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Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur-- Environmental Criteria 

PDF Version (2 pp, 71K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: December 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 75716-75717]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12de08-71]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8750-6]

Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur--
Environmental Criteria

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the
availability of a final document entitled, ``Integrated Science
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur--Ecological Criteria,''
and the supplementary annexes (EPA/600/R-08/082F). 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 secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for
oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA's secondary NAAQS are based on
ecological and welfare effects.

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

ADDRESSES: The ``Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen
and Sulfur--Environmental 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 and
Sulfur--Environmental Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-08/082F), to facilitate
processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact
Tara Greaver, Ph.D., NCEA [telephone: 919-541-2435; facsimile: 919-541-
5078; or e-mail: greaver.tara@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 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 and sulfur are two of six principal (or
``criteria'') pollutants for which EPA has established air quality
criteria and NAAQS. EPA periodically reviews the scientific basis for
these standards by preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA)
(formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document). 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

[[Page 75717]]

(CASAC), an independent science advisory committee established pursuant
to section 109 of the Clean Air Act and part of the EPA's Science
Advisory Board (SAB), provides independent scientific advice on NAAQS
matters, including advice on EPA's draft ISAs.
    EPA formally initiated its current review of the criteria for
oxides of nitrogen and sulfur in December 2005 (70 FR 73236) and May
2006 (71 FR 28023) respectively, requesting the submission of recent
scientific information on specified topics. In the initial stages of
the criteria reviews, EPA recognized the merit of integrating the
science assessment for these two pollutants due to their combined
effects on atmospheric chemistry, deposition processes, and
environment-related public welfare effects. In July 2007 (72 FR 34004),
EPA held a workshop to discuss, with invited scientific experts,
initial draft materials prepared in the development of the ISA and
supplementary annexes for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA's ``Draft
Plan for Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide'' was made available in
September 2007 for public comment and was discussed by the Clean Air
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) via a publicly accessible
teleconference consultation on October 30, 2007 (72 FR 57568). EPA made
its Draft Plan available on EPA's Web site: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/
naaqs/standards/no2so2sec/cr_pd.html. The draft ``Integrated Science
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur--Environmental Criteria;
First External Review Draft'' was released for review on December 21,
2007 (72 FR 72719). The CASAC reviewed the first draft document at a
public peer review meeting on April 2-3, 2008. EPA addressed comments
from the CASAC and the public in the second external review draft
document, ``Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and
Sulfur--Environmental Criteria; Second External Review Draft,'' which
was released for public comment on August 12, 2008 (72 FR 46908). The
second draft was reviewed by the CASAC at a public meeting on October
2-3, 2008. EPA has considered comments by CASAC and by the public in
preparing this final ISA.

    Dated: December 4, 2008.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E8-29347 Filed 12-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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