[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73414-73415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20350]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2022-0831; FRL-12235-01-ORD]


2024 Workshops To Obtain Input on Initial Draft Materials for the 
Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health 
Criteria

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing an 
Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) as part of the review of the 
primary (health-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 
for oxides of nitrogen. As part of this review, EPA is announcing a 
series of public workshops to evaluate preliminary draft materials that 
will inform the development of the ISA for oxides of nitrogen. 
Preliminary materials are not being released externally but will be 
provided to the panelists to guide discussions that will inform the 
development of the draft ISA for oxides of nitrogen. The workshops are 
being organized by EPA's Center for Public Health and Environmental 
Assessment (CPHEA) within the Office of Research and Development and 
will be held by webinar and teleconference on October 8, October 30, 
and October 31. Members of the public may attend the webinars as 
observers. Space in the teleconferences may be limited, and 
reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

DATES: The workshops will be held on October 8, October 30, and October 
31.

ADDRESSES: The workshops will be held by webinar and teleconference. 
The website information and call-in number for the webinars are 
available to registered participants. Please register by going to 
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/us-epa-81991238023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct questions regarding 
workshops registration or logistics to Lindsey Green; telephone: 571-
459-4084; or email: [email protected]. For technical information, 
prior to the workshops, contact David Lehmann; telephone: 919-541-0234; 
or email: [email protected] and Alison Krajewski; telephone: 919-
541-7688; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Workshop

    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''; \1\ 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)(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).
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    \1\ Under Clean Air Act section 302(h), welfare effects include, 
but are not limited to, ``effects on soils, water, crops, 
vegetation, manmade materials, animals, wildlife, weather, 
visibility, and climate, damage to and deterioration of property, 
and hazards to transportation, as well as effects on economic values 
and on personal comfort and well-being.''
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    EPA has established NAAQS for six criteria pollutants including 
oxides of nitrogen. Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis for 
these standards by preparing an ISA. In conjunction with additional 
technical and policy assessments conducted by EPA's Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), the ISA provides the scientific 
and technical basis for EPA decisions on the adequacy of the current 
NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards.
    CPHEA is holding a series of workshops to inform the Agency's 
evaluation of the scientific evidence for the oxides of nitrogen. The 
purpose of these workshops is to obtain input on the scientific content 
of preliminary draft materials that will inform the development of the 
draft ISA. Workshop sessions will include discussion of preliminary 
draft materials from subject areas which may include exposure 
assessment, toxicology, epidemiology, air quality/exposure, and fate 
and transport. These preliminary materials are not being released as an 
external draft but will be provided to the panelists to guide 
discussions and inform the development of the draft ISA for Oxides of 
Nitrogen--Health Criteria. These workshops are planned to help ensure 
that the ISA, once developed, is up-to-date and focuses on the key

[[Page 73415]]

evidence necessary to inform the underlying scientific basis for the 
review of the primary NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen. EPA is planning to 
release the external review draft of the ISA for Oxides of Nitrogen--
Health Criteria for review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory 
Committee (CASAC) and the public in late 2025.

II. Workshop Information

    Members of the public may attend the webinars as observers. Space 
in the teleconferences may be limited, and reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for the 
workshop is available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/us-epa-81991238023.

Wayne Cascio,
Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2024-20350 Filed 9-9-24; 8:45 am]
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