2010-17684. Workshop To Review Initial Health Effects Draft Materials for the Ozone (O3

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of workshop.

SUMMARY:

As part of the review of the air quality criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Ozone (O₃), EPA is announcing that a workshop to evaluate initial draft materials for the health effects sections of the O₃ Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) is being organized by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the Office of Research and Development (ORD). The workshop will be held on August 6, 2010, in Research Triangle Park, NC, and will be open to attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served basis up to the limits of available space.

DATES:

The workshop will be held on August 6, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

The workshop will be held in the auditorium of EPA's main campus, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC. An EPA contractor, Versar, is providing logistical support for the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions regarding information, registration, and logistics for the workshop should be directed to Bethzaida Colon, Versar, Inc., Conference Coordinator, 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151, telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 703-642-6809; e-mail: [e-mail]. Questions regarding the scientific and technical aspects of the workshop should be directed to Dr. James Brown, telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 919-541-1818; e-mail: [e-mail] or Dr. Lisa Vinikoor, telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 919-541-5078; e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of Information About the Workshop

Section 109(d) of the Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct periodic reviews of the air quality criteria for each air pollutant listed under section 108 of the Act. Based on such review, EPA is to retain or revise the NAAQS for a given pollutant as appropriate. As part of these reviews, NCEA assesses newly available scientific information and develops ISA documents (formerly known as Criteria Documents) that provide the scientific basis for the reviews of the NAAQS for O₃, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and lead. Based on the information in the ISA, EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) typically conducts quantitative and qualitative risk and exposure assessments. The ISA and the risk/exposure assessments are used to prepare a policy assessment that informs subsequent rulemaking actions.

NCEA-RTP is holding this workshop to inform the Agency's evaluation of the scientific evidence for the review of the NAAQS for O₃. The purpose of the workshop is to obtain a review of the scientific content of initial draft materials or sections for the draft ISA. Workshop sessions will include a review and discussion of initial draft sections on the health effects evidence from in vivo and in vitro animal toxicology, human clinical, and epidemiology studies. In addition, roundtable discussions will help identify key studies or concepts within each discipline to assist EPA in integrating within and across disciplines. This workshop is planned to help ensure that the ISA is up-to-date and focuses on the key evidence to inform the scientific understanding for the review of the NAAQS for O₃. EPA is planning to release the first external review draft ISA for O₃ for review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public in November 2010.

II. Workshop Information

Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dated: July 14, 2010.

Rebecca Clark,

Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.