[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66837-66838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27228]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9749-2]
Workshop To Define Approaches To Assess the Effectiveness of
Policies To Reduce PM2.5
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of workshop.
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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing a workshop to identify approaches to assess
the effectiveness of policies that reduce ambient levels of
PM2.5. The workshop is being organized by EPA's
[[Page 66838]]
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) and the Office of
Research and Development (ORD), and will be held on January 7, 2013, in
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Reservations for the workshop
will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis due to
limited space.
DATES: The workshop will be held on January 7, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the Auditorium of EPA's RTP
main campus, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC. An EPA
contractor, EC/R, is organizing the workshop.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information,
registration, and logistics for the workshop should be directed to
Becky Battye, EC/R, Inc., Conference Coordinator, 501 Eastowne Dr.,
Suite 250, Chapel Hill, NC 27514; telephone: 919-443-8321; email
[email protected]. Questions regarding the scientific and
technical aspects of the workshop should be directed to Neal Fann,
telephone: 919-541-0209; facsimile: 919-541-5315; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Summary of Information About the Workshop
Significant reductions in ambient levels of particulate matter with
aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) have
occurred over the past few decades and more are expected with the
implementation of recently promulgated rules. PM2.5 is
associated with adverse human health effects, such as respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases. Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2)
from power plants have decreased substantially in recent years and
further reductions are expected. As a result of reductions in
SO2, a precursor to PM2.5, commensurate
reductions in PM2.5 have occurred and are expected to
further decrease throughout the eastern U.S. Considerable reductions of
PM2.5 and its precursors are also expected in the western
U.S. and in coastal areas due to truck and marine engine rules
associated with ports and goods movement. In combination, marked
reductions are expected in PM2.5 and its precursors as well
as alteration of the overall composition of PM2.5 in many
areas of the U.S. This constitutes an opportunity to evaluate the
effect of changes in the composition of air pollution in urban areas
that will occur over both time and space.
The purposes of this workshop are to (1) Discuss previous
accountability work, (2) identify data needs, and (3) discuss
approaches that may be used to prospectively design research to assess
the public health benefits from implementation of these large-scale
changes in levels of air pollution. Consistent with the recent North
American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone report titled,
``Technical Challenges of Multipollutant Air Quality Management'' this
workshop aims to ensure that the necessary methods and data will be
available to verify the relationship between reductions in air
pollution emissions, ambient concentrations, human exposures and public
health benefits to determine whether the regulations are implemented as
originally projected and the intended benefits are realized.
Discussions will focus on improving the limitations identified in
earlier studies, especially in relation to interpretation of the study
and ensuring proper study design, collected data and analytical
approaches. To meet these objectives, the workshop has been organized
with invited expert panelists to build on previous work and identify
critical data needs.
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: October 26, 2012.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office
of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2012-27228 Filed 11-6-12; 8:45 am]
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