Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices 72715 

vii. Explain your views as clearly as 

possible, avoiding the use of profanity 

or personal threats. 

viii. Make sure to submit your 

comments by the comment period 

deadline identified. 

II. Background 

A. What Action is the Agency Taking? 

Under section 4 of the Federal 

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 

Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating 

existing pesticides to ensure that they 

meet current scientific and regulatory 

standards. EPA has completed a RED for 

the pesticide, polypropylene glycol 

under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. 

Butoxypolypropylene glycol (BPG) is 

the only active ingredient in the 

polypropylene glycol chemical case 

with any registered products. BPG is a 

repellant that is used to control flying 

and crawling insects. BPG was first 

registered for use in 1960, and can be 

applied to animals such as pets or 

horses directly, or to areas where 

animals live, like animal housing, 

bedding, or other areas animals may 

occupy. There are no food uses, and no 

uses on animals intended for slaughter. 

EPA has determined that the data base 

to support reregistration is substantially 

complete and that products containing 

polypropylene glycol are eligible for 

reregistration, provided the risks are 

mitigated in the manner described in 

the RED. Upon submission of any 

required product specific data under 

section 4(g)(2)(B) of FIFRA and any 

necessary changes to the registration 

and labeling (either to address concerns 

identified in the RED or as a result of 

product specific data), EPA will make a 

final reregistration decision under 

section 4(g)(2)(C) of FIFRA for products 

containing polypropylene glycol. 

EPA is applying the principles of 

public participation to all pesticides 

undergoing reregistration and tolerance 

reassessment. The Agency’s Pesticide 

Tolerance Reassessment and 

Reregistration; Public Participation 

Process, published in the Federal 

Register on May 14, 2004, (69 FR 26819) 

(FRL–7357–9) explains that in 

conducting these programs, EPA is 

tailoring its public participation process 

to be commensurate with the level of 

risk, extent of use, complexity of issues, 

and degree of public concern associated 

with each pesticide. Due to its uses, 

risks, and other factors, polypropylene 

glycol was reviewed through the 

modified 4–Phase process. Through this 

process, EPA worked extensively with 

stakeholders and the public to reach the 

regulatory decisions for polypropylene 

glycol. 

The reregistration program is being 

conducted under congressionally 

mandated time frames, and EPA 

recognizes the need both to make timely 

decisions and to involve the public. The 

Agency is issuing the polypropylene 

glycol RED for public comment. This 

comment period is intended to provide 

an additional opportunity for public 

input and a mechanism for initiating 

any necessary amendments to the RED. 

All comments should be submitted 

using the methods in ADDRESSES, and 

must be received by EPA on or before 

the closing date. These comments will 

become part of the Agency Docket for 

polypropylene glycol. Comments 

received after the close of the comment 

period will be marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not 

required to consider these late 

comments. 

The Agency will carefully consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and will provide a Response to 

Comments Memorandum in the Docket 

and regulations.gov. If any comment 

significantly affects the document, EPA 

also will publish an amendment to the 

RED in the Federal Register. In the 

absence of substantive comments 

requiring changes, the polypropylene 

glycol RED will be implemented as it is 

now presented. 

B. What is the Agency’s Authority for 

Taking this Action? 

Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA, as amended, 

directs that, after submission of all data 

concerning a pesticide active ingredient, 

the Administrator shall determine 

whether pesticides containing such 

active ingredient are eligible for 

reregistration, before calling in product 

specific data on individual end-use 

products and either reregistering 

products or taking other ‘‘appropriate 

regulatory action.’’

List of Subjects 

Environmental protection, Pesticides 

and pests. 

Dated: December 12, 2007. 

Steven Bradbury, 

Director, Special Review and Reregistration 

Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. 

[FR Doc. E7–24771 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–8509–7; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–

2007–0664] 

Integrated Risk Information System 

(IRIS); Announcement of 2008 Program 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice; request for information. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 

the IRIS 2008 agenda and requesting 

scientific information on health effects 

that may result from exposure to the 

chemical substances on the agenda, 

including assessments that EPA is 

starting this year. The Integrated Risk 

Information System (IRIS) is an EPA 

database that contains the Agency’s 

scientific positions on human health 

effects that may result from exposure to 

chemical substances in the 

environment. Assessments currently in 

progress are listed in this notice. 

DATES: While EPA is not expressly 

soliciting comments on this notice, the 

Agency will accept information related 

to the substances included herein. 

