[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48316-48317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19842]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9931-96-ORD; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-0620 and Docket ID No. 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0128]


Workshop To Review Initial Draft Materials for the Nitrogen 
Oxides (NOX) and Sulfur Oxides (SOX) Integrated 
Science Assessment (ISA) for Ecological 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 sulfur oxides (SOX) secondary 
(welfare-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a teleconference 
workshop to evaluate preliminary draft materials that will inform the 
development of the NOX and SOX Integrated Science 
Assessment (ISA) for ecological 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 by 
teleconference from August 25-27, 2015. The workshop will be open to 
attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served 
basis and participation will be by teleconference only.

DATES: The workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, beginning 
at 1:30 p.m. and ending at 4 p.m.; Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 
beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 4 p.m.; and Thursday, August 27, 
2015, beginning at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held by teleconference and webinar. The 
call in number and Web site information for the teleconference are 
available to registered participants. Please register by going to 
https://nox-sox-eco-criteria-webinars.eventbrite.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct questions regarding 
workshop registration or logistics to Canden Byrd at 
[email protected] or by phone at (919) 293-1660. Questions 
regarding the scientific and technical aspects of the workshop should 
be directed to Dr. Tara Greaver; telephone: 919-541-2435; facsimile: 
919-541-1818; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. 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 is holding this workshop to inform the Agency's evaluation of 
the scientific evidence for the review of the secondary NAAQS for 
NO2 and SO2. Section 109(b)(2) of the CAA defines 
secondary NAAQS must, ``specify a level of air quality the attainment 
and maintenance of which, in the judgment of the Administrator, based 
on such criteria, is requisite to protect the public welfare from any 
known or anticipated adverse effects associated with the presence of 
[the] pollutant in the ambient air.'' 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 ecological effects ISA. 
Workshop sessions will include review and discussion of preliminary 
draft materials on the atmospheric chemistry, including air quality/
deposition, biogeochemistry, terrestrial acidification, terrestrial 
eutrophication, freshwater acidification, freshwater eutrophication, 
marine eutrophication, and ecosystem services. 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 ecological 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 NOX and SOX 
secondary NAAQS. EPA is planning to release the first external review 
draft ecological effects ISA for NOX and SOX for 
review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and the public 
during the first quarter of 2016.

[[Page 48317]]

II. Workshop Information

    Members of the public may attend the teleconference as observers. 
Space in the teleconference may be limited, and reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for the 
workshop is available online at https://nox-sox-eco-criteria-webinars.eventbrite.com.

    Dated: August 5, 2015.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2015-19842 Filed 8-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P