Fw: Request for Extension of Comment Period for EPA 's Proposed 1-Hour 

SO2 Standard

Michael Stewart to: Tricia Crabtree 02/11/2010 01:50 PM

Michael J. Stewart, Ph.D.

Environmental Protection Specialist

Health and Environmental Impacts Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

(919) 541-7524

stewart.michael@epa.gov

----- Forwarded by Michael Stewart/RTP/USEPA/US on 02/11/2010 01:50 PM -----

From: "Kinsman, John" <JKinsman@eei.org>

To: Michael Stewart/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA

Date: 02/11/2010 01:23 PM

Subject: RE: Request for Extension of Comment Period for EPA's Proposed 1-Hour SO2 Standard

Thanks very much. I appreciate your help. 

From: Stewart.Michael@epamail.epa.gov [mailto:Stewart.Michael@epamail.epa.gov]

Sent: Thu 2/11/2010 1:16 PM

To: Kinsman, John

Subject: RE: Request for Extension of Comment Period for EPA's Proposed 1-Hour SO2 Standard

Mr. KinsmanI will make sure that the comments you submitted via email are added to the SO2 docket. In addition, we 

will be considering all comments received by February 16, 2010. Thus, we have just posted a message 

on http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/ stating:

In light of the recent snowstorms and the continued closure of government offices in the Washington, DC 

area this week, EPA will consider public comments on the SO2 NAAQS proposal (74 FR 64810) received 

by February 16, 2010. Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, 

Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0352. All comments submitted to this e-mail box will be 

considered on time as long as they are received by midnight on February 16, 2010.

Thank you,

Michael

Michael J. Stewart, Ph.D.

Environmental Protection Specialist

Health and Environmental Impacts Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

(919) 541-7524

stewart.michael@epa.gov
From: "Kinsman, John" <JKinsman@eei.org>

To: Michael Stewart/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA

Cc: "Kinsman, John" <JKinsman@eei.org>

Date: 02/10/2010 11:23 AM

Subject: RE: Request for Extension of Comment Period for EPA's Proposed 1-Hour SO2 Standard

Dr. Stewart -

 

Thanks for your very prompt response.

 

May I interpret your response to mean that you will be able to transmit to the docket the 

comments I submitted to you? I did try to use Regulations.gov to submit the comments, 

but I could not seem to find a workable option given that the comment period was 

closed. 

 

In lieu of a formal comment period extension, EEI requests that EPA include in the 

docket a memo recognizing the snow storm, the closure of the Federal government, the 

closure of many other East Coast organizations, noting that it was impossible for some 

commentors to meet the deadline, and concluding that EPA will fully consider 

comments submitted during the period when the Federal government was closed.

 

I cannot envision that this would substantially increase the number of comments that 

EPA would need to review. 

 

I am resisting the urge to tell you the exact details of the challenges I overcame to finish 

these comments yesterday, remotely from Arizona (where I have been stuck since last 

Friday, with return flights cancelled Friday, Sunday, Tuesday and today) and with key 

information locked away in my closed Washington, D.C. office. I am sure that the 

weather similarly made it impossible for some others to submit comments on time. 

 

Thanks you for considering this request. 

John Kinsman

John Kinsman

Sr. Director, Environment

Edison Electric Institute

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

202/508-5711 (p)

202/255-9531 (cell)
202/508-5150 (f)

jkinsman@eei.org

 

From: Stewart.Michael@epamail.epa.gov [mailto:Stewart.Michael@epamail.epa.gov]

Sent: Wed 2/10/2010 7:30 AM

To: Kinsman, John

Subject: Re: Request for Extension of Comment Period for EPA's Proposed 1-Hour SO2 Standard

Mr Kinsman:

I do not anticipate an extension to the comment period but it is our practice to look at comments submitted 

after the close of the comment period to the maximum extent practicable. We understand, of course, the 

problem created by the snow, and given that you have already attached your comments in a previous 

email, we anticipate considering them fully. 

Thank you,

Michael

Michael J. Stewart, Ph.D.

Environmental Protection Specialist

Health and Environmental Impacts Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

(919) 541-7524

stewart.michael@epa.gov

From: "Kinsman, John" <JKinsman@eei.org>

To: Michael Stewart/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA

Cc: "Kinsman, John" <JKinsman@eei.org>, "Shea, Quin" <QShea@eei.org>

Date: 02/10/2010 01:07 AM

Subject: Request for Extension of Comment Period for EPA's Proposed 1-Hour SO2 Standard

Mr. Stewart –

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) requests an extension of the comment period for EPA’s

proposed 1‐hr sulfur dioxide NAAQS (EPA‐HQ‐OAR‐2007‐0352).  Due to the snowstorm and

closure of the Federal government and other local entities in Washington, D.C., EEI was unable

to submit the comments by the February 8 due date.  EEI is located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue
in Washington, D.C. and similar to the Federal government was closed for business during

February 8‐10.

EEI requests that EPA extend the formal comment period by at least the three days the Federal

government and other Washington, D.C.‐based organizations were closed due to the

snowstorm.  

Thank you for considering EEI’s request.

John Kinsman

Sr. Director, Environment

Edison Electric Institute

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

202/508-5711 (p)

202/255-9531 (cell)

202/508-5150 (f)

jkinsman@eei.org