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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66837-66838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27228]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9749-2]

Workshop To Define Approaches To Assess the Effectiveness of 
Policies To Reduce PM2.5

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing a workshop to identify approaches to assess 
the effectiveness of policies that reduce ambient levels of 
PM2.5. The workshop is being organized by EPA's

[[Page 66838]]

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) and the Office of 
Research and Development (ORD), and will be held on January 7, 2013, in 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Reservations for the workshop 
will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis due to 
limited space.

DATES: The workshop will be held on January 7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the Auditorium of EPA's RTP 
main campus, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC. An EPA 
contractor, EC/R, is organizing the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, and logistics for the workshop should be directed to 
Becky Battye, EC/R, Inc., Conference Coordinator, 501 Eastowne Dr., 
Suite 250, Chapel Hill, NC 27514; telephone: 919-443-8321; email 
battye.becky@ecrweb.com. Questions regarding the scientific and 
technical aspects of the workshop should be directed to Neal Fann, 
telephone: 919-541-0209; facsimile: 919-541-5315; email: 
Fann.Neal@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Summary of Information About the Workshop

    Significant reductions in ambient levels of particulate matter with 
aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) have 
occurred over the past few decades and more are expected with the 
implementation of recently promulgated rules. PM2.5 is 
associated with adverse human health effects, such as respiratory and 
cardiovascular diseases. Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) 
from power plants have decreased substantially in recent years and 
further reductions are expected. As a result of reductions in 
SO2, a precursor to PM2.5, commensurate 
reductions in PM2.5 have occurred and are expected to 
further decrease throughout the eastern U.S. Considerable reductions of 
PM2.5 and its precursors are also expected in the western 
U.S. and in coastal areas due to truck and marine engine rules 
associated with ports and goods movement. In combination, marked 
reductions are expected in PM2.5 and its precursors as well 
as alteration of the overall composition of PM2.5 in many 
areas of the U.S. This constitutes an opportunity to evaluate the 
effect of changes in the composition of air pollution in urban areas 
that will occur over both time and space.
    The purposes of this workshop are to (1) Discuss previous 
accountability work, (2) identify data needs, and (3) discuss 
approaches that may be used to prospectively design research to assess 
the public health benefits from implementation of these large-scale 
changes in levels of air pollution. Consistent with the recent North 
American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone report titled, 
``Technical Challenges of Multipollutant Air Quality Management'' this 
workshop aims to ensure that the necessary methods and data will be 
available to verify the relationship between reductions in air 
pollution emissions, ambient concentrations, human exposures and public 
health benefits to determine whether the regulations are implemented as 
originally projected and the intended benefits are realized. 
Discussions will focus on improving the limitations identified in 
earlier studies, especially in relation to interpretation of the study 
and ensuring proper study design, collected data and analytical 
approaches. To meet these objectives, the workshop has been organized 
with invited expert panelists to build on previous work and identify 
critical data needs.

II. Workshop Information

    Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers. Space 
is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis.

    Dated: October 26, 2012.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office 
of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2012-27228 Filed 11-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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