Please submit any information in 

accordance with the instructions 

provided below. 

ADDRESSES: Please submit relevant 

scientific information identified by 

docket ID number EPA–HQ–ORD–2007–

0664, online at http:// 

www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred 

method); by e-mail to 

ord.docket@epa.gov; mailed to Office of 

Environmental Information (OEI) Docket 

(Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 

Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–

0001; or by hand delivery or courier to 

EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 

3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 

Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 

4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 

excluding legal holidays. Comments on 

a disk or CD–ROM should be formatted 

in Word or as an ASCII file, avoiding the 

use of special characters and any form 

of encryption, and may be mailed to the 

mailing address above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on the IRIS program, 

contact Dr. Abdel-Razak Kadry, IRIS 

Program Director, National Center for 

Environmental Assessment, (mail code: 

8601D), Office of Research and 

Development, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Washington, DC 

20460; telephone: (202) 564–1645, 

facsimile: (202) 565–0075; or e-mail: 

kadry.abdel@epa.gov. 

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72716 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices 

For general questions about access to 

IRIS, or the content of IRIS, please call 

the IRIS Hotline at (202) 566–1676 or 

send electronic mail inquiries to 

hotline.iris@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

IRIS is a database of human health 

effects that may result from exposure to 

various chemical substances found in 

the environment. (EPA notes that 

information in the IRIS database has no 

preclusive effect and does not 

predetermine the outcome of any 

rulemaking. When EPA uses such 

information to support a rulemaking, 

the scientific basis for, and the 

application of, that information are 

subject to comment.) IRIS currently 

provides information on health effects 

associated with more than 500 chemical 

substances. 

The database includes chemicalspecific summaries of qualitative and 

quantitative health information in 

support of the first two steps of the risk 

assessment process, i.e., hazard 

identification and dose-response 

evaluation. Combined with specific 

situational exposure assessment 

information, the information in IRIS is 

an important source in evaluating 

potential public health risks from 

environmental contaminants. 

EPA’s overall process for developing 

IRIS assessments consists of: (1) 

Publication of an annual Federal 

Register announcement of EPA’s IRIS 

agenda and call for scientific 

information from the public on selected 

chemical substances; (2) a 

comprehensive search of the current 

scientific literature; (3) development of 

a draft IRIS health assessment utilizing 

state of the art scientific methods and 

guidelines; (4) internal EPA review of 

the draft assessment; (5) interagency 

review of the draft assessment; (6) 

public comment followed by 

independent external peer review of the 

draft assessment; (7) a public external 

peer review meeting related to the draft 

assessment; (8) preparation of a final 

IRIS assessment that reflects public 

comments and independent expert 

review; (9) interagency review of the 

final assessment; (10) EPA review and 

clearance of the final assessment; and 

(11) posting of the final IRIS assessment 

on the IRIS database (http:// 

www.epa.gov/iris). 

The IRIS Annual Agenda 

Each year, EPA develops a priority list 

of chemicals and an annual agenda for 

the IRIS program and announces new 

assessments under review. EPA uses 

five general criteria to set these 

priorities: (1) Potential public health 

impact; (2) EPA statutory, regulatory, or 

program-specific implementation needs; 

(3) availability of new scientific 

information or methodology that might 

significantly change the current IRIS 

information; (4) interest to other 

governmental agencies or the public; 

and (5) availability of other scientific 

assessment documents that could serve 

as a basis for an IRIS assessment. The 

decision to assess any given chemical 

substance depends on available Agency 

resources. Availability of risk 

assessment guidance, guidelines, and 

science policy decisions may also have 

an impact on the timing of EPA’s 

decision to assess a chemical substance. 

EPA is soliciting public involvement 

in assessments on the IRIS agenda, 

including new assessments starting in 

2008. While EPA conducts a thorough 

literature search for each chemical 

substance, there may be unpublished 

studies or other primary technical 

sources that are not available through 

the open literature. EPA would 

appreciate receiving scientific 

information from the public during the 

information gathering stage for the 

assessments listed in this notice. 

Interested persons should provide 

scientific analyses, studies, and other 

pertinent scientific information. While 

EPA is primarily soliciting information 

on new assessments starting in 2008, the 

public may submit information on any 

chemical substance at any time. 

This notice provides: (1) A list of IRIS 

assessments in progress; (2) a list of new 

IRIS assessments starting in 2008; and 

(3) instructions to the public for 

submitting scientific information to EPA 

pertinent to the development of 

assessments. 

