[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55201-55202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28143]



[[Page 55201]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[FRL-5913-4]


Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate 
Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of review.

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SUMMARY: This document describes EPA's plans and schedule for the next 
periodic review of the air quality criteria and national ambient air 
quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). This review will 
take into account newly emerging research on the effects of airborne 
particles on human health and the environment. This new information 
will be integrated with that developed during the most recent review of 
the PM criteria and standards completed in July 1997. The schedule for 
this review is consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act 
(Act) for periodic review of the criteria and standards, including 
review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), and the 
Presidential Memorandum for the Administrator of the EPA published on 
July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38421) on the implementation of revised NAAQS for 
ozone and PM, which called for completion of this PM review by July 
2002.

DATES: The target dates for major milestones in the PM NAAQS review are 
contained in a chart in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lester Grant, National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (MD-52), with regard to the air quality 
criteria document, or Dr. Karen Martin, Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards (MD-15), with regard to review of the standards, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; 
telephone: (919) 541-4173 for Dr. Grant and (919) 541-5274 for Dr. 
Martin; e-mail: [email protected] and 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 18, 1997 the EPA published a final rule revising the NAAQS 
for PM (62 FR 38652). On the same day, EPA also published a final rule 
revising the NAAQS for ozone (62 FR 38856). A Presidential Memorandum 
(62 FR 38421, July 18, 1997) was also published outlining the 
Administration's goals for implementing the revised PM and ozone NAAQS. 
The Memorandum directed the Agency to provide to CASAC within 90 days 
and to publish a notice outlining its schedule for the next periodic 
review of PM and to complete the next review, including review by 
CASAC, within 5 years after issuance of the revised standards. Such a 
schedule would ensure that EPA's review of the emerging scientific 
information, which forms the criteria upon which the standards are 
based, and of the standards themselves will have been completed prior 
to any areas being designated as ``nonattainment'' under the recently 
established standards for fine particles (i.e., PM2.5 
standards) 1 and prior to the imposition of any new controls 
related to the revised standards. To facilitate timely scientific 
research within this review period, EPA is initiating certain 
activities immediately, as noted below in the discussion of the PM 
research program.
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    \1\ PM2.5 refers to particles with an aerodynamic 
diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers.
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Review Plans and Schedule

    The EPA's plans to review the criteria and standards for PM are 
outlined in the table below, together with target dates for key 
milestones. As with all NAAQS reviews, the purpose is to update the 
criteria and to determine whether it is appropriate to revise the 
standards in light of new scientific and technical information. 
Although the EPA concluded in its recent final rule on the PM standards 
(62 FR 38652, July 18, 1997) that the current scientific knowledge 
provides a strong basis for the revised PM standards, including the 
establishment of PM2.5 standards, there remain scientific 
uncertainties associated with the health effects of PM and with the 
means of reducing such effects. Recognizing the importance of 
developing a better understanding of the effects of fine particles on 
human health, including their causes and mechanisms, as well as the 
species and sources of PM2.5, the EPA will continue to 
sponsor research to address these uncertainties.
    The Presidential Memorandum also directed EPA and other relevant 
Federal agencies to develop and implement a greatly expanded, 
coordinated research plan. These PM research plans are outlined in the 
following section.
    As with other NAAQS reviews, a rigorous assessment of relevant 
scientific information will be presented in a Criteria Document (CD) 
prepared by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment. The 
development of the CD will involve substantial external peer review 
through public workshops involving the scientific community at large 
and through iterative reviews of successive drafts by CASAC and the 
public. The final CD will reflect input received through these reviews 
and will serve to evaluate and integrate this scientific information to 
ensure that the review of the standards is based on sound science. The 
schedule for this review will allow for consideration of relevant new 
peer-reviewed scientific studies published or accepted for publication 
from mid-1996 (when the last CD was completed) through mid-2000.
    The EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards will also 
prepare a Staff Paper (SP) for the Administrator, drawing on 
information in the CD. The SP will evaluate the policy implications of 
the key studies and scientific information contained in the CD and 
identify critical elements that EPA staff believes should be considered 
in reviewing the standards. The SP is intended to bridge the gap 
between the scientific review in the CD and the public health and 
welfare policy judgments required of the Administrator in reviewing the 
PM NAAQS. For that purpose, the SP will present technical analyses, 
including air quality analyses and a quantitative health risk 
assessment, and other factors relevant to the evaluation of the PM 
NAAQS, as well as staff conclusions and recommendations of options for 
the Administrator's consideration. The SP will also be reviewed by 
CASAC and the public, and the final SP will reflect the input received 
through these reviews.

