[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 91 (Friday, May 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27374-27375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11198]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9812-6]


Workshop To Review Initial Draft Materials for the Nitrogen 
Oxides (NOX) Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Health 
Effects

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Workshop.

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SUMMARY: As part of the review of the air quality criteria for nitrogen 
oxides (NOX) and primary (health-based) National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), EPA is 
announcing a workshop to evaluate preliminary draft materials that will 
inform the development of the NOX Integrated Science 
Assessment (ISA) for health effects. The workshop is being organized by 
EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the 
Office of Research and Development and will be held on June 11, 2013, 
in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and 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 11, 2013, beginning at 9:30 
a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the auditorium of EPA's main 
campus, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, and logistics for the workshop should be directed to Ms. 
Brianna Young, telephone: 919-541-9765; facsimile: 919-541-1818; email: 
[email protected]. Questions regarding the scientific and technical 
aspects of the workshop should be directed to Dr. Molini Patel, 
telephone: 919-541-1492; facsimile: 919-541-1818; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of Information About the Workshop

    Section 109(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the U.S. EPA to 
conduct periodic reviews of the air quality criteria for each air 
pollutant listed under section 108 of the Act. Based on such reviews, 
EPA is to retain or revise the NAAQS for a given pollutant as 
appropriate. As part of these reviews, NCEA assesses newly available 
scientific information and develops ISA documents (formerly known as 
Air Quality Criteria Documents) that provide the scientific basis for 
the reviews of the NAAQS.
    NCEA-Research Triangle Park is holding this workshop to inform the 
Agency's evaluation of the scientific evidence for the review of the 
primary NAAQS for NO2. Section 109(b)(1) of the CAA defines 
primary NAAQS as standards, ``the attainment and maintenance of which 
in the judgment of the Administrator, based on such criteria and 
allowing an adequate margin of safety, are requisite to protect the 
public health.'' EPA intends to develop a separate ISA, and NAAQS 
review, for the secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for NO2, in 
conjunction with a review of the secondary NAAQS for sulfur dioxide. 
The purpose of the workshop is to obtain review of the scientific 
content of preliminary draft materials that will inform the development 
of the draft health effects ISA. Workshop sessions will include review 
and discussion of preliminary draft materials on the atmospheric 
chemistry of and human exposure to NOX as well as 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 relevant literature within and across 
disciplines. These preliminary materials are not being released as an 
external draft but will be used to guide workshop discussions and 
inform the development of the draft health effects ISA. This workshop 
is planned to help ensure that the ISA, once developed, is up-to-date 
and focuses on the key evidence to inform the scientific understanding 
for the review of the primary NAAQS for NOX. EPA is planning 
to release the first external review draft health effects ISA for 
NOX for review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory 
Committee and the public in August 2013.

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 27375]]


    Dated: March 1, 2013.
Debra B. Walsh,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2013-11198 Filed 5-9-13; 8:45 am]
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