Federal Register: December 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 240)
DOCID: fr12de08-71 FR Doc E8-29347
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Environmental Protection Agency
FRL ID: [FRL-8750-6]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr12de08-71
ACTION: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of Availability.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur-- Environmental Criteria
DATES: The document will be available on or about December 12, 2008.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of a final document entitled, ``Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and SulfurEcological Criteria,'' and the supplementary annexes (EPA/600/R08/082F). The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA's secondary NAAQS are based on ecological and welfare effects.
SUMMARY:
Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur - Environmental Criteria; Document Availability,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to identify certain pollutants that ``may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and 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 requires subsequent 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.
Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are two of six principal (or
``criteria'') pollutants for which EPA has established air quality
criteria and NAAQS. EPA periodically reviews the scientific basis for
these standards by preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA)
(formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document). The ISA and
supplementary annexes, in conjunction with additional technical and
policy assessments, provide the scientific basis for EPA decisions on
the adequacy of a current NAAQS and the appropriateness of new or
revised standards. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee [[Page 75717]]
(CASAC), an independent science advisory committee established pursuant
to section 109 of the Clean Air Act and part of the EPA's Science
Advisory Board (SAB), provides independent scientific advice on NAAQS matters, including advice on EPA's draft ISAs.
EPA formally initiated its current review of the criteria for
oxides of nitrogen and sulfur in December 2005 (70 FR 73236) and May
2006 (71 FR 28023) respectively, requesting the submission of recent
scientific information on specified topics. In the initial stages of
the criteria reviews, EPA recognized the merit of integrating the
science assessment for these two pollutants due to their combined
effects on atmospheric chemistry, deposition processes, and
environmentrelated public welfare effects. In July 2007 (72 FR 34004),
EPA held a workshop to discuss, with invited scientific experts,
initial draft materials prepared in the development of the ISA and
supplementary annexes for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA's ``Draft
Plan for Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide'' was made available in
September 2007 for public comment and was discussed by the Clean Air
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) via a publicly accessible
teleconference consultation on October 30, 2007 (72 FR 57568). EPA made
its Draft Plan available on EPA's Web site: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/
naaqs/standards/no2so2sec/cr_pd.html. The draft ``Integrated Science
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and SulfurEnvironmental Criteria;
First External Review Draft'' was released for review on December 21,
2007 (72 FR 72719). The CASAC reviewed the first draft document at a
public peer review meeting on April 23, 2008. EPA addressed comments
from the CASAC and the public in the second external review draft
document, ``Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and
SulfurEnvironmental Criteria; Second External Review Draft,'' which
was released for public comment on August 12, 2008 (72 FR 46908). The
second draft was reviewed by the CASAC at a public meeting on October
23, 2008. EPA has considered comments by CASAC and by the public in preparing this final ISA.
Dated: December 4, 2008.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E829347 Filed 121108; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
For technical information, contact Tara Greaver, Ph.D., NCEA [telephone: 9195412435; facsimile: 919541 5078; or email: greaver.tara@epa.gov].