does not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action does not create new binding legal requirements that substantially and directly affect Tribes under Executive Order 13175 (63 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action does not have significant Federalism implications under Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). Because this action has been exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This action does not contain any information collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require any special considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). This action does not involve technical standards; thus, the requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides that before certain actions may take effect, the agency promulgating the action must VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:42 Dec 02, 2014 Jkt 235001 submit a report, which includes a copy of the action, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. Because this final action does not contain legally binding requirements, it is not subject to the Congressional Review Act. Dated: November 25, 2014. Gail Ann Cooper, Deputy Director, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. [FR Doc. 2014–28464 Filed 12–2–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9920–00–ORD; Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–ORD–2014–0859] Notice of Workshop and Call for Information on Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Workshop; Call for Information. AGENCY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development’s National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) is preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) as part of the review of the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). This ISA is intended to update the scientific assessment presented in the Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (EPA 600/R–08/ 139F), published in December 2009. Interested parties are invited to assist EPA in developing and refining the scientific information base for the review of the PM NAAQS by submitting research studies that have been published, accepted for publication, or presented at a public scientific meeting. EPA is also announcing that a workshop, entitled ‘‘Workshop to Discuss Policy-Relevant Science to Inform EPA’s Review of the Primary and Secondary NAAQS for PM,’’ is being organized by NCEA and EPA Office of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Air and Radiation’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS). The workshop will be held February 9– February 11, 2015, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The workshop will be open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, firstserved basis up to the limits of available space. DATES: The workshop will be held on February 9–11, 2015. All communications and information submitted in response to the call for information should be received by EPA by February 18, 2015. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at U.S. EPA, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. An EPA contractor, ICF International, is providing logistical support for the workshop. To register, please visit the Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/ pmworkshop2015/. Interested parties can participate in person or via webinar. The pre-registration deadline is February 4, 2015. Please direct questions regarding workshop registration or logistics to Whitney Kihlstrom at (919) 293–1646, or whitney.kihlstrom@icfi.com. For specific questions regarding technical aspects of the workshop see the section of this notice entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Information in response to the call for information may be submitted electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions as provided in the section of this notice entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details on the period for submission of research information from the public, contact the Office of Research and Development (ORD) Docket at EPA’s Headquarters Docket Center; telephone: 202–566–1752; facsimile: 202–566– 9744; or email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. For technical information, contact Mr. Jason Sacks, NCEA; telephone: (919) 541–9729; facsimile: (919) 541–1818; or email: sacks.jason@epa.gov or Dr. Scott Jenkins, OAQPS; telephone: (919) 541– 1167; facsimile: (919) 541–0237; or email: jenkins.scott@epa.gov. E:\FR\FM\03DEN1.SGM 03DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 232 / Wednesday, December 3, 2014 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Project Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs the Administrator to identify and to list certain air pollutants and then to issue ‘‘air quality criteria’’ for those pollutants. 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 such pollutant in the ambient air . . .’’ Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA is then to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the CAA 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 and welfare. EPA is also to revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised air quality criteria. Particulate matter (PM) is one of six ‘‘criteria’’ pollutants for which EPA has established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis for these standards by preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document (AQCD). The evidence and conclusions presented in the ISA directly inform the technical and policy assessments conducted by OAQPS. Collectively, these documents form the scientific and technical bases for EPA’s decisions on the adequacy of existing NAAQS and the appropriateness of new or revised standards. At the start of a NAAQS review, EPA issues an announcement of the review and notes the initiation of the development of the ISA. At that time, EPA also issues a request that the public submit scientific literature that they want to bring to the attention of the Agency for consideration in the review process. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), an independent scientific advisory committee mandated by section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act and part of EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB), is charged with independent expert scientific review of EPA’s draft ISAs and other technical and policy assessments. As the process proceeds, the public will have opportunities to review and comment on draft PM ISAs and other technical and policy assessments. These opportunities will also be announced in the Federal Register. For the review of the PM NAAQS being initiated by this notice, the Agency is interested in obtaining VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:42 Dec 02, 2014 Jkt 235001 additional new information, particularly concerning: (a) Toxicological studies of effects of controlled exposure to PM on laboratory animals and humans; (b) epidemiologic (observational) studies of health effects associated with ambient exposures of human populations to PM; (c) the quantification of light extinction in urban and non-urban areas—for example, new studies regarding visibility preferences, including studies in additional urban and non-urban areas that disentangle visibility preferences from health preferences, the sensitivity of visibility preferences to survey methods and/or preferences regarding intensity versus frequency of visibility impairment; (d) climate impacts from PM-related aerosols, particularly regarding the quantification of anthropogenic aerosol effects on radiative forcing; and (e) ecological studies that examine the effects on agricultural crops and natural terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystems from ambient exposures to PM, including information regarding interactions with other ecosystem stressors and co-occurring pollutants. EPA also seeks recent information in other areas of PM research such as chemistry and physics, sources and emissions, analytical methodology, transport and transformation in the environment, and ambient concentrations. This and other selected literature relevant to a review of the NAAQS for PM will be assessed in the forthcoming PM ISA. It is important to note that for the evaluation of PM and ecological effects, this does not include studies that examine effects due to the deposition of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) or sulfur oxides (SOX) in the particulate form (e.g., ammonium sulfate), which will be covered in the ongoing review of the NOX/SOX secondary standard. Other opportunities for submission of new peer-reviewed, published (or in-press) papers will be possible as part of public comment on the draft ISAs that will be reviewed by CASAC. As part of this review of the PM NAAQS, EPA intends to sponsor a workshop on February 9–February 11, 2015 to provide the opportunity for internal and external experts to highlight significant new and emerging PM research, and to make recommendations to the Agency regarding the design and scope of the review for the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) PM standards to ensure that it addresses key policy-relevant issues and considers the new and emerging science that is relevant to informing EPA’s understanding of these issues. EPA PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71765 intends that workshop discussions will build upon three prior publications (available at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html): 1. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter: Final Rule (78 FR 2086, January 15, 2013). The preamble to the final rule included detailed discussions of policy-relevant issues central to the last review. 2. Integrated Science Assessment for PM—Final Report. (EPA/600/R–08/ 139F, December 2009). The ISA is a comprehensive review, synthesis, and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science, including key science judgments that are important to inform the development of the risk and exposure assessments, as well as other aspects of the NAAQS review. The 2009 PM ISA, completed by EPA’s NCEA, included consideration of studies published through mid-2009. 3. Provisional Assessment of Recent Studies on Health Effects of Particulate Matter Exposure (EPA/600/R–12/056F, December 2012). This assessment, which was completed by EPA’s NCEA, evaluated studies published too late for inclusion in the final PM ISA. The provisional science assessment focused on epidemiologic studies that used PM2.5 (i.e., fine PM) or PM10–2.5 (i.e., coarse PM) and were conducted in the U.S. or Canada, and toxicological or epidemiologic studies that compared effects of PM from different sources, PM components, or size fractions published through August 2012. The document was not intended to critically review individual studies or integrate the scientific findings to draw causal conclusions as is done for an ISA, but rather to ensure that the Administrator was fully aware of the ‘‘new’’ science that had developed since 2009 before making final decisions on whether to retain or revise the then-existing PM standards. Workshop participants are encouraged to review these documents thoroughly before the meeting, as they provide important background information on the scientific findings and analytical approaches considered in the previous review, as well as insights into the key policy-relevant questions from that review. In addition, participants may also want to review related documents (available at: https:// www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/ s_pm_index.html), including the Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (Final Report, April 2011), Quantitative Health Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter (Final Report, June 2010), and Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility E:\FR\FM\03DEN1.SGM 03DEN1 71766 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 232 / Wednesday, December 3, 2014 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Assessment (Final Document, July 2010). Based in large part on the input received during this workshop, EPA will develop a draft Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for the PM NAAQS. This draft IRP will outline the schedule, process, and approaches for evaluating the relevant scientific information and addressing the key policy-relevant issues to be considered in this review. CASAC will be asked to review the draft IRP in the mid-2015 and the public will also have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan. The final IRP, prepared in consideration of CASAC and public comments, will outline the process and schedule for conducting the review and the planned scope of the assessment documents (e.g., an ISA, a risk/exposure assessment, and a policy assessment) as well as the key policyrelevant issues/questions that will guide the review. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at www.regulations.gov Submit your materials identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2014– 0859 by one of the following methods: • www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. • Fax: 202–566–9744. • Mail: Office of Research and Development (ORD) Docket (Mail Code: 28221T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202–566–1752. • Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in EPA’s Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. EPA’s Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202–566–1744. Such 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 materials by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of these materials. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the materials, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2014– 0859. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:42 Dec 02, 2014 Jkt 235001 time permits. It is EPA’s policy to include all materials it receives in the public docket without change and to make the materials available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless materials 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 www.regulations.gov or email. 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 directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the materials that are placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit electronic materials, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your materials and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your materials due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider the materials you submit. 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 EPA’s Docket Center homepage at www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. 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 in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in EPA’s Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: November 24, 2014. Gina Perovich, Acting Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. 2014–28278 Filed 12–2–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION Notice of Agreements Filed The Commission hereby gives notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreements to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within twelve days of the date this notice appears in the Federal Register. Copies of the agreements are available through the Commission’s Web site (www.fmc.gov) or by contacting the Office of Agreements at (202) 523–5793 or tradeanalysis@fmc.gov. Agreement No.: 011526–006. Title: M.O.S.K./Hoegh Autoliners Space Charter Agreement. Parties: Hoegh Autoliners AS and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. Filing Party: Eric C. Jeffrey, Esq.; Nixon Peabody LLP; 401 9th Street NW., Suite 900; Washington, DC 20004 Synopsis: The amendment adds Mexico to the geographic scope of the agreement. Agreement No.: 012233–001. Title: CSCL/UASC/YMUK/CMA CGM/PIL Vessel Sharing and Slot Exchange Agreement—Asia and US/ Canada West Coast Services. Parties: China Shipping Container Lines Co., Ltd. and China Shipping Container Lines (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. (acting as a single party); United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G.); Yang Ming (UK) LTD.; CMA CGM S.A.; and Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL). Filing Party: Patricia M. O’Neill; Blank & Rome LLP; 600 New Hampshire Ave NW., Washington DC 20037. Synopsis: The adds CMA CGM and PIL as parties to the agreement and provides the terms and conditions under which the parties will exchange and charter slots. The amendment also adds Canada to the geographic scope of the agreement. Agreement No.: 012306. Title: DOCE/Seafreight Space Charter Agreement. Parties: Dole Ocean Cargo Express, and Seafreight Line Ltd. Filing Party: Wayne Rohde, Esq; Cozen O’Connor; 1627 I Street NW., Suite 1100; Washington, DC 20006. Synopsis: The Agreement Authorizes Seafreight Line to charter space to Dole Ocean Cargo Express in the trade between the U.S. Atlantic Coast and Central America. Agreement No.: 012307. Title: Maersk/APL Slot Exchange Agreement. Parties: A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S trading under the name of Maersk Line E:\FR\FM\03DEN1.SGM 03DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71764-71766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28278]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9920-00-ORD; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859]


Notice of Workshop and Call for Information on Integrated Science 
Assessment for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Workshop; Call for Information.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of 
Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment 
(NCEA) is preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) as part of 
the review of the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). This ISA is intended to 
update the scientific assessment presented in the Integrated Science 
Assessment for Particulate Matter (EPA 600/R-08/139F), published in 
December 2009. Interested parties are invited to assist EPA in 
developing and refining the scientific information base for the review 
of the PM NAAQS by submitting research studies that have been 
published, accepted for publication, or presented at a public 
scientific meeting.
    EPA is also announcing that a workshop, entitled ``Workshop to 
Discuss Policy-Relevant Science to Inform EPA's Review of the Primary 
and Secondary NAAQS for PM,'' is being organized by NCEA and EPA Office 
of Air and Radiation's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards 
(OAQPS). The workshop will be held February 9-February 11, 2015, in 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The workshop will be open to 
attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served 
basis up to the limits of available space.

