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[Federal Register: November 2, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 211)]
[Notices]               
[Page 67361]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02no10-52]                         

[[Page 67361]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0015; FRL-9219-1]

 
Release of Final Document Related to the Review of the National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of 
EPA is announcing the availability of a final document titled Policy 
Assessment for the Review of the Carbon Monoxide National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards (PA). The PA contains staff analyses of the 
scientific bases for alternative policy options for consideration by 
the Agency prior to rulemaking.

DATES: The PA is now available.

ADDRESSES: The document will be available primarily via the Internet at 
the following Web site: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/co/s_co_index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to this 
document, please contact Dr. Deirdre Murphy, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards (Mail code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; e-mail: 
murphy.deirdre@epa.gov; telephone: 919-541-0729; fax: 919-541-0237.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act 
(CAA), the Administrator identifies and lists certain pollutants which 
``cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be 
anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.'' The EPA then issues 
air quality criteria for these listed pollutants, which are commonly 
referred to as ``criteria pollutants.'' The 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, in varying quantities.'' Under section 
109 of the CAA, EPA establishes primary (health-based) and secondary 
(welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for 
pollutants for which air quality criteria are issued. Section 109(d) of 
the CAA requires periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of 
existing air quality criteria. The revised air quality criteria reflect 
advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on 
public health or welfare. The EPA is also required to periodically 
review and revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised 
criteria.
    Presently, EPA is reviewing the NAAQS for carbon monoxide (CO).\1\ 
The document announced today, Policy Assessment for the Review of the 
Carbon Monoxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards, contains staff 
analyses of the scientific bases for alternative policy options for 
consideration by the Agency prior to rulemaking. This document, which 
builds upon the historical ``Staff Paper,'' will serve to ``bridge the 
gap'' between the available scientific information and the judgments 
required of the Administrator in determining whether it is appropriate 
to retain or revise the standards.\2\ The PA builds upon information 
presented in the Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide and 
the Quantitative Risk and Exposure Assessment for Carbon Monoxide--
Amended. An earlier draft of the PA document was released for the Clean 
Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) review and public comment in 
March 2010 (75 FR 10252), and was the subject of a CASAC review meeting 
on March 22-23, 2010 (74 FR 54042). In preparing the final PA, EPA has 
considered comments received from CASAC and the public on the earlier 
draft document. This final PA document is available through the 
Agency's Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/co/s_co_index.html. This document may 
be accessed in the ``Documents from Current Review'' section under 
``Policy Assessments.''
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    \1\ The EPA's overall plan and schedule for this review is 
presented in the Plan for Review of the National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards for Carbon Monoxide (EPA 452R-08-005; August 2008); 
Available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/co/s_co_cr_pd.html.
    \2\ See http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html for a copy of 
Administrator Jackson's May 21, 2009, memorandum and for additional 
information on the NAAQS review process.

    Dated: October 26, 2010.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2010-27633 Filed 11-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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