Ozone, Particulate Matter and Regional Haze Implementation Program Subcommittee

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5294-8]

Ozone, Particulate Matter and Regional Haze Implementation

Program Subcommittee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On November 8, 1990, the EPA gave notice of the establishment

of a Clean Air Act Advisory Committee

[[Page 47172]]

(CAAAC) (55 FR 46993) which was established pursuant to the Federal

Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2).

Today, EPA announces establishment of the Ozone, Particulate Matter

(PM) and Regional Haze Implementation Programs Subcommittee

(Subcommittee) under the CAAAC. The purpose of the Subcommittee is to

provide advice and recommendations on integrated approaches for

implementing potentially new national ambient air quality standards

(NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter, as well as a new regional

haze program. These programs have an interrelationship in the

atmospheric processes that form ozone and fine particulate matter and

possess common sources of precursor emissions. Further, EPA recognizes

the importance of considering these programs in an integrated manner if

cost effective control strategies are to be developed to meet public

health and welfare objectives. The EPA envisions an open process that

will examine key aspects of the existing implementation programs to

provide for more effective implementation of the potential new

standards, as well as approaches that will more completely integrate

broad regional and national control strategies with more localized

efforts. The focus of the Subcommittee will be to assist EPA in

developing implementation strategies, preparing supporting analyses,

and identifying and resolving impediments to the adoption of the

resulting programs.

OPEN MEETING DATE: Notice is hereby given that the Subcommittee will

hold an open meeting on September 26, 1995 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the

Sheraton Imperial, 4700 Emperor Boulevard, Morrisville, North Carolina

27560. Due to the size of the meeting room, seating is limited to

approximately 150 observers and will be made available on a first come,

first served basis. To assist EPA in planning the public meeting,

persons interested in attending should register with EPA by contacting

Ms. Cathy Ward at TRC Environmental Corporation at 919-419-7500 to give

their name and address before September 19, 1995.

The public is invited to submit written views and recommendations

on new integrated approaches for implementing these programs. Such

comments should be submitted (in duplicate) to Docket A-95-38 by

October 10, 1995.

INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS: A transcript of the meeting as well as other

relevant materials will be available for public inspection in EPA Air

Docket No. A-95-38. The docket is open for public inspection and

copying between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., weekdays, at the Air and

Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), room M-1500, 401 M

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for

copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. John H. Haines, Designated Federal Officer for the Subcommittee, at

919-541-5533, or by mail at U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning

and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, MD-15,

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA is presently reviewing the NAAQS for

ozone and particulate matter. In a related action, EPA is in the

process of developing a regional haze program to address visibility

impairment in Federal Class I areas. The EPA's schedule for ozone calls

for proposal in mid-1996 and final action in mid-1997. The EPA is under

a court-ordered schedule for particulate matter to announce a proposal

decision by June 30, 1996, and to take final action by January 31,

1997. The development of a regional haze program is on a schedule

similar to the particulate matter review.

Based on the assessment to date, a principle consideration would be

to replace the existing 1-hour primary standard for ozone with a new 8-

hour standard. Consideration is also given to replacing the existing 1-

hour secondary standard for ozone with a new secondary standard with a

more appropriate averaging period. While the review of the particulate

matter NAAQS has not progressed as far as the ozone review, preliminary

assessments of the available scientific information suggest that fine

particles are more likely to be associated with reported health

effects. In addition, fine particles are the major cause of visibility

impairment. Therefore, consideration is being given to the

establishment of a new 24-hour and annual fine particle NAAQS to

replace the existing 24-hour PM-10 (particles with an aerodynamic

diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers) standard. The

existing annual PM-10 standard is likely to be retained. To address the

welfare effects of fine particles on visibility, consideration is being

given to a regional haze program which allows for regional variations

in implementation.

Given the likelihood that both the ozone and particulate matter

NAAQS may be revised, as well as the development of a new regional haze

program, EPA believes it is important at this time to obtain the advice

and recommendations from a broad spectrum of the public on new

approaches for implementing these programs. Toward this end, EPA has

established the Subcommittee to be comprised of approximately 50

members from business and industry, environmental groups, State, local

and tribal governments, as well as other Federal agencies. Members of

the Subcommittee were selected on the basis of their professional

qualifications and diversity of perspectives in order that EPA has the

benefit of the full range of views in developing new approaches for

implementing these programs.

Meetings will be held approximately four times a year, as

determined by the chairperson. The meetings will be open to the public

and will be announced in the Federal Register. The Designated Federal

Officer will be present at all meetings and is authorized to adjourn

any meeting whenever it is determined to be in the public interest.

Each meeting will be conducted in accordance with an agenda approved in

advance of the meeting by the Designated Federal Officer.

Dated: September 6, 1995.

John S. Seitz,

Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

[FR Doc. 95-22609 Filed 9-8-95; 8:45 am]

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