Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 1997 / Proposed Rules 55201

1PM2.5 refers to particles with an aerodynamic

diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5

micrometers.

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.

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:

grant.lester@epamail.epa.gov and

martin.karen@epamail.epa.gov.

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.

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 peerreviewed 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.
55202 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 1997 / Proposed Rules

MAJOR MILESTONES IN PM NAAQS REVIEW

Major milestones Target dates

PM NAAQS Review Plan to CASAC ................................................................................................................... October 1997.

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

CASAC meeting on CD Development Plan ........................................................................................................ March 1998.

Prepare Workshop Drafts of CD Chapters .......................................................................................................... April to December 1998.

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

Prepare External Review Draft CD ..................................................................................................................... March to July 1999.

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

Public Comment Period on Draft CD .................................................................................................................. August to October 1999.

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

Prepare Revised CD and Draft SP ..................................................................................................................... November 1999 to February 2000.

Revised CD and Draft SP to CASAC .................................................................................................................. March 2000.

Public Comment Period on Revised CD and Draft SP ....................................................................................... March to May 2000.

CASAC meeting on Revised CD and Draft SP ................................................................................................... May/June 2000.

Prepare Revised SP and Final Revisions to CD ................................................................................................ May to August 2000.

Revised SP to CASAC; Complete Final CD ....................................................................................................... September 2000.

Public Comment Period on Revised SP ............................................................................................................. September to November 2000.

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

Complete Final SP and Develop Proposal Package .......................................................................................... December 2000 to April 2001.

OMB/Interagency Review of Proposal Package (90 days) ................................................................................. May to July 2001.

Publish Proposal in FEDERAL REGISTER .............................................................................................................. August 2001.

Public Comment Period on Proposal (90 days) .................................................................................................. September to November 2001.

CASAC meeting on Proposal .............................................................................................................................. November 2001.

Review Public/CASAC Comments and Develop Promulgation Package ........................................................... December 2001 to April 2002.

OMB/Interagency Review of Promulgation Package (60 days) .......................................................................... May to June 2002.

Final Promulgation Package Signed by Administrator ........................................................................................ July 2002.

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 industrysponsored 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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 51

[Docket No. AD–FRL–5912–4]

Regional Haze Regulations Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (US EPA).

ACTION: Reopening of public comment

period.

SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing the

reopening of the public comment period

on the proposed regional haze

regulations published on July 31, 1997

(62 FR 41138) to accept comments until

December 5, 1997.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before December 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the

proposed action, in duplicate if

possible, to: Office of Air and Radiation

Docket and Information Center (6102),

Attention: Docket No. A–95–38, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, 401

M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460,

phone (202–260–7548), fax (202–260–

4400). Comments can also be submitted

by electronic mail to the following

address: A-and-RDocket@epamail.epa.gov. The docket

may be inspected at the above address

between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on

weekdays, and a reasonable fee may be

charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Bruce Polkowsky (telephone (919)

541–5532) or Mr. Richard Damberg

(telephone 919–541–5592), U.S. EPA,