94-16212. National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee; Open Meeting

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16212]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 5, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
 

National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee; 
Open Meeting

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: A meeting of the National Air Pollution Control Techniques 
Advisory Committee (NAPCTAC) will be held at the Sheraton Inn 
University Center, 2800 Middleton Avenue, Durham, North Carolina 27705. 
The telephone number is [phone].

DATES: July 18 and 19, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The meeting is open to the public. Anyone wishing to make a 
presentation must contact Ms. Teresa Clemons at the Emission Standards 
Division (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 
Triangle Park, North Carolina by July 14, 1994. The telephone number is 
[phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act of 1990 
requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a 
study of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from consumer 
and commercial products and to report to Congress the findings of the 
study. Upon submittal of the report to the Congress, the EPA must list 
those categories of products which contribute at least 80 percent of 
the VOC emissions from all consumer and commercial products in ozone 
nonattainment areas. The EPA must at that time divide the list into 4 
groups by priority. Beginning no later than 2 years after publishing 
the list, the EPA must regulate one group every 2 years until all 4 
groups are regulated.
    One objective of the study is to develop criteria for regulating 
consumer and commercial products under section 183(e). These criteria 
are to be used to select products for regulation. Section 183(e) lists 
5 factors which must be taken into consideration when developing the 
criteria: (1) The uses, benefits, and commercial demand of consumer and 
commercial products; (2) any health or safety functions served by the 
products; (3) those consumer and commercial products which emit highly 
reactive VOC's into the ambient air; (4) those products which are 
subject to the most cost-effective controls; and (5) the availability 
of any alternatives to such consumer and commercial products that are 
of comparable costs, considering health, safety, and environmental 
impacts. The EPA has developed criteria based on the 5 factors listed 
in section 183(e).
    The EPA has not yet exercised the criteria to develop a prioritized 
list of categories for regulation under section 183(e). In order to 
ensure consistency and fairness in developing the draft prioritized 
category list, a decision was made to convene an independent panel to 
exercise the criteria.
    The National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee 
(NAPCTAC), established in 1968 by the Surgeon General, is an ongoing 
advisory group which provides independent views based upon specialized 
knowledge and skills unavailable in the EPA. The NAPCTAC consists of 
the Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, or his 
designee, as chairperson and 11 members appointed by the EPA's Deputy 
Administrator. The members are selected from the chemical, engineering, 
biomedical, and socioeconomic disciplines resident in universities, 
State and local governments, research institutions, industry, and 
public interest groups.
    Because of the balance afforded by such a diverse group, the 
NAPCTAC was considered a logical and convenient choice for the panel. 
The panel will consider each category of products subject to section 
183(e) and will assign a score of 1 to 5 for each criterion. The output 
of the scoring exercise will be a draft prioritized category list, with 
the highest scored categories receiving the highest priority for 
regulation.
    The draft list will be reviewed by the Administrator who reserves 
the right to make adjustments to the list. For example, certain health 
and safety products may be considered for exemption as provided for in 
section 183(e)(3)(a). Some product categories may be grouped in the 
interest of regulatory efficiency. The criteria and draft prioritized 
category list are not final and may be subject to change until 
regulatory action is taken.
    The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

July 18 (Monday)--9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

--Overview of section 183(e) and expectations for the meeting.
--Presentations by interested parties (10 minutes each).

1 to 5 p.m.

--Criteria exercised by the NAPCTAC panel

7 to 10 p.m. Evening Session

--Continue criteria exercise

July 19 (Tuesday)--8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

--Continue criteria exercise

1 to 5 p.m.

--Continue and conclude criteria exercise
--Closing remarks

    Dated: June 28, 1994.
John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 94-16212 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]
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