Assessments in Progress 

The following assessments are 

underway. The status and planned 

milestone dates for each assessment can 

be found on the IRIS Track system, 

accessible from the IRIS database. All 

health endpoints due to chronic 

exposure, cancer and noncancer, are 

being assessed unless otherwise noted. 

For all endpoints assessed, both 

qualitative and quantitative assessments 

are being developed where information 

is available. 

Substance name CAS No. 

acetaldehyde ............................................................................................................................................................................ 75–07–0 

acrylamide ................................................................................................................................................................................ 79–06–1 

acrylonitrile ............................................................................................................................................................................... 107–13–1 

antimony .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7440–36–0 

arsenic, inorganic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–38–2 

asbestos ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1332–21–4 

benzo[a]pyrene ........................................................................................................................................................................ 50–32–8 

beryllium (cancer) .................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–41–7 

bromobenzene ......................................................................................................................................................................... 108–86–1 

butyl benzyl phthalate .............................................................................................................................................................. 85–68–7 

cadmium .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7440–43–9 

carbon tetrachloride ................................................................................................................................................................. 56–23–5 

cerium oxide and cerium compounds ..................................................................................................................................... 1306–38–3 

chlordecone (kepone) .............................................................................................................................................................. 143–50–0 

chloroethane ............................................................................................................................................................................ 75–00–3 

chloroform ................................................................................................................................................................................ 67–66–3 

chloroprene .............................................................................................................................................................................. 126–99–8 

cobalt ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–48–4 

copper ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–50–8 

dibutyl phthalate ....................................................................................................................................................................... 84–74–2 

1,2-dichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................................................................ 95–50–1 

1,3-dichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................................................................ 541–73–1 

1,4-dichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................................................................ 106–46–7 

cis-1,2-dichloroethylene ........................................................................................................................................................... 156–59–2 

trans-1,2-dichloroethylene ....................................................................................................................................................... 156–60–5 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices 72717 

Substance name CAS No. 

dichloromethane (methylene chloride) .................................................................................................................................... 75–09–2 

di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate ............................................................................................................................................................. 103–23–1 

di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate .......................................................................................................................................................... 117–81–7 

1,4-dioxane .............................................................................................................................................................................. 123–91–1 

ethanol ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 64–17–5 

ethyl tert-butyl ether ................................................................................................................................................................. 637–92–3 

ethylbenzene ............................................................................................................................................................................ 100–41–4 

ethylene dichloride ................................................................................................................................................................... 107–06–2 

ethylene glycol monobutyl ether .............................................................................................................................................. 111–76–2 

ethylene oxide (cancer) ........................................................................................................................................................... 75–21–8 

formaldehyde ........................................................................................................................................................................... 50–00–0 

hexachlorobutadiene ................................................................................................................................................................ 87–68–3 

hexachloroethane .................................................................................................................................................................... 67–72–1 

hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-triazine (RDX) .................................................................................................................................... 121–82–4 

2-hexanone .............................................................................................................................................................................. 591–78–6 

hydrogen cyanide .................................................................................................................................................................... 74–90–8 

isopropanol .............................................................................................................................................................................. 67–63–0 

methanol .................................................................................................................................................................................. 67–56–1 

methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) ................................................................................................................................................ 1634–04–4 

mirex ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2385–85–5 

naphthalene ............................................................................................................................................................................. 91–20–3 

nickel (soluble salts) ................................................................................................................................................................ (various) 

nitrobenzene ............................................................................................................................................................................ 98–95–3 

pentachlorophenol ................................................................................................................................................................... 87–86–5 

perfluorooctanoic acid—ammonium salt ................................................................................................................................. 3825–26–1 

perfluorooctane sulfonate—potassium salt ............................................................................................................................. 2795–39–3 

platinum ................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–06–4 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures .................................................................................................................... various 

polybrominated diphenyl ethers 

tetraBDE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 5436–43–1 

pentaBDE ................................................................................................................................................................................. 60348–60–9 

hexaBDE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 68631–49–2 

decaBDE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 1163–19–5 

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (noncancer) ....................................................................................................................... 1336–36–3 

propionaldehyde ...................................................................................................................................................................... 123–38–6 

refractory ceramic fibers .......................................................................................................................................................... not applicable 

styrene ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 100–42–5 

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ......................................................................................................................................... 1746–01–6 

and related compounds .................................................................................................................................................... various 

