[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55201-55202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28143]
[[Page 55201]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 50
[FRL-5913-4]
Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate
Matter
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of review.
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SUMMARY: This document describes EPA's plans and schedule for the next
periodic review of the air quality criteria and national ambient air
quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). This review will
take into account newly emerging research on the effects of airborne
particles on human health and the environment. This new information
will be integrated with that developed during the most recent review of
the PM criteria and standards completed in July 1997. The schedule for
this review is consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act
(Act) for periodic review of the criteria and standards, including
review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), and the
Presidential Memorandum for the Administrator of the EPA published on
July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38421) on the implementation of revised NAAQS for
ozone and PM, which called for completion of this PM review by July
2002.
DATES: The target dates for major milestones in the PM NAAQS review are
contained in a chart in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lester Grant, National Center for
Environmental Assessment (MD-52), with regard to the air quality
criteria document, or Dr. Karen Martin, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (MD-15), with regard to review of the standards, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;
telephone: (919) 541-4173 for Dr. Grant and (919) 541-5274 for Dr.
Martin; e-mail: grant.lester@epamail.epa.gov and
martin.karen@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 18, 1997 the EPA published a final rule revising the NAAQS
for PM (62 FR 38652). On the same day, EPA also published a final rule
revising the NAAQS for ozone (62 FR 38856). A Presidential Memorandum
(62 FR 38421, July 18, 1997) was also published outlining the
Administration's goals for implementing the revised PM and ozone NAAQS.
The Memorandum directed the Agency to provide to CASAC within 90 days
and to publish a notice outlining its schedule for the next periodic
review of PM and to complete the next review, including review by
CASAC, within 5 years after issuance of the revised standards. Such a
schedule would ensure that EPA's review of the emerging scientific
information, which forms the criteria upon which the standards are
based, and of the standards themselves will have been completed prior
to any areas being designated as ``nonattainment'' under the recently
established standards for fine particles (i.e., PM2.5
standards) 1 and prior to the imposition of any new controls
related to the revised standards. To facilitate timely scientific
research within this review period, EPA is initiating certain
activities immediately, as noted below in the discussion of the PM
research program.
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\1\ PM2.5 refers to particles with an aerodynamic
diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers.
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Review Plans and Schedule
The EPA's plans to review the criteria and standards for PM are
outlined in the table below, together with target dates for key
milestones. As with all NAAQS reviews, the purpose is to update the
criteria and to determine whether it is appropriate to revise the
standards in light of new scientific and technical information.
Although the EPA concluded in its recent final rule on the PM standards
(62 FR 38652, July 18, 1997) that the current scientific knowledge
provides a strong basis for the revised PM standards, including the
establishment of PM2.5 standards, there remain scientific
uncertainties associated with the health effects of PM and with the
means of reducing such effects. Recognizing the importance of
developing a better understanding of the effects of fine particles on
human health, including their causes and mechanisms, as well as the
species and sources of PM2.5, the EPA will continue to
sponsor research to address these uncertainties.
The Presidential Memorandum also directed EPA and other relevant
Federal agencies to develop and implement a greatly expanded,
coordinated research plan. These PM research plans are outlined in the
following section.
As with other NAAQS reviews, a rigorous assessment of relevant
scientific information will be presented in a Criteria Document (CD)
prepared by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment. The
development of the CD will involve substantial external peer review
through public workshops involving the scientific community at large
and through iterative reviews of successive drafts by CASAC and the
public. The final CD will reflect input received through these reviews
and will serve to evaluate and integrate this scientific information to
ensure that the review of the standards is based on sound science. The
schedule for this review will allow for consideration of relevant new
peer-reviewed scientific studies published or accepted for publication
from mid-1996 (when the last CD was completed) through mid-2000.
The EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards will also
prepare a Staff Paper (SP) for the Administrator, drawing on
information in the CD. The SP will evaluate the policy implications of
the key studies and scientific information contained in the CD and
identify critical elements that EPA staff believes should be considered
in reviewing the standards. The SP is intended to bridge the gap
between the scientific review in the CD and the public health and
welfare policy judgments required of the Administrator in reviewing the
PM NAAQS. For that purpose, the SP will present technical analyses,
including air quality analyses and a quantitative health risk
assessment, and other factors relevant to the evaluation of the PM
NAAQS, as well as staff conclusions and recommendations of options for
the Administrator's consideration. The SP will also be reviewed by
CASAC and the public, and the final SP will reflect the input received
through these reviews.
[[Page 55202]]
Major Milestones in PM NAAQS Review
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Major milestones Target dates
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PM NAAQS Review Plan to CASAC October 1997.
Prepare CD Development Plan.. November 1997 to January 1998.
CASAC meeting on CD March 1998.
Development Plan.
Prepare Workshop Drafts of CD April to December 1998.
Chapters.
Peer Review Workshops........ February/March 1999.
Prepare External Review Draft March to July 1999.
CD.
Draft CD to CASAC............ July/August 1999.
Public Comment Period on August to October 1999.
Draft CD.
CASAC meeting on Draft CD.... October/November 1999.
Prepare Revised CD and Draft November 1999 to February 2000.
SP.
Revised CD and Draft SP to March 2000.
CASAC.
Public Comment Period on March to May 2000.
Revised CD and Draft SP.
CASAC meeting on Revised CD May/June 2000.
and Draft SP.
Prepare Revised SP and Final May to August 2000.
Revisions to CD.
Revised SP to CASAC; Complete September 2000.
Final CD.
Public Comment Period on September to November 2000.
Revised SP.
CASAC meeting on Revised SP.. November/December 2000.
Complete Final SP and Develop December 2000 to April 2001.
Proposal Package.
OMB/Interagency Review of May to July 2001.
Proposal Package (90 days).
Publish Proposal in Federal August 2001.
Register.
Public Comment Period on September to November 2001.
Proposal (90 days).
CASAC meeting on Proposal.... November 2001.
Review Public/CASAC Comments December 2001 to April 2002.
and Develop Promulgation
Package.
OMB/Interagency Review of May to June 2002.
Promulgation Package (60
days).
Final Promulgation Package July 2002.
Signed by Administrator.
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PM Research Program
The EPA is broadening its ongoing PM research activities by
developing, in partnership with other Federal agencies, a coordinated
interagency PM research program. This interagency program will
contribute to expanding scientific knowledge of PM health effects, as
well as developing improved monitoring methods and cost-effective
mitigation strategies. The interagency effort will also promote further
coordination with other research organizations including state-, local-
, nonprofit-, and industry-sponsored research groups. Beginning this
fall, public participation will also be encouraged through workshops
and review of program documentation. Workshops and the availability of
relevant documentation will be announced in the Federal Register.
To aid identification of needed research efforts, EPA is revising a
document, Research Needs for Particulate Matter, in response to
comments received from CASAC on an earlier draft document. This
document will identify research needed to improve scientific
information supporting future health risk assessment and review of the
PM NAAQS. The document will provide a useful framework for coordination
among Federal agencies and other research organizations. A
complementary document, Particulate Matter Research Program Strategy,
which will identify the areas of emphasis for EPA's research program,
is also being revised in response to CASAC review. The EPA's research
emphasis includes studies to improve understanding of the formation and
composition of fine PM, the characteristics or components of PM that
are responsible for its health effects, and the mechanisms by which
these effects are produced, as well as improved measurements and
estimation of population exposures to PM. These EPA research efforts
include epidemiology, clinical studies, in vivo and in vitro
toxicology, atmospheric sciences including monitoring and modeling
studies, development of data on emissions of fine particles from
stationary and mobile sources, and identification and evaluation of
risk management options. The results from these efforts, as well as
related efforts by other Federal agencies and the general scientific
community, will advance the scientific and technical bases for future
decisions on the PM NAAQS and for the implementation of PM monitoring
and control efforts.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.
Dated: October 17, 1997.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-28143 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M
