Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[FRL-5913-4]

Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate

Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of review.

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SUMMARY: This document describes EPA's plans and schedule for the next

periodic review of the air quality criteria and national ambient air

quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). This review will

take into account newly emerging research on the effects of airborne

particles on human health and the environment. This new information

will be integrated with that developed during the most recent review of

the PM criteria and standards completed in July 1997. The schedule for

this review is consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act

(Act) for periodic review of the criteria and standards, including

review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), and the

Presidential Memorandum for the Administrator of the EPA published on

July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38421) on the implementation of revised NAAQS for

ozone and PM, which called for completion of this PM review by July

2002.

DATES: The target dates for major milestones in the PM NAAQS review are

contained in a chart in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lester Grant, National Center for

Environmental Assessment (MD-52), with regard to the air quality

criteria document, or Dr. Karen Martin, Office of Air Quality Planning

and Standards (MD-15), with regard to review of the standards, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;

telephone: (919) 541-4173 for Dr. Grant and (919) 541-5274 for Dr.

Martin; e-mail: [email protected] and

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 18, 1997 the EPA published a final rule revising the NAAQS

for PM (62 FR 38652). On the same day, EPA also published a final rule

revising the NAAQS for ozone (62 FR 38856). A Presidential Memorandum

(62 FR 38421, July 18, 1997) was also published outlining the

Administration's goals for implementing the revised PM and ozone NAAQS.

The Memorandum directed the Agency to provide to CASAC within 90 days

and to publish a notice outlining its schedule for the next periodic

review of PM and to complete the next review, including review by

CASAC, within 5 years after issuance of the revised standards. Such a

schedule would ensure that EPA's review of the emerging scientific

information, which forms the criteria upon which the standards are

based, and of the standards themselves will have been completed prior

to any areas being designated as ``nonattainment'' under the recently

established standards for fine particles (i.e., PM2.5

standards) 1 and prior to the imposition of any new controls

related to the revised standards. To facilitate timely scientific

research within this review period, EPA is initiating certain

activities immediately, as noted below in the discussion of the PM

research program.

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\1\ PM2.5 refers to particles with an aerodynamic

diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers.

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Review Plans and Schedule

The EPA's plans to review the criteria and standards for PM are

outlined in the table below, together with target dates for key

milestones. As with all NAAQS reviews, the purpose is to update the

criteria and to determine whether it is appropriate to revise the

standards in light of new scientific and technical information.

Although the EPA concluded in its recent final rule on the PM standards

(62 FR 38652, July 18, 1997) that the current scientific knowledge

provides a strong basis for the revised PM standards, including the

establishment of PM2.5 standards, there remain scientific

uncertainties associated with the health effects of PM and with the

means of reducing such effects. Recognizing the importance of

developing a better understanding of the effects of fine particles on

human health, including their causes and mechanisms, as well as the

species and sources of PM2.5, the EPA will continue to

sponsor research to address these uncertainties.

The Presidential Memorandum also directed EPA and other relevant

Federal agencies to develop and implement a greatly expanded,

coordinated research plan. These PM research plans are outlined in the

following section.

As with other NAAQS reviews, a rigorous assessment of relevant

scientific information will be presented in a Criteria Document (CD)

prepared by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment. The

development of the CD will involve substantial external peer review

through public workshops involving the scientific community at large

and through iterative reviews of successive drafts by CASAC and the

public. The final CD will reflect input received through these reviews

and will serve to evaluate and integrate this scientific information to

ensure that the review of the standards is based on sound science. The

schedule for this review will allow for consideration of relevant new

peer-reviewed scientific studies published or accepted for publication

from mid-1996 (when the last CD was completed) through mid-2000.

The EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards will also

prepare a Staff Paper (SP) for the Administrator, drawing on

information in the CD. The SP will evaluate the policy implications of

the key studies and scientific information contained in the CD and

identify critical elements that EPA staff believes should be considered

in reviewing the standards. The SP is intended to bridge the gap

between the scientific review in the CD and the public health and

welfare policy judgments required of the Administrator in reviewing the

PM NAAQS. For that purpose, the SP will present technical analyses,

including air quality analyses and a quantitative health risk

assessment, and other factors relevant to the evaluation of the PM

NAAQS, as well as staff conclusions and recommendations of options for

the Administrator's consideration. The SP will also be reviewed by

CASAC and the public, and the final SP will reflect the input received

through these reviews.

[[Page 55202]]

Major Milestones in PM NAAQS Review

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Major milestones Target dates

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PM NAAQS Review Plan to CASAC October 1997.

Prepare CD Development Plan.. November 1997 to January 1998.

CASAC meeting on CD March 1998.

Development Plan.

Prepare Workshop Drafts of CD April to December 1998.

Chapters.

Peer Review Workshops........ February/March 1999.

Prepare External Review Draft March to July 1999.

CD.

Draft CD to CASAC............ July/August 1999.

Public Comment Period on August to October 1999.

Draft CD.

CASAC meeting on Draft CD.... October/November 1999.

Prepare Revised CD and Draft November 1999 to February 2000.

SP.

Revised CD and Draft SP to March 2000.

CASAC.

Public Comment Period on March to May 2000.

Revised CD and Draft SP.

CASAC meeting on Revised CD May/June 2000.

and Draft SP.

Prepare Revised SP and Final May to August 2000.

Revisions to CD.

Revised SP to CASAC; Complete September 2000.

Final CD.

Public Comment Period on September to November 2000.

Revised SP.

CASAC meeting on Revised SP.. November/December 2000.

Complete Final SP and Develop December 2000 to April 2001.

Proposal Package.

OMB/Interagency Review of May to July 2001.

Proposal Package (90 days).

Publish Proposal in Federal August 2001.

Register.

Public Comment Period on September to November 2001.

Proposal (90 days).

CASAC meeting on Proposal.... November 2001.

Review Public/CASAC Comments December 2001 to April 2002.

and Develop Promulgation

Package.

OMB/Interagency Review of May to June 2002.

Promulgation Package (60

days).

Final Promulgation Package July 2002.

Signed by Administrator.

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PM Research Program

The EPA is broadening its ongoing PM research activities by

developing, in partnership with other Federal agencies, a coordinated

interagency PM research program. This interagency program will

contribute to expanding scientific knowledge of PM health effects, as

well as developing improved monitoring methods and cost-effective

mitigation strategies. The interagency effort will also promote further

coordination with other research organizations including state-, local-

, nonprofit-, and industry-sponsored research groups. Beginning this

fall, public participation will also be encouraged through workshops

and review of program documentation. Workshops and the availability of

relevant documentation will be announced in the Federal Register.

To aid identification of needed research efforts, EPA is revising a

document, Research Needs for Particulate Matter, in response to

comments received from CASAC on an earlier draft document. This

document will identify research needed to improve scientific

information supporting future health risk assessment and review of the

PM NAAQS. The document will provide a useful framework for coordination

among Federal agencies and other research organizations. A

complementary document, Particulate Matter Research Program Strategy,

which will identify the areas of emphasis for EPA's research program,

is also being revised in response to CASAC review. The EPA's research

emphasis includes studies to improve understanding of the formation and

composition of fine PM, the characteristics or components of PM that

are responsible for its health effects, and the mechanisms by which

these effects are produced, as well as improved measurements and

estimation of population exposures to PM. These EPA research efforts

include epidemiology, clinical studies, in vivo and in vitro

toxicology, atmospheric sciences including monitoring and modeling

studies, development of data on emissions of fine particles from

stationary and mobile sources, and identification and evaluation of

risk management options. The results from these efforts, as well as

related efforts by other Federal agencies and the general scientific

community, will advance the scientific and technical bases for future

decisions on the PM NAAQS and for the implementation of PM monitoring

and control efforts.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,

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

Dated: October 17, 1997.

Carol M. Browner,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97-28143 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M