[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43642-43643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21697]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[AD-FRL-5875-8]


National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule; extension of supplemental public comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing an extension of the supplemental comment 
period that was first announced on July 18, 1997 for the limited 
purpose of taking comment on certain laboratory and field test data and 
related reports associated with the development of the reference method 
(Appendix L of 40 CFR part 50) for measuring PM2.5 in the 
ambient air.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 8, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments (duplicate copies preferred) to: 
Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), Attn: 
Docket No. A-95-54, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John H. Haines, MD-15, Air Quality 
Strategies and Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and 
Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27711, telephone: (919) 541-5533, e-mail: [email protected] 
or Neil H. Frank, MD-14, Emissions, Monitoring and Analysis Division, 
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: (919) 541-5560, e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652), EPA 
published the final rule revising the national ambient air quality 
standards for particulate matter. In Unit VI.B. (Appendix L--New 
Reference Method for PM2.5), EPA concluded that the proposed 
design and performance specifications for the reference sampler,

[[Page 43643]]

with modifications described in the final rule, will achieve the design 
objectives set forth in the proposal. Accordingly, EPA has adopted the 
sampler and other method requirements specified in the revised Appendix 
L as the reference method for measuring PM2.5 in the ambient 
air. As discussed in the preamble to the final rule, a series of field 
tests were performed using prototype samplers manufactured in 
accordance with the proposed design and performance specifications. The 
results of these field tests confirmed that the prototype samplers 
perform in accordance with design expectations. Operational experience 
gained through these field tests did, however, identify the need for 
minor modifications as discussed in the preamble to the final rule. As 
explained in that preamble, EPA made other modifications to the 
proposed design and performance specification in response to public 
comment. As part of this process, EPA performed laboratory tests to 
ensure that the modifications achieved the intended objective.
    While the results of the field and laboratory tests were largely 
confirmatory in nature and did not indicate a need to alter the basic 
design and performance specifications, they did identify areas that 
needed further refinement. Given that these tests were performed, by 
necessity, during and after the close of the public comment period and 
because the results were not available for placement in the docket 
until late in the rulemaking process, the preamble to the final rule 
announced that a supplemental comment period would be held for the 
limited purpose of taking comments on these field and laboratory tests 
results. The July 18, 1997 action announcing the supplemental comment 
period (62 FR 38762), identified the following documents:
    1. ``Adaptation of the Low-Flowrate, PM10, Dichotomous 
Sampler Inlet to Fine Particle Collection.''
    2. ``Filter Temperature Specification Report.''
    3. ``Flow Rate Specification Report.''
    4. ``Laboratory and Field Evaluation of FRM Sampler Report.''
    5. ``Prototype PM2.5 Federal Reference Method Field 
Studies Report.''
    The July 18, 1997 action emphasized that the supplemental comment 
period was for the limited purpose of taking comment on the documents 
specified in the July 18, 1997 action only. Comments on the reference 
method for PM2.5 that go beyond the scope of these specific 
documents would not be considered. The July 18, 1997 action indicated 
that upon close of the supplemental comment period, EPA would consider 
the comments received and decide whether any further action is 
appropriate.
    Since the supplemental comment period was announced, EPA has 
identified errors in the ``Prototype PM2.5 Federal Reference 
Method Field Studies Report''. As a result, EPA has prepared three 
correction pages and has entered them into Docket No. A-95-54 and they 
are available for inspection and copying at the Office of Air and 
Radiation Docket and Information Office at the address in  ADDRESSES at 
the beginning of this document. Copies may also be obtained by 
contacting Neil H. Frank at the address in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. In order to provide opportunity for the public to review and 
comment on these corrected pages, and to permit additional time for 
interested parties that could not immediately obtain copies of the five 
documents, EPA is extending the supplemental comment period until 
September 8, 1997.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.

(Authority: Secs. 108 and 109, Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
7408, 7409)).

    Dated: August 7, 1997.
Mary Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-21697 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P