96-32663. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and Particulate Matter

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67763-67764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32663]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[AD-FRL-5669-8]
RIN 2060-AE57, AE66 and AH09


National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and Particulate 
Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing public hearings on the proposed 
revisions to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for 
ozone and particulate matter as well as the proposed reference method 
(Appendix L, 40 CFR part 50) and the proposed requirements for 
designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM 
2.5, and ambient air quality surveillance for particulate matter 
that were published on December 13, 1996 (61 FR 65715, 65637, and 
65779, respectively). These public hearings are the opportunity for the 
oral presentation of data, views, or arguments required by section 
307(d)(5) of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Public hearings on the proposed ozone and particulate matter 
NAAQS decisions will be held on January 14 and 15, 1997 at the 
locations identified below. The record of each hearing will be held 
open for 30 days to allow for submission of any rebuttal or 
supplementary information. The January 14, 1997 hearings will begin at 
10:30 a.m. (local time) and end at 8:00 p.m. (local time).
    The January 15, 1997 hearings will begin at 9:00 a.m. (local time) 
and end at 3:00 p.m. (local time). The public hearing on the proposed 
reference method (Appendix L) and the proposed requirements for 
designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM 
2.5 and air quality surveillance for particulate matter will be 
held on January 14, 1997 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (local time) and ending 
at 5:00 p.m (local time). As previously announced, the public comment 
period for the proposed decisions will close on February 18, 1997. This 
comment period applies to all public comments, written or oral, 
including any made via the telephone hotline and electronic mailboxes 
established for this purpose.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments (duplicate copies preferred) to 
Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460. 
Comments on the proposed revisions to the ozone NAAQS should be 
submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-95-58. Comments 
on the proposed revisions to the particulate matter NAAQS (including 
Appendix L) should be submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket 
No. A-95-54. Comments on the proposed requirements for designation of 
reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM 2.5 and ambient 
air quality surveillance for particulate matter should be submitted to 
the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-96-51.
    Public hearings on the proposed revision to the ozone and 
particulate matter NAAQS will be held at the following locations:

(1) Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116, 617-
262-9600
(2) Midland Hotel, 172 West Adams at LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-
332-1200
(3) Red Lion Hotel, 255 South West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 
84101, 801-328-2000

    The public hearing on the proposed reference method (Appendix L, 40 
CFR part 50), and the proposed requirements for designation of 
reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM 2.5 and ambient 
air quality surveillance for particulate matter (40 CFR parts 53 and 
58) will be held at: Omni Durham Hotel, 201 Foster Street, Durham, NC 
27701, 919-683-6664.
    Rebuttal or supplementary information or other written statements 
for the record of any public hearings should be submitted (duplicate 
copies preferred) to the appropriate docket at the address specified 
above for the submission of written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ozone NAAQS--Dr. David McKee, MD-15, 
Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: [phone]. Particulate Matter 
NAAQS--Ms. Patricia Koman at the above address, telephone: (919) 541-
5170. PM 2.5 Reference Method, Reference and Equivalent Methods, 
and Ambient Air Surveillance for Particulate Matter--Mr. Neil Frank, 
MD-14, Emissions, Monitoring, and Analysis Division, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Court Order on Particulate Matter NAAQS

    The court order entered in American Lung Association v. Browner, 
CIV-93-643-TUC-ACM (D. Ariz., October 6, 1994), has been modified to 
change the date specified for the close of the public comment period on 
the proposed decision on particulate matter NAAQS from January 29, 1997 
to February 18, 1997. The date for final decision on the

[[Page 67764]]

particulate matter NAAQS, June 28, 1997, remains unchanged.

Public Hearings

    Individuals planning to make oral presentations at the hearing(s) 
should notify Ms. Linda Metcalf, MD-15, Air Quality Strategies and 
Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, 
telephone: [phone], at least 7 days prior to the date of the 
hearing(s). Oral presentations will be limited to five minutes each. 
Any member of the public may file a written statement before, during, 
or within 30 days after the hearings. Written statements (duplicate 
copies preferred) should be submitted to the appropriate docket at the 
address specified above.
    A verbatim transcript of the hearings as well as written statements 
received will be available for inspection and copying during normal 
working hours at the Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information 
Center at the address specified above.

Availability of Related Information

    Any supplemental air quality, exposure and risk analyses for ozone 
and/or particulate matter prepared by EPA will be entered into the 
appropriate docket and will also be available to the public through the 
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Technology 
Transfer Network (TTN) Bulletin Board System (BBS) in the Clean Air Act 
Amendments area, under Title I, Policy/Guidance Documents. To access 
the bulletin board, a modem and communications software are necessary. 
To dial up, set your communications software to 8 data bits, no parity 
and one stop bit. Dial [phone] and follow the on-screen 
instructions to register for access. After registering, proceed to 
choice `` Gateway to TTN Technical Areas'', then choose `` CAAA 
BBS''. From the main menu, choose ``<1> Title I: Attain/Maint of 
NAAQS'', then ``
 Policy Guidance Documents.'' To access these 
documents through the World Wide Web, click on ``TTN BBSWeb'', then 
proceed to the Gateway to TTN Technical areas, as above. If assistance 
is needed in accessing the system, call the help desk at [phone] 
in Research Triangle Park, NC.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.

    Dated: December 18, 1996.
Mary D. Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 96-32663 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P