Release of Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen, 19308-19310 [2024-05507]

Download as PDF 19308 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and four new tests that measure the new NRS educational functioning levels for ESL. With the Secretary’s approval of the new ESL tests in the July 2023 notice, the new educational functioning levels for ESL described in appendix A of Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education (OMB Control Number: 1830–0027) were implemented. Under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary also announced in the July 2023 notice a list of tests with NRS approvals expiring on February 2, 2024, and March 7, 2024, that States and local eligible providers may continue to use during a sunset period ending on June 30, 2024. In this notice, under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary announces that the sunset period for ESL tests scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2024, is extended through June 30, 2025. This extension of the sunset period will allow States sufficient time for the operational activities required for the transition to the new ESL assessments identified in the July 2023 notice. The ESL educational functioning level descriptors to which the ESL tests with expiring NRS approvals are aligned and that were scheduled to be retired on June 30, 2024, are extended through June 30, 2025. Until that time, both the current ESL educational functioning level descriptors and the new ESL educational functioning level descriptors will be in effect. States must use an ESL assessment that is aligned to the appropriate ESL educational functioning level descriptors. Adult education programs must use only the forms and computer-based delivery formats for the tests approved in this notice. If a particular test form or computer delivery format is not explicitly specified for a test in this notice, it is not approved to measure educational gain in the NRS. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Tests With NRS Approvals That Expired on February 2, 2024, Previously Allowed for Use in the NRS During a Sunset Period Ending on June 30, 2024, and Now Allowed for Use During an Extended Sunset Period Ending on June 30, 2025 The Secretary has determined that the following tests may be used at all ESL levels of the NRS during an extended sunset period ending on June 30, 2025: (1) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Literacy. Forms B, C, and D are approved for use on paper. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW, Washington, DC 20016– VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 1859. Telephone: (202) 362–0700. Internet: www.cal.org. (2) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus 2.0. Forms D, E, and F are approved for use on paper and through the computer-adaptive delivery format. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW, Washington, DC 20016–1859. Telephone: (202) 362–0700. Internet: www.cal.org. (3) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Life and Work Listening Assessments (LW Listening). Forms 981L, 982L, 983L, 984L, 985L, and 986L are approved for use on paper and through the computerbased delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123–4339. Telephone: (800) 255–1036. Internet: www.casas.org. (4) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Reading Assessments (Life and Work, Life Skills, Reading for Citizenship, Reading for Language Arts—Secondary Level). Forms 27, 28, 81, 82, 81X, 82X, 83, 84, 85, 86, 185, 186, 187, 188, 310, 311, 513, 514, 951, 952, 951X, and 952X of this test are approved for use on paper and through the computer-based delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123–4339. Telephone: (800) 255–1036. Internet: www.casas.org. (5) Tests of Adult Basic Education Complete Language Assessment SystemEnglish (TABE/CLAS–E). Forms A and B are approved for use on paper and through a computer-based delivery format. Publisher: Data Recognition Corporation—CTB, 13490 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Telephone: (800) 538–9547. Internet: www.tabetest.com. Revocation of Tests Under certain circumstances—that is, a determination by the Secretary either that the information the publisher submitted as a basis for the Secretary’s review of the test was inaccurate or that a test has been substantially revised— the Secretary may revoke the determination that a test is suitable after following the procedures in § 462.12(e). If the Secretary revokes the determination of suitability, the Secretary announces the revocation, as well as the date by which States and local eligible providers must stop using the revoked test, through a notice published in the Federal Register and posted on the internet at www.nrsweb.org. Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3292. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. [FR Doc. 2024–05679 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2023–0317; FRL–11157–03– OAR] Release of Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: On or about March 18, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available to the public Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen (IRP). The national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen are set to protect public health from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in ambient air. Volume 1 of the IRP contains contextual background material for the current review of the air quality criteria and the primary NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen. Volume 2 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices identifies policy-relevant issues in the review and describes key considerations in the EPA’s development of the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA). The ISA provides the scientific basis for the EPA’s decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, for the review of the NAAQS, as described in sections 108 and 109 of the Clean Air Act. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 17, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may send comments on Volume 2 of the IRP, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2023– 0317, 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 Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (except Federal Holidays). Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this notice. Comments received may be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. The two volumes described here will be available on the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogendioxide-no2-primary-air-qualitystandards. The documents will be accessible under ‘‘Planning Documents’’ from the current review. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Iman Hassan, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, (Mail Code C504–06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919–541–2198; or email: hassan.iman@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 I. General Information Written Comments Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2023– 0317, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, comments VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA’s docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you consider Confidential Business Information (CBI), Proprietary Business Information (PBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include a discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). Please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets for additional submission methods; the full EPA public comment policy; information about CBI, PBI, or multimedia submissions; and general guidance on making effective comments. II. Information About the Documents Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) govern the establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 directs the Administrator to identify and list certain air pollutants and then issue ‘‘air quality criteria’’ for those pollutants. The air quality criteria are to ‘‘accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge useful in indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on public health or welfare which may be expected from the presence of such pollutant in the ambient air . . .’’ (CAA section 108(a)(2)). Under section 109 of the Act, the EPA is then to establish primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for each pollutant for which the EPA has issued air quality criteria. Section 109(d)(1) of the Act requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria. Revised air quality criteria are to reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health and welfare. Under the same provision, the EPA is also to periodically review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS based on the revised air quality criteria. The Act additionally requires the appointment of an independent scientific review committee that is to periodically review the existing air quality criteria and NAAQS and to recommend any new standards and revisions of existing criteria and standards as may be appropriate (CAA section 109(d)(2)(A)–(B)). Since the early 1980s, the Clean Air Scientific PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19309 Advisory Committee (CASAC) has fulfilled the requirement for an independent scientific review committee. Presently, the EPA is reviewing the health-based air quality criteria and primary NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen. The EPA’s call for information for this review was issued on December 9, 2022 (87 FR 75625), and requested the public’s assistance in identifying relevant scientific information for the review that has become available since the cutoff date for the 2016 ISA (i.e., March 2014).1 The documents announced in this notice have been developed as part of the integrated review plan (IRP) which is developed in the planning phase for the review. The documents have been prepared jointly by the EPA’s Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment within the Office of Research and Development and the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards within the Office of Air and Radiation. These documents will be available on the EPA’s website: https:// www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxideno2-primary-air-quality-standards, accessible under ‘‘Planning Documents’’ from the current review. The IRP for the current review of the primary NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen will be comprised of three volumes. Volumes 1 and 2 are the subject of this notice. Volume 1 provides background information on the air quality criteria and standards for oxides of nitrogen and may serve as a reference by the public and the CASAC in their consideration of the subsequent two volumes. Volume 2 addresses the general approach for the review and planning for the integrated science assessment (ISA). Comments are solicited from the public on Volume 2, which will also be the subject of a consultation with the CASAC, to be announced in a separate Federal Register notice. This volume identifies policy-relevant issues in the review and describes key considerations in the EPA’s development of the ISA. Volume 3, which is not yet completed, is the planning document for quantitative analyses to be considered in the policy assessment (PA), including exposure and risk analyses, as warranted. In order that consideration of the availability of new evidence in the review can inform these plans, the development and public availability of Volume 3 will generally coincide with that of the draft ISA, and it will be the subject of a consultation with the CASAC at that time. 1 Information assessed in the ISA for the last review generally included studies published prior to March 2014, with some exceptions. E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 19310 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices As described above, comments on Volume 2 of the IRP should be submitted to the docket by April 17, 2024. A separate Federal Register notice will provide details about the CASAC consultation meeting and the process for participation in the CASAC consultation on Volume 2. The EPA will consider the consultation comments from the CASAC and public comments on the IRP, Volume 2, in preparation of the ISA for Oxides of Nitrogen—Health Criteria. Volume 1 of the IRP, also being made available, provides background or contextual and historical material for this NAAQS review. These documents do not represent and should not be construed to represent any final EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. Erika N. Sasser, Director, Health and Environmental Impacts Division. [FR Doc. 2024–05507 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0707; FRL 11636–01– OAR] Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Data Reporting Requirements for State and Local Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Programs Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘Data Reporting Requirements for State and Local Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Programs’’ (EPA ICR No.1613.08, OMB Control No. 2060–0252) 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 October 31, 2024. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 17, 2024. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2008–0707 online using https:// lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 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. Joe Winkelmann, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105; telephone number: 734–214–4255; email address: winkelmann.joseph@epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets. Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it to: (i) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Abstract: Clean Air Act section 182 and EPA’s regulations (40 CFR part 51, subpart S) establish the requirements for state and local inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs that are included in state implementation plans (SIPs). To provide general oversight and support to these programs, EPA requires that state agencies with Basic and Enhanced I/M programs collect two varieties of reports for submission to the Agency: • An annual report providing general program operating data and summary statistics, addressing the program’s current design and coverage, a summary of testing data, enforcement program efforts, quality assurance and quality control efforts, and other miscellaneous information allowing for an assessment of the program’s relative effectiveness; and • A biennial report on any changes to the program over the two-year period and the impact of such changes, including any deficiencies discovered and corrections made or planned. General program effectiveness is determined by the degree to which a program misses, meets, or exceeds the emission reductions committed to in the state’s approved SIP, which, in turn, must meet or exceed the minimum emission reductions expected from the relevant performance standard, as promulgated under 40 CFR part 51, subpart S, in response to requirements established in section 182 of the Clean Air Act. This information is used by EPA to determine a program’s progress toward meeting requirements under 40 CFR part 51, subpart S, and to provide background information in support of program evaluations. Additional information regarding the current renewal of this ICR as well as previous renewals can be found in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0707. The following statistics and responses apply to the ICR proposed for renewal. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: State I/ M program managers. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR 51.366). Estimated number of respondents: 26 (total). Frequency of response: Annual and biennial. Total estimated burden: 2,236 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Total estimated cost: $165,776 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs. Changes in Estimates: There is no change in the total estimated respondent E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19308-19310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05507]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0317; FRL-11157-03-OAR]


