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Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides-Health Criteria 

PDF Version (2 pp, 73K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: September 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 178)]
[Notices]
[Page 53002-53003]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12se08-57]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8714-2]

Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides-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 Sulfur Oxides-Health Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-08/047F) and
the supplementary annexes (EPA/600/R-08/047FA). The document was
prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)
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 sulfur oxides.

DATES: The document will be available on or about September 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The ``Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides-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 Sulfur Oxides-Health Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-08/
047F), to facilitate processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Jee
Young Kim, Sc.D., NCEA [telephone: 919-541-4157; facsimile: 919-541-
5078; or e-mail: kim.jee-young@epa.gov] or Douglas Johns, PhD, NCEA
[telephone: 919-541-5596; or e-mail: johns.doug@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.
    Sulfur oxides are one of six principal (or ``criteria'') pollutants
for which EPA has established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the
scientific basis for these standards by preparing an Integrated Science
Assessment (ISA), 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 expert scientific review of EPA's draft ISAs.
    On May 16, 2006 (71 FR 28023), EPA formally initiated its current
review of the criteria for Sulfur Oxides, requesting the submission of
recent scientific information on specified topics. A draft of EPA's
``Integrated Plan for Review of the Primary National Ambient Air
Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides'' was made available in February
2007 for

[[Page 53003]]

public comment and was discussed by the CASAC via a publicly accessible
teleconference consultation on May 11, 2007 (72 FR 20336). This plan
was then finalized and made available to the public in October 2007. A
review of the secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for Sulfur Oxides is
being conducted separately, in conjunction with the review of the
secondary NAAQS for Oxides of Nitrogen. (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/
standards/so2/s_so2_cr_pd.html). 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 sulfur oxides. The first external review
draft of this ISA was released for public comment and review by the
CASAC on September 28, 2007 (72 FR 55207), and was reviewed by CASAC at
a public meeting held on December 5-6, 2007 (72 FR 64216). The second
draft of this ISA was released for public comment and review by the
CASAC in June 2008 (73 FR 31113), and was reviewed by CASAC at a public
meeting held on July 30-31, 2008. EPA has considered comments by CASAC
and by the public in preparing this final ISA.

    Dated: September 2, 2008.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E8-21317 Filed 9-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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