[[Page 55202]]



                   Major Milestones in PM NAAQS Review                  
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       Major milestones                       Target dates              
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PM NAAQS Review Plan to CASAC  October 1997.                            
Prepare CD Development Plan..  November 1997 to January 1998.           
CASAC meeting on CD            March 1998.                              
 Development Plan.                                                      
Prepare Workshop Drafts of CD  April to December 1998.                  
 Chapters.                                                              
Peer Review Workshops........  February/March 1999.                     
Prepare External Review Draft  March to July 1999.                      
 CD.                                                                    
Draft CD to CASAC............  July/August 1999.                        
Public Comment Period on       August to October 1999.                  
 Draft CD.                                                              
CASAC meeting on Draft CD....  October/November 1999.                   
Prepare Revised CD and Draft   November 1999 to February 2000.          
 SP.                                                                    
Revised CD and Draft SP to     March 2000.                              
 CASAC.                                                                 
Public Comment Period on       March to May 2000.                       
 Revised CD and Draft SP.                                               
CASAC meeting on Revised CD    May/June 2000.                           
 and Draft SP.                                                          
Prepare Revised SP and Final   May to August 2000.                      
 Revisions to CD.                                                       
Revised SP to CASAC; Complete  September 2000.                          
 Final CD.                                                              
Public Comment Period on       September to November 2000.              
 Revised SP.                                                            
CASAC meeting on Revised SP..  November/December 2000.                  
Complete Final SP and Develop  December 2000 to April 2001.             
 Proposal Package.                                                      
OMB/Interagency Review of      May to July 2001.                        
 Proposal Package (90 days).                                            
Publish Proposal in Federal    August 2001.                             
 Register.                                                              
Public Comment Period on       September to November 2001.              
 Proposal (90 days).                                                    
CASAC meeting on Proposal....  November 2001.                           
Review Public/CASAC Comments   December 2001 to April 2002.             
 and Develop Promulgation                                               
 Package.                                                               
OMB/Interagency Review of      May to June 2002.                        
 Promulgation Package (60                                               
 days).                                                                 
Final Promulgation Package     July 2002.                               
 Signed by Administrator.                                               
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PM Research Program

    The EPA is broadening its ongoing PM research activities by 
developing, in partnership with other Federal agencies, a coordinated 
interagency PM research program. This interagency program will 
contribute to expanding scientific knowledge of PM health effects, as 
well as developing improved monitoring methods and cost-effective 
mitigation strategies. The interagency effort will also promote further 
coordination with other research organizations including state-, local-
, nonprofit-, and industry-sponsored research groups. Beginning this 
fall, public participation will also be encouraged through workshops 
and review of program documentation. Workshops and the availability of 
relevant documentation will be announced in the Federal Register.
    To aid identification of needed research efforts, EPA is revising a 
document, Research Needs for Particulate Matter, in response to 
comments received from CASAC on an earlier draft document. This 
document will identify research needed to improve scientific 
information supporting future health risk assessment and review of the 
PM NAAQS. The document will provide a useful framework for coordination 
among Federal agencies and other research organizations. A 
complementary document, Particulate Matter Research Program Strategy, 
which will identify the areas of emphasis for EPA's research program, 
is also being revised in response to CASAC review. The EPA's research 
emphasis includes studies to improve understanding of the formation and 
composition of fine PM, the characteristics or components of PM that 
are responsible for its health effects, and the mechanisms by which 
these effects are produced, as well as improved measurements and 
estimation of population exposures to PM. These EPA research efforts 
include epidemiology, clinical studies, in vivo and in vitro 
toxicology, atmospheric sciences including monitoring and modeling 
studies, development of data on emissions of fine particles from 
stationary and mobile sources, and identification and evaluation of 
risk management options. The results from these efforts, as well as 
related efforts by other Federal agencies and the general scientific 
community, will advance the scientific and technical bases for future 
decisions on the PM NAAQS and for the implementation of PM monitoring 
and control efforts.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.
    Dated: October 17, 1997.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-28143 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M