DATES: The workshop will be held on February 9-11, 2015. All 
communications and information submitted in response to the call for 
information should be received by EPA by February 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at U.S. EPA, 109 T.W. Alexander 
Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. An EPA contractor, ICF 
International, is providing logistical support for the workshop. To 
register, please visit the Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/pmworkshop2015/. Interested parties can participate in person or via 
webinar. The pre-registration deadline is February 4, 2015. Please 
direct questions regarding workshop registration or logistics to 
Whitney Kihlstrom at (919) 293-1646, or whitney.kihlstrom@icfi.com. For 
specific questions regarding technical aspects of the workshop see the 
section of this notice entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Information in response to the call for information may be 
submitted electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/
courier. Please follow the detailed instructions as provided in the 
section of this notice entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details on the period for 
submission of research information from the public, contact the Office 
of Research and Development (ORD) Docket at EPA's Headquarters Docket 
Center; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-9744; or email: 
Docket_ORD@epa.gov. For technical information, contact Mr. Jason Sacks, 
NCEA; telephone: (919) 541-9729; facsimile: (919) 541-1818; or email: 
sacks.jason@epa.gov or Dr. Scott Jenkins, OAQPS; telephone: (919) 541-
1167; facsimile: (919) 541-0237; or email: jenkins.scott@epa.gov.

[[Page 71765]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Information About the Project

    Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs the Administrator 
to identify and to list certain air pollutants and then to issue ``air 
quality criteria'' for those pollutants. 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 such 
pollutant in the ambient air . . .'' Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA 
is then to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 
each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the 
CAA 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 and welfare. 
EPA is also to revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised 
air quality criteria.
    Particulate matter (PM) is one of six ``criteria'' pollutants for 
which EPA has established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the 
scientific basis for these standards by preparing an Integrated Science 
Assessment (ISA), formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document 
(AQCD). The evidence and conclusions presented in the ISA directly 
inform the technical and policy assessments conducted by OAQPS. 
Collectively, these documents form the scientific and technical bases 
for EPA's decisions on the adequacy of existing NAAQS and the 
appropriateness of new or revised standards.
    At the start of a NAAQS review, EPA issues an announcement of the 
review and notes the initiation of the development of the ISA. At that 
time, EPA also issues a request that the public submit scientific 
literature that they want to bring to the attention of the Agency for 
consideration in the review process. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory 
Committee (CASAC), an independent scientific advisory committee 
mandated by section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act and part of EPA's 
Science Advisory Board (SAB), is charged with independent expert 
scientific review of EPA's draft ISAs and other technical and policy 
assessments. As the process proceeds, the public will have 
opportunities to review and comment on draft PM ISAs and other 
technical and policy assessments. These opportunities will also be 
announced in the Federal Register.
    For the review of the PM NAAQS being initiated by this notice, the 
Agency is interested in obtaining additional new information, 
particularly concerning: (a) Toxicological studies of effects of 
controlled exposure to PM on laboratory animals and humans; (b) 
epidemiologic (observational) studies of health effects associated with 
ambient exposures of human populations to PM; (c) the quantification of 
light extinction in urban and non-urban areas--for example, new studies 
regarding visibility preferences, including studies in additional urban 
and non-urban areas that disentangle visibility preferences from health 
preferences, the sensitivity of visibility preferences to survey 
methods and/or preferences regarding intensity versus frequency of 
visibility impairment; (d) climate impacts from PM-related aerosols, 
particularly regarding the quantification of anthropogenic aerosol 
effects on radiative forcing; and (e) ecological studies that examine 
the effects on agricultural crops and natural terrestrial and/or 
aquatic ecosystems from ambient exposures to PM, including information 
regarding interactions with other ecosystem stressors and co-occurring 
pollutants. EPA also seeks recent information in other areas of PM 
research such as chemistry and physics, sources and emissions, 
analytical methodology, transport and transformation in the 
environment, and ambient concentrations. This and other selected 
literature relevant to a review of the NAAQS for PM will be assessed in 
the forthcoming PM ISA. It is important to note that for the evaluation 
of PM and ecological effects, this does not include studies that 
examine effects due to the deposition of oxides of nitrogen 
(NOX) or sulfur oxides (SOX) in the particulate 
form (e.g., ammonium sulfate), which will be covered in the ongoing 
review of the NOX/SOX secondary standard. Other 
opportunities for submission of new peer-reviewed, published (or in-
press) papers will be possible as part of public comment on the draft 
ISAs that will be reviewed by CASAC.
