Release of Final Documents Related to the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Oxides, 22479 [2018-10242]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 15, 2018 / Notices daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dr. Nicole Hagan, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (Mail Code C504–06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919–541–3153; fax number: 919–541– 5315; email: hagan.nicole@epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Two sections of the Clean Air Act govern the establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42 U.S.C. 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 Dated: May 9, 2018. those air pollutants that in his Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., ‘‘judgment, cause or contribute to air Deputy Secretary. pollution which may reasonably be [FR Doc. 2018–10289 Filed 5–14–18; 8:45 am] anticipated to endanger public health or welfare’’; ‘‘the presence of which in the BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ambient air results from numerous or diverse mobile or stationary sources’’; and ‘‘for which . . . [the Administrator] ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION plans to issue air quality criteria . . .’’ AGENCY (42 U.S.C. 7408(a)(1)(A)(C)). Air quality [EPA–HQ–OAR–2013–0566; FRL–9977–81– criteria are intended to ‘‘accurately OAR] reflect the latest scientific knowledge useful in indicating the kind and extent Release of Final Documents Related to of all identifiable effects on public the Review of the Primary National health or welfare which may be Ambient Air Quality Standards for expected from the presence of [a] Sulfur Oxides pollutant in the ambient air . . .’’ (42 U.S.C. 7408(a)(2)). Under section 109 AGENCY: Environmental Protection (42 U.S.C. 7409), the EPA establishes Agency (EPA). primary (health-based) and secondary ACTION: Notice of availability. (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection for which air quality criteria are issued. Section 109(d) requires periodic review Agency (EPA) is announcing the and, if appropriate, revision of existing availability of two final documents air quality criteria. The revised air titled, Risk and Exposure Assessment quality criteria reflect advances in for the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur scientific knowledge on the effects of Oxides (REA) and Policy Assessment for the pollutant on public health or welfare. The EPA is also required to the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur periodically review and revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the Oxides (PA). The indicator for the current standard is sulfur dioxide (SO2). revised criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that an independent scientific The REA describes the quantitative review committee ‘‘shall complete a analyses of SO2 exposures and health review of the criteria . . . and the risks in this NAAQS review. Building national primary and secondary ambient on the Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides—Health Criteria (ISA), air quality standards . . . and shall recommend to the Administrator any completed in December 2017, the PA new . . . standards and revisions of the serves to ‘‘bridge the gap’’ between the existing criteria and standards as may be scientific information and the judgments required of the Administrator appropriate . . . .’’ Since the early 1980s, this independent review function in determining whether to retain or has been performed by the Clean Air revise the existing primary NAAQS for Scientific Advisory Committee SO2. (CASAC). DATES: The REA and PA will be made The current periodic review of the air available on or about May 9, 2018. quality criteria and primary NAAQS for ADDRESSES: These documents will be SOX began in 2013. The final ISA, available primarily via the internet at prepared for this review by the EPA’s https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/sulfurOffice of Research and Development, dioxide-so2-primary-air-qualitywas made available in December 2017 standards. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:27 May 14, 2018 Jkt 244001 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22479 (82 FR 58600).1 The REA and PA build upon information presented in the ISA. Drafts of the REA and PA were reviewed by the CASAC SOX Panel at a public meeting held on September 18–19, 2017, and a teleconference on April 20, 2018, and were made available for public comment. The CASAC’s advice on the draft documents were provided in letters to the EPA Administrator dated April 30, 2018.2 The final versions of the REA and PA reflect staff’s consideration of the advice and comments from CASAC, as well as public comments. The final REA and PA are available at https://www.epa.gov/ naaqs/sulfur-dioxide-so2-primary-airquality-standards. Dated: May 8, 2018. Panagiotis Tsirigotis, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. 2018–10242 Filed 5–14–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0093; FRL–9977–99– OAR] Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Clean Air Act Tribal Authority (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ’’Clean Air Act Tribal Authority’’ (EPA ICR No. 1676.07, OMB Control No. 2060–0306) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2018. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it SUMMARY: 1 The final ISA is available at: https:// www.epa.gov/naaqs/sulfur-dioxide-so2-primarystandards-integrated-science-assessments-currentreview. 2 The CASAC letters are available at: https:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/264cb1227 d55e02c85257402007446a4/0125714DA9A89223 8525827F00751B99/$File/EPA-CASAC-18-001.pdf and https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ 264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/23631 E258D63BDEB8525827F0075335E/$File/EPACASAC-18-002.pdf. E:\FR\FM\15MYN1.SGM 15MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 22479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10242]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0566; FRL-9977-81-OAR]


Release of Final Documents Related to the Review of the Primary 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Oxides

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the 
availability of two final documents titled, Risk and Exposure 
Assessment for the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard for Sulfur Oxides (REA) and Policy Assessment for the Review 
of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides 
(PA). The indicator for the current standard is sulfur dioxide 
(SO2). The REA describes the quantitative analyses of 
SO2 exposures and health risks in this NAAQS review. 
Building on the Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides--Health 
Criteria (ISA), completed in December 2017, the PA serves to ``bridge 
the gap'' between the scientific information and the judgments required 
of the Administrator in determining whether to retain or revise the 
existing primary NAAQS for SO2.

DATES: The REA and PA will be made available on or about May 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: These documents will be available primarily via the internet 
at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/sulfur-dioxide-so2-primary-air-quality-standards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Nicole Hagan, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (Mail Code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 
919-541-3153; fax number: 919-541-5315; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two sections of the Clean Air Act govern the 
establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42 U.S.C. 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 his ``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 . . .'' (42 U.S.C. 7408(a)(1)(A)(C)). 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. 7408(a)(2)). Under section 109 (42 U.S.C. 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 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. 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 the existing criteria and standards as may be appropriate 
. . . .'' Since the early 1980s, this independent review function has 
been performed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).
    The current periodic review of the air quality criteria and primary 
NAAQS for SOX began in 2013. The final ISA, prepared for 
this review by the EPA's Office of Research and Development, was made 
available in December 2017 (82 FR 58600).\1\ The REA and PA build upon 
information presented in the ISA. Drafts of the REA and PA were 
reviewed by the CASAC SOX Panel at a public meeting held on 
September 18-19, 2017, and a teleconference on April 20, 2018, and were 
made available for public comment. The CASAC's advice on the draft 
documents were provided in letters to the EPA Administrator dated April 
30, 2018.\2\ The final versions of the REA and PA reflect staff's 
consideration of the advice and comments from CASAC, as well as public 
comments. The final REA and PA are available at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/sulfur-dioxide-so2-primary-air-quality-standards.
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    \1\ The final ISA is available at: https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/sulfur-dioxide-so2-primary-standards-integrated-science-assessments-current-review.
    \2\ The CASAC letters are available at: https://
yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/0125714DA9A892238525827F00751B99/
$File/EPA-CASAC-18-001.pdf and https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/
sabproduct.nsf/264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/
23631E258D63BDEB8525827F0075335E/$File/EPA-CASAC-18-002.pdf.

    Dated: May 8, 2018.
Panagiotis Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-10242 Filed 5-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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