1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane ......................................................................................................................................................... 79–34–5 

tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) .................................................................................................................................. 127–18–4 

tetrahydrofuran ......................................................................................................................................................................... 109–99–9 

thallium ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–28–0 

trichloroacetic acid ................................................................................................................................................................... 76–03–9 

trichloroethylene ....................................................................................................................................................................... 79–01–6 

1,2,3-trichloropropane .............................................................................................................................................................. 96–18–4 

uranium compounds ................................................................................................................................................................ 7440–61–1 

vinyl acetate ............................................................................................................................................................................. 108–05–4 

The following assessments were 

completed in FY2006 and FY2007: nhexane; phosgene; 1,1,1-trichloroethane; 

2,2,4-trimethylpentane. The following 

assessments are being withdrawn from 

the IRIS agenda at the request of the 

EPA Office of Water: aldicarb, aldicarb 

sulfoxide, and aldicarb sulfone. 

Assessments of these chemicals will be 

completed by the EPA Office of 

Pesticide Programs. The following 

assessments are being withdrawn by the 

EPA Office of Research and 

Development: acrolein (acute), benzene 

(acute), ethylene oxide (acute), 

phosgene (acute), 

hexachlorocyclopentadiene (acute), and 

hydrogen sulfide (acute). 

IRIS assessments for all substances 

listed as on-going assessments will be 

provided on the IRIS Web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/iris as they are 

completed. This publicly available Web 

site is EPA’s primary location for IRIS 

documents. In addition, external peer 

review drafts of IRIS assessments are 

posted for public information and 

comment. These drafts will continue to 

be accessible via the IRIS and NCEA 

Web sites. Note that these drafts are 

intended for public information. 

Information Requested on New 

Assessments for 2008 

EPA developed a list of priority 

chemicals for 2008 from nominations 

from the EPA programs and from the 

public received in response to the 

December 22, 2006, Federal Register 

notice requesting public nominations 

(71 FR 77017). The following chemicals 

were nominated and have been selected 

for inclusion in the IRIS agenda. 

Substance name CAS No. 

alkylates .............................................................................................................................................................................. various. 

ammonia .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7664–41–7 

tert-amyl methyl ether ......................................................................................................................................................... 994–05–8 

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Substance name CAS No. 

bisphenol A ......................................................................................................................................................................... 80–05–7 

biphenyl ............................................................................................................................................................................... 92–52–4 

n-butanol ............................................................................................................................................................................. 71–36–3 

tert-butanol .......................................................................................................................................................................... 75–65–0 

carbonyl sulfide ................................................................................................................................................................... 463–58–1 

chromium VI ........................................................................................................................................................................ 18540–29–9 

diethyl phthalate .................................................................................................................................................................. 84–66–2 

diisopropyl ether .................................................................................................................................................................. 108–20–3 

4,4-dimethyl-3-oxahexane ................................................................................................................................................... 919–94–8 

hexabromocyclododecane (mixed stereoisomers) ............................................................................................................. 3194–55–6; 25637–99–4 

manganese .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7439–9 

toxaphene (weathered) ....................................................................................................................................................... 8001–35–2 

1,2,4-trimethylbenzene ........................................................................................................................................................ 95–63–6 

1,3,5-trimethylbenzene ........................................................................................................................................................ 108–67–8 

tungsten ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–33–7 

urea ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 57–123–6 

vanadium pentoxide ............................................................................................................................................................ 1314–62–1 

EPA is conducting literature searches 

for these chemicals in 2008. Based on 

the results of the literature searches and 

as EPA resources allow, assessments 

will be started for those chemicals with 

data that may support development of 

one or more toxicity values. 

With this IRIS agenda announcement, 

EPA is starting a new process to actively 

solicit information from the public at 

the beginning of assessment 

development. As literature searches are 

completed, the results will be posted on 

the IRIS Web site (http://www.epa.gov/ 

iris). The public is invited to review the 

literature search results and submit 

additional information to EPA. 

Literature search results are currently 

available at http://www.epa.gov/iris for 

tert-amyl methyl ether, biphenyl, 

n-butanol, tert-butanol, carbonyl sulfide, 

diethyl phthalate, diisopropyl ether, 

hexabromocyclodecane, weathered 

toxaphene, tungsten, and urea. 

Additional literature searches will be 

posted in batches as they are completed. 

Availability will be announced in the 

Federal Register. Instructions on how to 

submit information are provided below 

under General Information. 

