Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft), 54186-54188 [2021-20504]

Download as PDF 54186 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 187 / Thursday, September 30, 2021 / Notices accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through November 30, 2021. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register, on April 13, 2021 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently-valid OMB control number. DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 1, 2021. Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA– HQ–OAR–2006–0971 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LOTTER on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Muntasir Ali, Sector Policies and Program Division (D243–05), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711; telephone number: (919) 541– 0833; email address: ali.muntasir@ epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at: https:// www.regulations.gov, or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Sep 29, 2021 Jkt 253001 For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit: https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. Abstract: The EPA is required under section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the use of consumer and commercial products. Pursuant to CAA section 183(e)(3), the EPA published a list of consumer and commercial products and a schedule for their regulation (60 FR 15264). Aerosol coatings are included on the list, and the standards for such coatings are codified at 40 CFR part 59, subpart E. The reports required under the standards enable the EPA to identify coating formulations manufactured, imported, or distributed in the United States, and to determine the productweighted reactivity. The ICR addresses the burden for activities conducted in 3-year increments after promulgation of the National VOC Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings. Regulated entities read instructions to determine how they are affected by the rule. They are required to submit initial notifications when an aerosol coating is manufactured and notification of changes in the initial report, to report formulation data and exemptions claimed, and to maintain records. In addition, regulated entities are required to submit triennial reports that include formulation data and VOC usage. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: M manufacturers, distributors, and importers of aerosol coatings. These regulated entities fall within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 32551, ‘‘Paint and Coating Manufacturing,’’ and NAICS Code 325998, ‘‘All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Production and Preparation Manufacturing.’’ Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 59, Subpart E). Estimated number of respondents: 67 (total). Frequency of response: Annual, triennial. Total estimated burden: 13,600 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). Total estimated cost: $973,000 (per year), which includes zero dollars in annualized capital/startup and/or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is a small increase in burden from the mostrecently approved ICR as currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved Burdens. This situation is due to two considerations. The regulations have not changed over the past three years and are not anticipated to change over the next three years. The PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 estimated growth rate for this industry is one new respondent per year, leading to a slow increase in burden. We have added 1 hour of burden for existing sources to re-familiarize themselves with the rule each year and adjusted the respondent burden to account for managerial hours as 5% of technical hours and clerical hours as 10% of technical hours for industry respondents, which reflects the EPA standard estimates of burden by labor category. Courtney Kerwin, Director, Regulatory Support Division. [FR Doc. 2021–21286 Filed 9–29–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2014–0859; FRL–9002–01–ORD] Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of a draft document titled, ‘‘Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)’’ (EPA/ 600/R–21/198). The document was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) as part of the reconsideration of the 2020 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). The Supplement represents a targeted review of peer-reviewed studies published since the literature cutoff date (i.e., ∼January 2018) of the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (PM ISA). The Supplement and the 2019 p.m. ISA provide the scientific basis for EPA’s decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, for the reconsideration of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public. In addition, the date and location of a public meeting for CASAC review of this document will be specified in a separate Federal Register document. This draft document is not final and it does not SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 187 / Thursday, September 30, 2021 / Notices LOTTER on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 represent, and should not be construed to represent, any final Agency policy or views. When revising the document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted during the public comment period specified in this notice. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 29, 2021. ADDRESSES: The ‘‘Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)’’ will be available primarily via the internet on EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment Particulate Matter page at https://www.epa.gov/isa/integratedscience-assessment-isa-particulatematter or the public docket at https:// www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA– HQ–ORD–2014–0859. A limited number of CD–ROM copies will be available. Contact Ms. Christine Alvarez by phone: 919–541–3881; fax: 919–541–5078; or email: alvarez.christine@epa.gov to request a CD–ROM, and please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, ‘‘Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter’’ to facilitate processing of your request. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; phone: 202–566–1752; fax: 202–566– 9744; or email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. For technical information, contact Mr. Jason Sacks, CPHEA; phone: 919–541– 9729; fax: 919–541–1818; or email: sacks.jason@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Document Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to identify certain pollutants which, among other things, ‘‘cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare’’ and to issue air quality criteria for them. 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 [a] pollutant in the ambient air . . .’’ Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is then to establish NAAQS for each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act subsequently requires review every five years and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria to reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. EPA is also required to review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS, based on the revised air quality criteria (for more information on the NAAQS VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Sep 29, 2021 Jkt 253001 review process, see https://www.epa.gov/ ttn/naaqs/review.html). 