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Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria 

PDF Version (2 pp, 75K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: July 11, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 134)]
[Notices]
[Page 39960-39961]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy08-41]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8689-9]

Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing
the availability of a final document entitled ``Integrated Science
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-08/
071). The document was prepared by the National Center for
Environmental Assessment within EPA's Office of Research and
Development as part of the review of the primary (health-based)
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen.

DATES: The document will be available on July 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The ``Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--
Health Criteria'' will be available primarily via the Internet on the
National Center for Environmental Assessment's home page under the
Recent Additions and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. A
limited number of CD-ROM or paper copies will be available. Contact Ms.
Ellen Lorang by phone (919-541-2771), fax (919-541-5078), or e-mail
(lorang.ellen@epa.gov) to request either of these, and please provide
your name, your mailing address, and the document title, ``Integrated
Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria'' (EPA/600/
R-08/071), to facilitate processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact
Dennis Kotchmar, M.D., NCEA; telephone: 919-541-4158; facsimile: 919-
541-5078; or e-mail: kotchmar.dennis@epa.gov or Thomas Luben, PhD,
NCEA; telephone: 919-541-5762; or e-mail: luben.tom@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs
the Administrator to identify certain pollutants that ``may reasonably
be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare'' 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 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for
each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the
Act requires subsequent 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 and welfare.
EPA is also to revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised
air quality criteria.
    Oxides of nitrogen are one of six principal (or ``criteria'')
pollutants for which EPA has issued air quality criteria. National
ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) based on those criteria have been
established for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an indicator for
gaseous nitrogen oxides. Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis
for these standards by preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA)
and supplementary annexes, formerly called an Air Quality Criteria
Document (AQCD). The ISA and supplementary annexes, in conjunction with
additional technical and policy assessments, provide the scientific
basis for EPA decisions on the adequacy of a current NAAQS and the
appropriateness of new or revised standards. The Clean Air Scientific
Advisory Committee (CASAC), an independent science advisory committee
mandated by the Clean Air Act and part of the EPA's Science Advisory
Board (SAB), is charged with independent, expert scientific review of
EPA's draft ISAs.
    On December 9, 2005 (70 FR 73236), EPA formally initiated its
current review of the criteria for Oxides of Nitrogen, requesting the
submission of recent scientific information on specified topics. A
draft of EPA's ``Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National
Ambient Air Quality Standard for Nitrogen Dioxide'' was made available
in February 2007 for public comment and was discussed by the Clean Air
Science Advisory Committee (CASAC) via a publicly accessible
teleconference consultation on May 11, 2007 (72 FR 20336). In February
2007 (72 FR 6238), a workshop was held to discuss, with invited
scientific experts, initial draft materials prepared in the development
of the ISA and supplementary annexes for oxides of nitrogen. The first
external review draft of this ISA was released for public comment and
review by the CASAC on

[[Page 39961]]

August 31, 2007 (72 FR 50107), and was reviewed by CASAC at a public
meeting held on October 24-25, 2007. The second draft of this ISA was
released for public comment and review by the CASAC in March 2008 (73
FR 11916), and was reviewed by CASAC at a public meeting held on May 1-
2, 2008. EPA has considered comments by CASAC and the public in
preparing this final ISA.

    Dated: July 1, 2008.
Rebecca M. Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E8-15726 Filed 7-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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