National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and Particulate Matter

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[AD-FRL-5669-8]

RIN 2060-AE57, AE66 and AH09

National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and Particulate

Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing public hearings on the proposed

revisions to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for

ozone and particulate matter as well as the proposed reference method

(Appendix L, 40 CFR part 50) and the proposed requirements for

designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM

2.5, and ambient air quality surveillance for particulate matter

that were published on December 13, 1996 (61 FR 65715, 65637, and

65779, respectively). These public hearings are the opportunity for the

oral presentation of data, views, or arguments required by section

307(d)(5) of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Public hearings on the proposed ozone and particulate matter

NAAQS decisions will be held on January 14 and 15, 1997 at the

locations identified below. The record of each hearing will be held

open for 30 days to allow for submission of any rebuttal or

supplementary information. The January 14, 1997 hearings will begin at

10:30 a.m. (local time) and end at 8:00 p.m. (local time).

The January 15, 1997 hearings will begin at 9:00 a.m. (local time)

and end at 3:00 p.m. (local time). The public hearing on the proposed

reference method (Appendix L) and the proposed requirements for

designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM

2.5 and air quality surveillance for particulate matter will be

held on January 14, 1997 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (local time) and ending

at 5:00 p.m (local time). As previously announced, the public comment

period for the proposed decisions will close on February 18, 1997. This

comment period applies to all public comments, written or oral,

including any made via the telephone hotline and electronic mailboxes

established for this purpose.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments (duplicate copies preferred) to

Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460.

Comments on the proposed revisions to the ozone NAAQS should be

submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-95-58. Comments

on the proposed revisions to the particulate matter NAAQS (including

Appendix L) should be submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket

No. A-95-54. Comments on the proposed requirements for designation of

reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM 2.5 and ambient

air quality surveillance for particulate matter should be submitted to

the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-96-51.

Public hearings on the proposed revision to the ozone and

particulate matter NAAQS will be held at the following locations:

(1) Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116, 617-

262-9600

(2) Midland Hotel, 172 West Adams at LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-

332-1200

(3) Red Lion Hotel, 255 South West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT

84101, 801-328-2000

The public hearing on the proposed reference method (Appendix L, 40

CFR part 50), and the proposed requirements for designation of

reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM 2.5 and ambient

air quality surveillance for particulate matter (40 CFR parts 53 and

58) will be held at: Omni Durham Hotel, 201 Foster Street, Durham, NC

27701, 919-683-6664.

Rebuttal or supplementary information or other written statements

for the record of any public hearings should be submitted (duplicate

copies preferred) to the appropriate docket at the address specified

above for the submission of written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ozone NAAQS--Dr. David McKee, MD-15,

Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, Office of Air Quality

Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research

Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: (919) 541-5288. Particulate Matter

NAAQS--Ms. Patricia Koman at the above address, telephone: (919) 541-

5170. PM 2.5 Reference Method, Reference and Equivalent Methods,

and Ambient Air Surveillance for Particulate Matter--Mr. Neil Frank,

MD-14, Emissions, Monitoring, and Analysis Division, Office of Air

Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: (919) 541-5560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Court Order on Particulate Matter NAAQS

The court order entered in American Lung Association v. Browner,

CIV-93-643-TUC-ACM (D. Ariz., October 6, 1994), has been modified to

change the date specified for the close of the public comment period on

the proposed decision on particulate matter NAAQS from January 29, 1997

to February 18, 1997. The date for final decision on the

[[Page 67764]]

particulate matter NAAQS, June 28, 1997, remains unchanged.

Public Hearings

Individuals planning to make oral presentations at the hearing(s)

should notify Ms. Linda Metcalf, MD-15, Air Quality Strategies and

Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711,

telephone: (919) 541-2865, at least 7 days prior to the date of the

hearing(s). Oral presentations will be limited to five minutes each.

Any member of the public may file a written statement before, during,

or within 30 days after the hearings. Written statements (duplicate

copies preferred) should be submitted to the appropriate docket at the

address specified above.

A verbatim transcript of the hearings as well as written statements

received will be available for inspection and copying during normal

working hours at the Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information

Center at the address specified above.

Availability of Related Information

Any supplemental air quality, exposure and risk analyses for ozone

and/or particulate matter prepared by EPA will be entered into the

appropriate docket and will also be available to the public through the

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Technology

Transfer Network (TTN) Bulletin Board System (BBS) in the Clean Air Act

Amendments area, under Title I, Policy/Guidance Documents. To access

the bulletin board, a modem and communications software are necessary.

To dial up, set your communications software to 8 data bits, no parity

and one stop bit. Dial (919) 541-5742 and follow the on-screen

instructions to register for access. After registering, proceed to

choice `` Gateway to TTN Technical Areas'', then choose `` CAAA

BBS''. From the main menu, choose `` Title I: Attain/Maint of

NAAQS'', then `` Policy Guidance Documents.'' To access these

documents through the World Wide Web, click on ``TTN BBSWeb'', then

proceed to the Gateway to TTN Technical areas, as above. If assistance

is needed in accessing the system, call the help desk at (919) 541-5384

in Research Triangle Park, NC.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,

Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.

Dated: December 18, 1996.

Mary D. Nichols,

Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 96-32663 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P