[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22207-22208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07938]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859; FRL-9719-02-ORD]


Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment for 
Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the 
availability of a final document titled, ``Supplement to the 2019 
Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (Final)'' ([EPA/
600/R-22/028]). The document was prepared by the Center for Public 
Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD) as part of the reconsideration of the 
EPA's 2020 final action reviewing the National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). The Supplement represents 
a targeted review of peer-reviewed studies published since the 
literature cutoff date (i.e., ~January 2018) of the 2019 Integrated 
Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (PM ISA). The Supplement and 
the 2019 p.m. ISA provide the scientific basis for EPA's decisions, in 
conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, for the 
reconsideration of the EPA's 2020 review of the NAAQS and the 
appropriateness of possible alternative standards.

DATES: The document will be available on or about May 13, 2022.

[[Page 22208]]


ADDRESSES: The ``Supplement to the 2019 Integrated Science Assessment 
for Particulate Matter (Final)'' will be available primarily via the 
internet on EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter 
at 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; or email: 
[email protected] to request a CD-ROM, and please provide your name, 
your mailing address, and the document title, ``Supplement to the 2019 
Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (Final)'' to 
facilitate processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact 
Jason Sacks; phone: 919-541-9729; 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 air 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. The 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)(1) 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 NAAQS review process, see https://www.epa.gov/naaqs).
    EPA has established NAAQS for six criteria pollutants. In 
conducting periodic reviews of the air quality criteria and NAAQS, EPA 
reviews the scientific basis for these standards by preparing an 
Integrated Science Assessment (ISA; formerly called an Air Quality 
Criteria Document). The ISA provides the scientific basis for EPA's 
decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and policy 
assessments, on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the 
appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The Clean Air 
Scientific Advisory Committee (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 June 10, 2021, the EPA announced its decision to reconsider the 
2020 p.m. NAAQS final action, available at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-reexamine-health-standards-harmful-soot-previous-administration-left-unchanged. The EPA also announced that, as a part 
of the reconsideration, a supplement to the Integrated Science 
Assessment (ISA) for Particulate Matter (PM), which was finalized in 
December 2019, would be developed. The ``Supplement to the 2019 
Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review 
Draft)'' was released for public comment and review by the CASAC on 
September 30, 2021 (https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=352823).
    The CASAC PM panel met at a virtual public meeting on November 17-
19, 2021, to review the draft Supplement to the 2019 p.m. ISA (86 FR 
52673, September 22, 2021). A virtual public meeting was then held on 
February 25, 2022-March 4, 2022, and during this meeting on February 
28, 2022, the chartered CASAC considered the CASAC PM Panel's draft 
letter to the Administrator on the draft Supplement to the 2019 p.m. 
ISA. This meeting was announced in the Federal Register on January 7, 
2022 (87 FR 958). Subsequently, on March 18, 2022, the chartered CASAC 
provided a consensus letter of their review to the Administrator of the 
EPA (https://casac.epa.gov/ords/sab/f?p=113:0:9895873668768:APPLICATION_PROCESS=REPORT_DOC:::REPORT_ID:1093)
. The EPA has considered comments by the chartered CASAC and by the 
public in preparing this final Supplement to the 2019 p.m. ISA.

Wayne Cascio,
Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office 
of Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-07938 Filed 4-13-22; 8:45 am]
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