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 ISA (formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document). The ISA, and this Supplement, provide the scientific basis for EPA’s decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), an independent science advisory committee whose review and advisory functions are mandated by Section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) with independent scientific review of the EPA’s air quality criteria. On December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764), EPA formally initiated its current review of the air quality criteria for the health and welfare effects of particulate matter and the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS, requesting the submission of recent scientific information on specified topics. EPA conducted a workshop from February 9 to 11, 2015 to gather input from invited scientific experts, both internal and external to EPA, as well as from the public, regarding key science and policy issues relevant to the review of the primary and secondary NAAQS (79 FR 71764). These science and policy issues were incorporated into EPA’s ‘‘Draft Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter,’’ which was available for public comment (81 FR 22977) and discussion by the CASAC via publicly accessible teleconference consultation (81 FR 13362). The ‘‘Final Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter’’ was released December 6, 2016 (81 FR 87933). Subsequent webinar workshops were held on June 9, 13, 20, and 22, 2016, to discuss initial draft materials prepared in the development of the particulate matter ISA with invited EPA and external scientific experts (81 FR 29262). The input received during these webinar workshops aided in the development of the materials presented in the ‘‘Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft), which was released on October 23, 2018’’ (83 FR 53471), and is available at: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/ isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=341593. The CASAC met at a public meeting on December 12—13, 2018 (83 FR 55529), to review the draft PM ISA. A public teleconference was then held on March PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 54187 28, 2019 for CASAC to review their draft letter to the Administrator on the draft ISA. This meeting was announced in the Federal Register on March 8, 2019 (84 FR 8523). Subsequently, on April 11, 2019, the CASAC provided a letter of their review to the Administrator of the EPA, available at: https:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ 264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/ 6CBCBBC3025E13B4852583 D90047B352/$File/EPA-CASAC-19002+.pdf. The letter from the CASAC, as well as public comments received on the draft PM ISA, can be found in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2014– 0859. The Administrator responded to the CASAC’s letter on the External Review Draft of the PM ISA on July 25, 2019, and is available at: https:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ 264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/ 6CBCBBC3025E13B4852583 D90047B352/$File/EPA-CASAC-19-002_ Response.pdf. The PM ISA was finalized on December 31, 2019, and its availability announced in a January 27, 2020 Federal Register document (85 FR 4655). On December 7, 2020, after reviewing the most recent available scientific evidence and technical information, and consulting with the Agency’s independent scientific advisors, EPA announced its decision to retain, without revision, the existing primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) PM NAAQS. On June 10, 2021, EPA announced it will reconsider the December 2020 decision to retain the PM NAAQS and as part of this process develop a supplement to the 2019 Final Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), available at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epareexamine-health-standards-harmfulsoot-previous-administration-leftunchanged. The ‘‘Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)’’ will be discussed at a public meeting for review by CASAC. In addition to the public comment period announced in this document, the public will have an opportunity to address CASAC at this meeting. A separate Federal Register document will inform the public of the exact date and time of the CASAC meeting and of the procedures for public participation. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2014– 0859, by one of the following methods: E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1 LOTTER on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 54188 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 187 / Thursday, September 30, 2021 / Notices • www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. • Fax: 202–566–9744. Due to COVID– 19, there may be a delay in processing comments submitted by fax. • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202– 566–1752. Note: The EPA Docket Center and Reading Room may be closed to public visitors to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID–19. Docket Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. The public can submit comments via www.Regulations.gov or email. No hand deliveries are currently being accepted. The EPA Docket Center and Reading Room is currently in the reopening process. Visitors may be considered on an exception basis. Visitors must complete docket material requests in advance and then make an appointment to retrieve the material. Visitors will be allowed entrance to the Reading Room by appointment only, and no walk-ins will be allowed. The EPA continues to monitor information carefully and continuously from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local area health departments, and our Federal partners so that we can respond rapidly as conditions change regarding COVID–19. 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 comments it receives in the public docket without change and to make the comments available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information through www.regulations.gov or email that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. The www.regulations.gov website 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 comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Sep 29, 2021 Jkt 253001 automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www2.epa.gov/dockets. 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 on www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Timothy Watkins, Acting Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. 2021–20504 Filed 9–29–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OLEM–2021–0608; FRL–9080– 01–OLEM] Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System (e-Manifest); Notice of Public Meetings Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of virtual public meeting. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host virtual public meetings to discuss how to increase adoption of electronic manifests and solicit feedback from stakeholders. The agenda for both meetings will be identical and all stakeholders are encouraged to attend one of the meetings. DATES: The meetings will be held on October 27, 2021, and November 3, 2021, from approximately 1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. EST. Additional public meetings may be added. Please refer to the e-Manifest website at https:// SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 www.epa.gov/e-manifest/electronicmanifest-public-meetings. ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be conducted virtually. Registration is required to attend and participate during these meetings. EPA can accommodate 100 attendees at each meeting and may hold additional virtual meetings, if needed. Please refer to the e-Manifest website at https:// www.epa.gov/e-manifest/electronicmanifest-public-meetings for information on how to register. Comments. Oral comments will be accepted throughout each of the public meetings. Written comments will be accepted prior to and after the public meetings. Any written comments should be submitted on or before December 30, 2021, and should be submitted in the public docket under docket ID number EPA–HQ–OLEM–2021–0608 by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/ (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Docket No. EPA–HQ–OLEM– 2021–0608, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery or Courier (by scheduled appointment only): EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (except Federal Holidays). Comments received may be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov/ including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ‘‘Public Participation’’ heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. Out of an abundance of caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA Docket Center and Reading Room are open to the public by appointment only to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID–19. Our Docket Center staff also continues to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. Hand deliveries and couriers may be received by scheduled appointment only. For further information on EPA Docket Center services and the current status, please visit us online at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. Special accommodations. For information on access or services for E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54186-54188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20504]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859; FRL-9002-01-ORD]


Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for 
Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the 
availability of a draft document titled, ``Supplement to the 2019 
Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review 
Draft)'' (EPA/600/R-21/198). The document was prepared by the Center 
for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's 
Office of Research and Development (ORD) as part of the reconsideration 
of the 2020 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for 
particulate matter (PM). The Supplement represents a targeted review of 
peer-reviewed studies published since the literature cutoff date (i.e., 
~January 2018) of the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for 
Particulate Matter (PM ISA). The Supplement and the 2019 p.m. ISA 
provide the scientific basis for EPA's decisions, in conjunction with 
additional technical and policy assessments, for the reconsideration of 
the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative 
standards. EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the 
Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public. In 
addition, the date and location of a public meeting for CASAC review of 
this document will be specified in a separate Federal Register 
document. This draft document is not final and it does not

[[Page 54187]]

represent, and should not be construed to represent, any final Agency 
policy or views. When revising the document, EPA will consider any 
public comments submitted during the public comment period specified in 
this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The ``Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment 
for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)'' will be available 
primarily via the internet on EPA's Integrated Science Assessment 
Particulate Matter page at https://www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-particulate-matter or the public docket at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859. A limited number 
of CD-ROM copies will be available. Contact Ms. Christine Alvarez by 
phone: 919-541-3881; fax: 919-541-5078; or email: 
[email protected] to request a CD-ROM, and please provide your 
name, your mailing address, and the document title, ``Integrated 
Science Assessment for Particulate Matter'' to facilitate processing of 
your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment 
period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; 
phone: 202-566-1752; fax: 202-566-9744; or email: [email protected].
    For technical information, contact Mr. Jason Sacks, CPHEA; phone: 
919-541-9729; fax: 919-541-1818; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Document

    Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to 
identify certain pollutants which, among other things, ``cause or 
contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or welfare'' and to issue air quality criteria 
for them. 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 [a] pollutant in the ambient air . . .'' 
Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is then to establish NAAQS for each 
pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act 
subsequently requires review every five years and, if appropriate, 
revision of existing air quality criteria to reflect advances in 
scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health 
or welfare. EPA is also required to review and, if appropriate, revise 
the NAAQS, based on the revised air quality criteria (for more 
information on the NAAQS review process, see https://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html).
    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 ISA (formerly called an Air Quality Criteria 
Document). The ISA, and this Supplement, provide the scientific basis 
for EPA's decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and 
policy assessments, on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the 
appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The Clean Air 
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), an independent science advisory 
committee whose review and advisory functions are mandated by Section 
109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) with 
independent scientific review of the EPA's air quality criteria.
    On December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764), EPA formally initiated its 
current review of the air quality criteria for the health and welfare 
effects of particulate matter and the primary (health-based) and 
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS, requesting the submission of recent 
scientific information on specified topics. EPA conducted a workshop 
from February 9 to 11, 2015 to gather input from invited scientific 
experts, both internal and external to EPA, as well as from the public, 
regarding key science and policy issues relevant to the review of the 
primary and secondary NAAQS (79 FR 71764). These science and policy 
issues were incorporated into EPA's ``Draft Integrated Review Plan for 
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter,'' 
which was available for public comment (81 FR 22977) and discussion by 
the CASAC via publicly accessible teleconference consultation (81 FR 
13362). The ``Final Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards for Particulate Matter'' was released December 6, 
2016 (81 FR 87933).
    Subsequent webinar workshops were held on June 9, 13, 20, and 22, 
2016, to discuss initial draft materials prepared in the development of 
the particulate matter ISA with invited EPA and external scientific 
experts (81 FR 29262). The input received during these webinar 
workshops aided in the development of the materials presented in the 
``Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review 
Draft), which was released on October 23, 2018'' (83 FR 53471), and is 
available at: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=341593. The CASAC met at a public meeting on 
December 12--13, 2018 (83 FR 55529), to review the draft PM ISA. A 
public teleconference was then held on March 28, 2019 for CASAC to 
review their draft letter to the Administrator on the draft ISA. This 
meeting was announced in the Federal Register on March 8, 2019 (84 FR 
8523). Subsequently, on April 11, 2019, the CASAC provided a letter of 
their review to the Administrator of the EPA, available at: https://
yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/
6CBCBBC3025E13B4852583D90047B352/$File/EPA-CASAC-19-002+.pdf. The 
letter from the CASAC, as well as public comments received on the draft 
PM ISA, can be found in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859.
    The Administrator responded to the CASAC's letter on the External 
Review Draft of the PM ISA on July 25, 2019, and is available at: 
https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/6CBCBBC3025E13B4852583D90047B352/
$File/EPA-CASAC-19-002_Response.pdf. The PM ISA was finalized on 
December 31, 2019, and its availability announced in a January 27, 2020 
Federal Register document (85 FR 4655). On December 7, 2020, after 
reviewing the most recent available scientific evidence and technical 
information, and consulting with the Agency's independent scientific 
advisors, EPA announced its decision to retain, without revision, the 
existing primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) PM NAAQS.
    On June 10, 2021, EPA announced it will reconsider the December 
2020 decision to retain the PM NAAQS and as part of this process 
develop a supplement to the 2019 Final Integrated Science Assessment 
(ISA), available at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-reexamine-health-standards-harmful-soot-previous-administration-left-unchanged.
    The ``Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for 
Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)'' will be discussed at a 
public meeting for review by CASAC. In addition to the public comment 
period announced in this document, the public will have an opportunity 
to address CASAC at this meeting. A separate Federal Register document 
will inform the public of the exact date and time of the CASAC meeting 
and of the procedures for public participation.

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

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-
0859, by one of the following methods:

[[Page 54188]]

     www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-9744. Due to COVID-19, there may be a delay 
in processing comments submitted by fax.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752.
    Note: The EPA Docket Center and Reading Room may be closed to 
public visitors to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Docket 
Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via 
email, phone, and webform. The public can submit comments via 
www.Regulations.gov or email. No hand deliveries are currently being 
accepted.
    The EPA Docket Center and Reading Room is currently in the 
reopening process. Visitors may be considered on an exception basis. 
Visitors must complete docket material requests in advance and then 
make an appointment to retrieve the material. Visitors will be allowed 
entrance to the Reading Room by appointment only, and no walk-ins will 
be allowed.
    The EPA continues to monitor information carefully and continuously 
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local area 
health departments, and our Federal partners so that we can respond 
rapidly as conditions change regarding COVID-19.
    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 comments it receives in the public docket 
without change and to make the comments available online at 
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information through 
www.regulations.gov or email that you consider to be CBI or otherwise 
protected. The www.regulations.gov website 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 comment directly to EPA without going through 
www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured 
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket 
and made available on the internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special 
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or 
viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the 
EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www2.epa.gov/dockets.
    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 
on www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center.

Timothy Watkins,
Acting Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2021-20504 Filed 9-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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