    As part of this review of the PM NAAQS, EPA intends to sponsor a 
workshop on February 9-February 11, 2015 to provide the opportunity for 
internal and external experts to highlight significant new and emerging 
PM research, and to make recommendations to the Agency regarding the 
design and scope of the review for the primary (health-based) and 
secondary (welfare-based) PM standards to ensure that it addresses key 
policy-relevant issues and considers the new and emerging science that 
is relevant to informing EPA's understanding of these issues. EPA 
intends that workshop discussions will build upon three prior 
publications (available at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html):
    1. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter: 
Final Rule (78 FR 2086, January 15, 2013). The preamble to the final 
rule included detailed discussions of policy-relevant issues central to 
the last review.
    2. Integrated Science Assessment for PM--Final Report. (EPA/600/R-
08/139F, December 2009). The ISA is a comprehensive review, synthesis, 
and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science, including key 
science judgments that are important to inform the development of the 
risk and exposure assessments, as well as other aspects of the NAAQS 
review. The 2009 PM ISA, completed by EPA's NCEA, included 
consideration of studies published through mid-2009.
    3. Provisional Assessment of Recent Studies on Health Effects of 
Particulate Matter Exposure (EPA/600/R-12/056F, December 2012). This 
assessment, which was completed by EPA's NCEA, evaluated studies 
published too late for inclusion in the final PM ISA. The provisional 
science assessment focused on epidemiologic studies that used 
PM2.5 (i.e., fine PM) or PM10-2.5 (i.e., coarse 
PM) and were conducted in the U.S. or Canada, and toxicological or 
epidemiologic studies that compared effects of PM from different 
sources, PM components, or size fractions published through August 
2012. The document was not intended to critically review individual 
studies or integrate the scientific findings to draw causal conclusions 
as is done for an ISA, but rather to ensure that the Administrator was 
fully aware of the ``new'' science that had developed since 2009 before 
making final decisions on whether to retain or revise the then-existing 
PM standards.
    Workshop participants are encouraged to review these documents 
thoroughly before the meeting, as they provide important background 
information on the scientific findings and analytical approaches 
considered in the previous review, as well as insights into the key 
policy-relevant questions from that review. In addition, participants 
may also want to review related documents (available at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html), including the 
Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (Final Report, April 2011), Quantitative 
Health Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter (Final Report, June 
2010), and Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility

[[Page 71766]]

Assessment (Final Document, July 2010).
    Based in large part on the input received during this workshop, EPA 
will develop a draft Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for the PM NAAQS. 
This draft IRP will outline the schedule, process, and approaches for 
evaluating the relevant scientific information and addressing the key 
policy-relevant issues to be considered in this review. CASAC will be 
asked to review the draft IRP in the mid-2015 and the public will also 
have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan. The final IRP, 
prepared in consideration of CASAC and public comments, will outline 
the process and schedule for conducting the review and the planned 
scope of the assessment documents (e.g., an ISA, a risk/exposure 
assessment, and a policy assessment) as well as the key policy-relevant 
issues/questions that will guide the review.

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

    Submit your materials identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-
0859 by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-9744.
     Mail: Office of Research and Development (ORD) Docket 
(Mail Code: 28221T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-
566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in EPA's 
Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301 
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. EPA's Docket Center Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Such 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 materials 
by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of these 
materials. For attachments, provide an index, number pages 
consecutively with the materials, and submit an unbound original and 
three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2014-0859. 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 materials it receives in the public docket 
without change and to make the materials available online at 
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless materials 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 www.regulations.gov or email. 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 directly 
to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address 
will be automatically captured and included as part of the materials 
that are placed in the public docket and made available on the 
Internet. If you submit electronic materials, EPA recommends that you 
include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
materials and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read 
your materials due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider the materials you 
submit. 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 EPA's Docket 
Center homepage at www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    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 
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in EPA's 
Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: November 24, 2014.
Gina Perovich,
Acting Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2014-28278 Filed 12-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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