[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 71 (Friday, April 14, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17947-17948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07558]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 50 and 58
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0146; FRL-9961-20-OAR]
Release of the Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the
availability of the final document titled Policy Assessment for the
Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides
of Nitrogen (NO2
[[Page 17948]]
PA). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the component of oxides of
nitrogen (NOX) for which we have the greatest concern for
public health. Accordingly, the current primary (health-based) National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for NOX are in terms
of NO2. The NO2 PA presents considerations and
conclusions relevant for the EPA's review of the primary NO2
NAAQS. The primary NO2 NAAQS are set to protect the public
health from exposures to NO2 in ambient air.
DATES: The NO2 PA will be available on or about April 12,
2017.
ADDRESSES: The NO2 PA will be available primarily via the
Internet at: https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-primary-standards-policy-assessments-current-review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Breanna Alman, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards (Mail Code C504-06), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number:
919-541-2351; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA)
govern the establishment and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42
U.S.C. 7408) directs the Administrator to identify and list certain air
pollutants and then to issue air quality criteria for those pollutants.
The Administrator is to list those air pollutants that in his
``judgment, cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably
be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare;'' ``the presence
of which in the ambient air results from numerous or diverse mobile or
stationary sources;'' and ``for which . . . [the Administrator] plans
to issue air quality criteria . . .'' Air quality criteria are intended
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 . . .'' 42 U.S.C. 7408(b). Under section
109 (42 U.S.C. 7409), the EPA establishes primary (health-based) and
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants for which air quality
criteria are issued. Section 109(d) requires periodic review and, if
appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria. Revised air
quality criteria reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the
effects of the pollutant on public health or welfare. The EPA is also
required to periodically review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS
based on the revised criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that an
independent scientific review committee ``shall complete a review of
the criteria . . . and the national primary and secondary ambient air
quality standards . . . and shall recommend to the Administrator any
new . . . standards and revisions of the existing criteria and
standards as may be appropriate . . .'' Since the early 1980s, this
independent review function has been performed by the Clean Air
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).
Presently, the EPA is reviewing the criteria and the primary NAAQS
for NOX. The EPA released the final Integrated Science
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen--Health Criteria (the ISA) in January
2016. Drawing from the ISA, a draft NO2 PA was prepared by
the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, within the
Office of Air and Radiation. The draft NO2 PA presented
preliminary staff conclusions on the adequacy of the current standards
and addressed key policy-relevant science issues that guided the
review. The draft NO2 PA was reviewed by the CASAC at a
public meeting on November 9-10, 2016, and a teleconference on January
24, 2017. The CASAC's advice on the draft NO2 PA was
conveyed in a letter to the Administrator dated March 7, 2017.\1\ The
final NO2 PA being released at this time reflects
consideration of the CASAC's advice and public comments received on the
draft NO2 PA.
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\1\ Available at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
LookupWebProjectsCurrentCASAC/7C2807D0D9BB4CC8852580DD004EBC32/
$File/EPA-CASAC-17-001.pdf.
Dated: April 10, 2017.
Stephen Page,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2017-07558 Filed 4-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P