Release of Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan for the 
Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: On or about March 18, 2024, the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) is making available to the public Volumes 1 and 2 of the 
Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen (IRP). The national ambient air 
quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen are set to protect 
public health from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in ambient air. 
Volume 1 of the IRP contains contextual background material for the 
current review of the air quality criteria and the primary NAAQS for 
oxides of nitrogen. Volume 2

[[Page 19309]]

identifies policy-relevant issues in the review and describes key 
considerations in the EPA's development of the Integrated Science 
Assessment (ISA). The ISA provides the scientific basis for the EPA's 
decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and policy 
assessments, for the review of the NAAQS, as described in sections 108 
and 109 of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 17, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments on Volume 2 of the IRP, identified by 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0317, 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 Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West 
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. 
The Docket Center's hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-
Friday (except Federal Holidays).
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
No. for this notice. Comments received may be posted without change to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. The two volumes 
described here will be available on the EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-primary-air-quality-standards. 
The documents will be accessible under ``Planning Documents'' from the 
current review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Iman Hassan, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, (Mail Code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-2198; or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

Written Comments

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-
0317, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the 
other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may 
publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to 
EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you 
consider Confidential Business Information (CBI), Proprietary Business 
Information (PBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 
accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the 
official comment and should include a discussion of all points you wish 
to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). Please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets for additional submission methods; the 
full EPA public comment policy; information about CBI, PBI, or 
multimedia submissions; and general guidance on making effective 
comments.

II. Information About the Documents

    Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) govern the 
establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 directs the 
Administrator to identify and list certain air pollutants and then 
issue ``air quality criteria'' for those pollutants. The air quality 
criteria are to ``accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge 
useful in indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on 
public health or welfare which may be expected from the presence of 
such pollutant in the ambient air . . .'' (CAA section 108(a)(2)). 
Under section 109 of the Act, the EPA is then to establish primary 
(health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for each pollutant 
for which the EPA has issued air quality criteria. Section 109(d)(1) of 
the Act requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of 
existing air quality criteria. Revised air quality criteria are to 
reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the 
pollutant on public health and welfare. Under the same provision, the 
EPA is also to periodically review and, if appropriate, revise the 
NAAQS based on the revised air quality criteria.
    The Act additionally requires the appointment of an independent 
scientific review committee that is to periodically review the existing 
air quality criteria and NAAQS and to recommend any new standards and 
revisions of existing criteria and standards as may be appropriate (CAA 
section 109(d)(2)(A)-(B)). Since the early 1980s, the Clean Air 
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) has fulfilled the requirement for 
an independent scientific review committee.
    Presently, the EPA is reviewing the health-based air quality 
criteria and primary NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen. The EPA's call for 
information for this review was issued on December 9, 2022 (87 FR 
75625), and requested the public's assistance in identifying relevant 
scientific information for the review that has become available since 
the cutoff date for the 2016 ISA (i.e., March 2014).\1\ The documents 
announced in this notice have been developed as part of the integrated 
review plan (IRP) which is developed in the planning phase for the 
review. The documents have been prepared jointly by the EPA's Center 
for Public Health and Environmental Assessment within the Office of 
Research and Development and the Office of Air Quality Planning and 
Standards within the Office of Air and Radiation. These documents will 
be available on the EPA's website: https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-primary-air-quality-standards, accessible under ``Planning 
Documents'' from the current review.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Information assessed in the ISA for the last review 
generally included studies published prior to March 2014, with some 
exceptions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The IRP for the current review of the primary NAAQS for oxides of 
nitrogen will be comprised of three volumes. Volumes 1 and 2 are the 
subject of this notice. Volume 1 provides background information on the 
air quality criteria and standards for oxides of nitrogen and may serve 
as a reference by the public and the CASAC in their consideration of 
the subsequent two volumes. Volume 2 addresses the general approach for 
the review and planning for the integrated science assessment (ISA). 
Comments are solicited from the public on Volume 2, which will also be 
the subject of a consultation with the CASAC, to be announced in a 
separate Federal Register notice. This volume identifies policy-
relevant issues in the review and describes key considerations in the 
EPA's development of the ISA. Volume 3, which is not yet completed, is 
the planning document for quantitative analyses to be considered in the 
policy assessment (PA), including exposure and risk analyses, as 
warranted. In order that consideration of the availability of new 
evidence in the review can inform these plans, the development and 
public availability of Volume 3 will generally coincide with that of 
the draft ISA, and it will be the subject of a consultation with the 
CASAC at that time.

[[Page 19310]]

    As described above, comments on Volume 2 of the IRP should be 
submitted to the docket by April 17, 2024. A separate Federal Register 
notice will provide details about the CASAC consultation meeting and 
the process for participation in the CASAC consultation on Volume 2. 
The EPA will consider the consultation comments from the CASAC and 
public comments on the IRP, Volume 2, in preparation of the ISA for 
Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria. Volume 1 of the IRP, also being 
made available, provides background or contextual and historical 
material for this NAAQS review. These documents do not represent and 
should not be construed to represent any final EPA policy, viewpoint, 
or determination.

Erika N. Sasser,
Director, Health and Environmental Impacts Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-05507 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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