While the annual prioritization 

process responds to the needs expressed 

by IRIS users, EPA is also systematically 

updating the IRIS database. On a 

cyclical basis, the IRIS Program 

conducts screening-level reviews of the 

available scientific literature for all 

chemicals in the IRIS database that are 

not under active reassessment. The 

purpose of EPA’s screening level review 

is to reach preliminary determinations 

regarding the likelihood that a full 

reassessment based on an evaluation of 

new health effects literature could 

potentially result in significant changes 

to existing toxicity values or cancer 

weight-of-evidence designations. The 

process consists of a preliminary search 

and review of the literature through 

standard toxicological bibliographic 

databases (titles and abstracts) and 

selected literature compilations to 

identify new major studies that have 

become available since the existing IRIS 

assessment was completed. The results 

of the screening-level review for an IRIS 

chemical can be found on the IRIS Web 

site (http://www.epa.gov/iris) by 

selecting the specific IRIS Summary of 

Interest. 

EPA has started a program to 

systematically update assessments on 

the IRIS database. This program 

addresses assessments that were 

completed more than 10 years ago and 

have one or more toxicity values for 

which new data or new methods of 

analysis have been identified that could 

possibly change a toxicity value or a 

cancer weight-of-evidence descriptor. 

EPA is developing a protocol for 

prioritizing and updating these 

assessments. 

We continue to request the 

submission of any scientific information 

that you would like EPA to consider in 

confirming the results of the literature 

screening review and literature screen 

verification. Instructions for submitting 

information are provided below. 

General Information 

As of Monday, November 28, 2005, 

EPA’s EDOCKET was replaced by the 

Federal Docket Management System 

(FDMS), the new federal governmentwide system. FDMS was created to 

provide a single point of access to all 

federal rulemaking activities. All 

materials previously found in EDOCKET 

are now available on the internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

A. How Can I Get Copies of Related 

Information? 

EPA has established an official public 

docket for this action under Docket ID 

No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2007–0664. The 

official public docket is the collection of 

materials that is available for public 

viewing at the Office of Environmental 

Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA 

Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 

1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 

Washington, DC. The EPA Docket 

Center Public Reading Room is open 

from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. The telephone number for the 

Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, 

and the telephone number for the OEI 

Docket is (202) 566–1752. 

An electronic version of the public 

docket is available through EPA’s 

electronic public docket and comment 

system. EPA Dockets at http:// 

www.regulations.gov may be used to 

submit or view public submissions, to 

access the index listing of the contents 

of the official public docket, and to 

access those documents in the public 

docket that are available electronically. 

Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’

then key in the appropriate docket 

identification number. 

It is important to note that EPA’s 

policy is that public submissions, 

whether submitted electronically or in 

paper, will be made available for public 

viewing in EPA’s electronic public 

docket as EPA receives them and 

without change, unless the submission 

contains copyrighted material, 

confidential business information (CBI), 

or other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Information 

claimed as CBI and other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute 

are not included in the official public 

docket or in EPA’s electronic public 

docket. EPA’s policy is that copyrighted 

material, including copyrighted material 

contained in a public comment, will not 

be placed in EPA’s electronic public 

docket but will be available only in 

printed, paper form in the official public 

docket. Although not all docket 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices 72719 

materials may be available 

electronically, you may still access any 

of the publicly available docket 

materials through the EPA Docket 

Center. 

B. How and to Whom Do I Submit 

Information? 

Information on chemical substances 

listed in this notice may be submitted as 

provided in the ADDRESSES section. If 

you submit electronic information, EPA 

recommends that you include your 

name, mailing address, and an e-mail 

address or other contact information in 

the body of your submission and with 

any disk or CD ROM you submit. This 

ensures that you can be identified as the 

submitter of the information and allows 

EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot 

read your information due to technical 

difficulties or needs further information 

on the substance of your submission. 

Any identifying or contact information 

provided in the body of submitted 

information will be included as part of 

the submission information that is 

placed in the official public docket, and 

made available in EPA’s electronic 

public docket. If EPA cannot read your 

information due to technical difficulties 

and cannot contact you for clarification, 

EPA may not be able to consider your 

information. 

