[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30391-30392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11755]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8571-7]


Workshop to Review Initial Draft Materials for the Particulate 
Matter (PM) Integrated Science Assessment (ISA)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: As part of its review of the air quality criteria and National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM), EPA 
is announcing that a workshop to evaluate initial draft materials for 
the PM Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) is being organized by EPA's 
National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), and will be held 
on June 16 and 17, 2008, in Research Triangle Park, NC. The workshop 
will be open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-
come, first-served basis up to the limits of available space.

DATES: The workshop will be held on June 16 and 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the Auditorium of EPA's main 
campus, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC. An EPA 
contractor, Westat, is providing logistical support for the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, and logistics for the workshop should be directed to 
David Marker, Westat, Inc., Conference Coordinator, 1650 Rockville, MD 
20850-3195, telephone: 301-251-4398; facsimile: 301-294-2829; e-mail: 
[email protected]. Questions regarding the scientific and 
technical aspects of the workshop should be directed to Dr. Lindsay 
Stanek, telephone: 919-541-7792; facsimile: 919-541-2985; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of Information About the Workshop

    Section 109(d) of the Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct periodic reviews of the air quality 
criteria for each air pollutant listed under section 108 of the Act. 
Based on such review, EPA is to retain or revise the NAAQS for a given 
pollutant as appropriate. As part of these reviews, NCEA, within EPA's 
Office of Research and Development, assesses the newly available 
scientific information and develops ISA documents and annexes (formerly 
known as Criteria Documents) that provide the scientific basis for the 
reviews of the NAAQS for PM, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, 
sulfur oxides, and lead. Based on the information in the ISA, EPA's 
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards typically conducts 
quantitative and qualitative risk and exposure assessments. The ISA and 
the risk/exposure assessments are used to prepare a policy assessment 
that informs subsequent rulemaking actions.
    NCEA-RTP is holding this workshop to inform the Agency's evaluation 
of the scientific evidence for the review of the NAAQS for PM. The 
purpose of the workshop is to obtain review of the scientific content 
of initial draft materials or sections for the draft ISA and its 
annexes. Workshop sessions will include review and discussion of 
initial draft sections on: (1) Atmospheric science and exposure 
studies; (2) the welfare effects of PM, including visibility, 
ecological and environmental effects, and climate; and (3) the health 
effects evidence from in vivo and in vitro animal toxicology, human 
clinical, and epidemiology studies. In addition, roundtable discussions 
will help identify key studies or concepts within each discipline to 
assist EPA in integrating within and across disciplines. This workshop 
is planned to help ensure that the ISA is up-to-date and focuses on the 
key evidence to inform the scientific understanding for the review of 
the NAAQS for PM. EPA is planning to release the first external review 
draft ISA for PM for review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory 
Committee (CASAC) and the public in the Fall of 2008. This review will 
be announced in a separate Federal Register notice.

II. Workshop Information

    Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers. Space 
is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis.


[[Page 30392]]


    Dated: May 20, 2008.
Peter Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
 [FR Doc. E8-11755 Filed 5-23-08; 8:45 am]
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