National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee; Open Meeting

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee;

Open Meeting

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: A meeting of the National Air Pollution Control Techniques

Advisory Committee (NAPCTAC) will be held at the Sheraton Inn

University Center, 2800 Middleton Avenue, Durham, North Carolina 27705.

The telephone number is (919) 383-8575.

DATES: July 18 and 19, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The meeting is open to the public. Anyone wishing to make a

presentation must contact Ms. Teresa Clemons at the Emission Standards

Division (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research

Triangle Park, North Carolina by July 14, 1994. The telephone number is

(919) 541-5571.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act of 1990

requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a

study of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from consumer

and commercial products and to report to Congress the findings of the

study. Upon submittal of the report to the Congress, the EPA must list

those categories of products which contribute at least 80 percent of

the VOC emissions from all consumer and commercial products in ozone

nonattainment areas. The EPA must at that time divide the list into 4

groups by priority. Beginning no later than 2 years after publishing

the list, the EPA must regulate one group every 2 years until all 4

groups are regulated.

One objective of the study is to develop criteria for regulating

consumer and commercial products under section 183(e). These criteria

are to be used to select products for regulation. Section 183(e) lists

5 factors which must be taken into consideration when developing the

criteria: (1) The uses, benefits, and commercial demand of consumer and

commercial products; (2) any health or safety functions served by the

products; (3) those consumer and commercial products which emit highly

reactive VOC's into the ambient air; (4) those products which are

subject to the most cost-effective controls; and (5) the availability

of any alternatives to such consumer and commercial products that are

of comparable costs, considering health, safety, and environmental

impacts. The EPA has developed criteria based on the 5 factors listed

in section 183(e).

The EPA has not yet exercised the criteria to develop a prioritized

list of categories for regulation under section 183(e). In order to

ensure consistency and fairness in developing the draft prioritized

category list, a decision was made to convene an independent panel to

exercise the criteria.

The National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee

(NAPCTAC), established in 1968 by the Surgeon General, is an ongoing

advisory group which provides independent views based upon specialized

knowledge and skills unavailable in the EPA. The NAPCTAC consists of

the Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, or his

designee, as chairperson and 11 members appointed by the EPA's Deputy

Administrator. The members are selected from the chemical, engineering,

biomedical, and socioeconomic disciplines resident in universities,

State and local governments, research institutions, industry, and

public interest groups.

Because of the balance afforded by such a diverse group, the

NAPCTAC was considered a logical and convenient choice for the panel.

The panel will consider each category of products subject to section

183(e) and will assign a score of 1 to 5 for each criterion. The output

of the scoring exercise will be a draft prioritized category list, with

the highest scored categories receiving the highest priority for

regulation.

The draft list will be reviewed by the Administrator who reserves

the right to make adjustments to the list. For example, certain health

and safety products may be considered for exemption as provided for in

section 183(e)(3)(a). Some product categories may be grouped in the

interest of regulatory efficiency. The criteria and draft prioritized

category list are not final and may be subject to change until

regulatory action is taken.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

July 18 (Monday)--9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

--Overview of section 183(e) and expectations for the meeting.

--Presentations by interested parties (10 minutes each).

1 to 5 p.m.

--Criteria exercised by the NAPCTAC panel

7 to 10 p.m. Evening Session

--Continue criteria exercise

July 19 (Tuesday)--8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

--Continue criteria exercise

1 to 5 p.m.

--Continue and conclude criteria exercise

--Closing remarks

Dated: June 28, 1994.

John S. Seitz,

Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

[FR Doc. 94-16212 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]

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