[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53471-53472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23125]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859; FRL-9985-68-ORD]


Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External 
Review Draft)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 
public comment period for the draft document titled, ``Integrated 
Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review Draft)'' 
(EPA/600/R-18/179). The draft document was prepared by the National 
Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD) as part of the review of the primary 
(health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter. The welfare-based 
effects evaluated consist of non-ecological effects, specifically 
visibility impairment, climate effects, and effects on materials. The 
Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), in conjunction with additional 
technical and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for 
EPA's decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the 
appropriateness of possible alternative standards. EPA is currently 
developing a separate ISA to support the secondary NAAQS review for 
ecological effects for oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and 
particulate matter.
    EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean 
Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public. In addition, 
the date and location of a public meeting for CASAC review of this 
document will be specified in a separate Federal Register notice. This 
draft document is not final and it does not represent, and should not 
be construed to represent, any final Agency policy or views. When 
revising the document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted 
during the public comment period specified in this notice.

DATES: The public comment period begins on October 23, 2018, and ends 
December 11, 2018. Comments must be received on or before December 11, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: The ``Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter 
(External Review Draft)'' will be available primarily via the internet 
on EPA's Integrated Science Assessment Particulate Matter page at 
https://www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-particulate-matter or the public docket at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: 
EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859. A limited number of CD-ROM copies will be 
available. Contact Ms. Marieka Boyd by phone: 919-541-0031; fax: 919-
541-5078; or email: [email protected] to request a CD-ROM, and 
please provide your name; your mailing address; and the document title, 
``Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review 
Draft)'' to facilitate processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment 
period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; 
phone: 202-566-1752; fax: 202-566-9744; or email: [email protected].
    For technical information, contact Mr. Jason Sacks, NCEA; phone: 
919-541-9729; fax: 919-541-1818; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Information About the Document

    Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to 
identify certain pollutants which, among other things, ``cause or 
contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or welfare'' and to issue air quality criteria 
for them. These air quality criteria are 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. . .'' 
Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is then to establish NAAQS for each 
pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act 
subsequently requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of 
existing air quality criteria to reflect advances in scientific 
knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. 
EPA is also required to review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS, 
based on the revised air quality criteria (for more information on the

[[Page 53472]]

NAAQS review process, see https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/process-reviewing-national-ambient-air-quality-standards).
    Particulate matter is one of six criteria pollutants for which EPA 
has established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis 
for these standards by preparing an ISA (formerly called an Air Quality 
Criteria Document). The ISA, in conjunction with additional technical 
and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for EPA's 
decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness 
of possible alternative standards. The CASAC, an independent science 
advisory committee whose review and advisory functions are mandated by 
Section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) 
with independent scientific review of the EPA's air quality criteria.
    On December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764), EPA formally initiated its 
current review of the air quality criteria for the health and welfare 
effects of particulate matter and the primary (health-based) and 
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS, requesting the submission of recent 
scientific information on specified topics. EPA conducted a workshop 
from February 9 through 11, 2015 to gather input from invited 
scientific experts, both internal and external to EPA, as well as from 
the public, regarding key science and policy issues relevant to the 
review of the primary and secondary NAAQS (79 FR 71764). These science 
and policy issues were incorporated into EPA's ``Draft Integrated 
Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 
Particulate Matter,'' which was available for public comment (81 FR 
22977) and discussion by the CASAC via publicly accessible 
teleconference consultation (81 FR 13362). The ``Final Integrated 
Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 
Particulate Matter'' was released December 6, 2016 (81 FR 87933).
    Subsequent webinar workshops were held on June 9th, 13th, 20th, and 
22nd, 2016, to discuss initial draft materials prepared in the 
development of the particulate matter ISA with invited EPA and external 
scientific experts (81 FR 29262, May 11, 2016). The input received 
during these webinar workshops aided in the development of the 
materials presented in the ``Integrated Science Assessment for 
Particulate Matter (External Review Draft).''
    The ``Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter 
(External Review Draft)'' will be discussed at a public meeting for 
review by CASAC. In addition to the public comment period announced in 
this notice, the public will have an opportunity to address CASAC at 
this meeting. A separate Federal Register notice will inform the public 
of the exact date and time of the CASAC meeting and of the procedures 
for public participation.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at 
www.regulations.gov

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-
0859, by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-9744.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.
    The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The phone 
number for the Public Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Such deliveries are 
only accepted during the docket's normal hours of operation, and 
special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed 
information. If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please 
submit three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index; 
number pages consecutively with the comments; and submit an unbound 
original; and three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2014-0859. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will 
be marked ``late,'' and may only be considered if time permits. It is 
EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket 
without change and to make the comments available online at 
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information through 
www.regulations.gov or email that you consider to be CBI or otherwise 
protected. The www.regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous access'' 
system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you 
send an email comment directly to EPA without going through 
www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured 
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket 
and made available on the internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special 
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or 
viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the 
EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www2.epa.gov/dockets.
    Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
on www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: October 16, 2018.
James Avery,
Acting Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2018-23125 Filed 10-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P 4