EPA’s preferred method for receiving 

submissions is via EPA’s electronic 

public docket. The electronic public 

docket system is an ‘‘anonymous 

access’’ system, which means EPA will 

not know your identity, e-mail address, 

or other contact information unless you 

provide it in the body of your 

submission. In contrast to EPA’s 

electronic public docket, EPA’s 

electronic mail (e-mail) system is not an 

‘‘anonymous access’’ system. If you 

send e-mail directly to the docket 

without going through EPA’s electronic 

public docket, your e-mail address is 

automatically captured and included as 

part of the submission that is placed in 

the official public docket, and made 

available in EPA’s electronic public 

docket. 

Dated: December 6, 2007. 

Peter Preuss, 

Director, National Center for Environmental 

Assessment. 

[FR Doc. E7–24844 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–8509–8; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–

2007–1145] 

Draft Integrated Science Assessment 

for Oxides of Nitrogen and SulfurEnvironmental Criteria 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice of public comment 

period for draft Integrated Science 

Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and 

Sulfur—Environmental Criteria. 

SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing the 

public comment period for the draft 

document titled, ‘‘Integrated Science 

Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and 

Sulfur—Environmental Criteria; First 

External Review Draft’’ (EPA/600/R–07/ 

145A). The draft document was 

prepared by the National Center for 

Environmental Assessment within 

EPA’s Office of Research and 

Development as part of the Agency’s 

review of the secondary (welfare-based) 

national ambient air quality standards 

(NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 

and sulfur dioxide (SO2). EPA is 

releasing this draft document solely for 

the purpose of seeking comment from 

the public and the Clean Air Scientific 

Advisory Committee (CASAC). The 

document is being distributed solely for 

the purpose of pre-dissemination review 

under applicable information quality 

guidelines. It does not represent and 

should not be construed to represent 

any Agency policy, viewpoint, or 

determination. EPA will consider any 

public comments submitted in 

accordance with this notice when 

revising the document. 

DATES: The public comment period 

begins on or about December 21, 2007. 

Comments must be received on or 

before February 21, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: The draft, ‘‘Integrated 

Science Assessment for Oxides of 

Nitrogen and Sulfur—Environmental 

Criteria; First External Review Draft,’’

will be available primarily via the 

Internet on the National Center for 

Environmental Assessment’s home page 

under the Recent Additions and 

Publications menus at http:// 

www.epa.gov/ncea. 

A limited number of CD–ROM or 

paper copies will be available. Contact 

Ms. Emily Lee by phone: 919–541–4169, 

fax: 919–541–1818, or e-mail: 

(lee.emily@epa.gov) to request either of 

these, and please provide your name, 

your mailing address, and the draft 

document title, ‘‘Integrated Science 

Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen and 

Sulfur—Environmental Criteria; First 

External Review Draft’’ (EPA/600/R–07/ 

145A) to facilitate processing of your 

request. Comments may be submitted 

electronically via http:// 

www.regulations.gov, by mail, by 

facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. 

Please follow the detailed instructions 

provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of this notice. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Emily Lee, NCEA; telephone: 919–541–

4169, facsimile: 919–541–1818, or email: lee.emily@epa.gov. For technical 

information, contact Tara Greaver, PhD, 

NCEA; telephone: 919–541–2435; 

facsimile: 919–541–1818; or e-mail: 

Greaver.Tara@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Information About the Document 

Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act 

directs the Administrator to identify 

certain pollutants which ‘‘may 

reasonably be anticipated to endanger 

public health and welfare’’ and to issue 

air quality criteria for them. These air 

quality criteria are 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.’’

Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is 

then to establish national ambient air 

quality standards (NAAQS) for each 

pollutant for which EPA has issued 

criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act 

subsequently requires periodic review 

and, if appropriate, revision of existing 

air quality criteria to reflect advances in 

scientific knowledge on the effects of 

the pollutant on public health and 

welfare. EPA is also to revise the 

NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the 

revised air quality criteria. 

Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are two 

of six principal (or ‘‘criteria’’) pollutants 

for which EPA has established air 

quality criteria and NAAQS. EPA 

periodically reviews the scientific basis 

for these standards by preparing an 

Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) 

(formerly called an Air Quality Criteria 

Document). The ISA and supplementary 

annexes, in conjunction with additional 

technical and policy assessments, 

provide the scientific basis for EPA 

decisions on the adequacy of a current 

NAAQS and the appropriateness of new 

or revised standards. The Clean Air 

Scientific Advisory Committee 

(CASAC), an independent science 

advisory committee established 

pursuant to section 109 of the Clean Air 

Act and part of the EPA’s Science 

Advisory Board (SAB), provides 

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