[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 71 (Friday, April 14, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17947-17948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07558]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 50 and 58

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0146; FRL-9961-20-OAR]


Release of the Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the 
availability of the final document titled Policy Assessment for the 
Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides 
of Nitrogen (NO2

[[Page 17948]]

PA). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the component of oxides of 
nitrogen (NOX) for which we have the greatest concern for 
public health. Accordingly, the current primary (health-based) National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for NOX are in terms 
of NO2. The NO2 PA presents considerations and 
conclusions relevant for the EPA's review of the primary NO2 
NAAQS. The primary NO2 NAAQS are set to protect the public 
health from exposures to NO2 in ambient air.

DATES: The NO2 PA will be available on or about April 12, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: The NO2 PA will be available primarily via the 
Internet at: https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-primary-standards-policy-assessments-current-review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Breanna Alman, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (Mail Code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 
919-541-2351; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA) 
govern the establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42 
U.S.C. 7408) directs the Administrator to identify and list certain air 
pollutants and then to issue air quality criteria for those pollutants. 
The Administrator is to list those air pollutants that in his 
``judgment, cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably 
be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare;'' ``the presence 
of which in the ambient air results from numerous or diverse mobile or 
stationary sources;'' and ``for which . . . [the Administrator] plans 
to issue air quality criteria . . .'' Air quality criteria are intended 
to ``accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge useful in 
indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on public 
health or welfare which may be expected from the presence of [a] 
pollutant in the ambient air . . .'' 42 U.S.C. 7408(b). Under section 
109 (42 U.S.C. 7409), the EPA establishes primary (health-based) and 
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants for which air quality 
criteria are issued. Section 109(d) requires periodic review and, if 
appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria. Revised air 
quality criteria reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the 
effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. The EPA is also 
required to periodically review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS 
based on the revised criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that an 
independent scientific review committee ``shall complete a review of 
the criteria . . . and the national primary and secondary ambient air 
quality standards . . . and shall recommend to the Administrator any 
new . . . standards and revisions of the existing criteria and 
standards as may be appropriate . . .'' Since the early 1980s, this 
independent review function has been performed by the Clean Air 
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).
    Presently, the EPA is reviewing the criteria and the primary NAAQS 
for NOX. The EPA released the final Integrated Science 
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria (the ISA) in January 
2016. Drawing from the ISA, a draft NO2 PA was prepared by 
the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, within the 
Office of Air and Radiation. The draft NO2 PA presented 
preliminary staff conclusions on the adequacy of the current standards 
and addressed key policy-relevant science issues that guided the 
review. The draft NO2 PA was reviewed by the CASAC at a 
public meeting on November 9-10, 2016, and a teleconference on January 
24, 2017. The CASAC's advice on the draft NO2 PA was 
conveyed in a letter to the Administrator dated March 7, 2017.\1\ The 
final NO2 PA being released at this time reflects 
consideration of the CASAC's advice and public comments received on the 
draft NO2 PA.
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    \1\ Available at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
LookupWebProjectsCurrentCASAC/7C2807D0D9BB4CC8852580DD004EBC32/
$File/EPA-CASAC-17-001.pdf.

    Dated: April 10, 2017.
Stephen Page,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2017-07558 Filed 4-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P