80 FR 73183 - Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides-Health Criteria

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 226 (November 24, 2015)

Page Range		73183-73184
FR Document		2015-29800

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60- day public comment period for the draft document titled, ``External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides--Health Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-15/066). The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the primary (health-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>). The Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for the EPA's decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. EPA intends to develop a separate ISA as part of an independent review for the secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). This draft document is not final as described in EPA's information quality guidelines, and it does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, Agency policy or views. When revising the document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted during the 60-day comment period in response to this notice.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73183-73184]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29800]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9939-18-ORD; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-0357]


Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides--Health 
Criteria

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60-
day public comment period for the draft document titled, ``External 
Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides--Health 
Criteria'' (EPA/600/R-15/066). The draft document was prepared by the 
National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA's 
Office of Research and Development as part of the review of the primary 
(health-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 
sulfur dioxide (SO2). The Integrated Science Assessment 
(ISA), in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, 
provides the scientific basis for the EPA's decisions on the adequacy 
of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative 
standards. EPA intends to develop a separate ISA as part of an 
independent review for the secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for oxides 
of nitrogen and sulfur.
    EPA is releasing this draft document to seek review by the Clean 
Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date 
and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). 
This draft document is not final as described in EPA's information 
quality guidelines, and it does not represent, and should not be 
construed to represent, Agency policy or views. When revising the 
document, EPA will consider any public comments submitted during the 
60-day comment period in response to this notice.

DATES: The 60-day public comment period begins on November 24, 2015, 
and ends on January 25, 2016. Comments must be received on or before 
January 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The ``External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment 
for Sulfur Oxides--Health Criteria'' will be available primarily via 
the Internet on EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Dioxide 
(Health Criteria) home page at http://www2.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-sulfur-dioxide-health-criteria or the public 
docket at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-0357. 
A limited number of CD-ROM copies will be available. Contact Ms. 
Marieka Boyd by phone: 919-541-0031; fax: 919-541-5078; or email: 
[email protected] to request a CD-ROM, and please provide your name, 
your mailing address, and the document title, ``External Review Draft 
Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides--Health Criteria'' to 
facilitate processing of your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment 
period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; 
telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-9744; or email: 
[email protected].
    For technical information, contact Dr. Tom Long, NCEA; telephone: 
919-541-1880; facsimile: 919-541-1818; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Document

    Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to 
identify certain pollutants which, among other things, ``cause or 
contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or 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 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 or welfare. 
EPA is also required to review and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS, 
based on the revised air quality criteria (for more information on the 
NAAQS review process, see http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/review.html).
    Sulfur oxides are one of six criteria pollutants for which EPA has 
established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the scientific basis for 
these standards by preparing an ISA (formerly called an Air Quality 
Criteria Document). The ISA, in conjunction with additional technical 
and policy assessments, provides the scientific basis for the EPA's 
decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness 
of possible alternative standards. The CASAC, an independent science 
advisory committee whose review and advisory functions are mandated by 
Section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) 
with independent scientific review of the EPA's air quality criteria.
    On May 10, 2013 (78 FR 27387), EPA formally initiated its current 
review of the air quality criteria for the health effects of sulfur 
oxides and the primary (health-based) SO2 NAAQS, requesting 
the submission of recent scientific information on specified topics. 
EPA held a workshop on June 12 and 13, 2013, to discuss with invited 
scientific experts, both internal and external to the EPA, key science 
and policy issues relevant to the review of the health effects of 
sulfur oxides (78 FR 27387). These science and policy issues were 
incorporated in EPA's ``Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National

[[Page 73184]]

Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Dioxide'' (EPA-452/R-14-007), 
which was finalized in October 2014 with a prior draft available for 
public comment (79 FR 14035) and discussion by the CASAC via publicly 
accessible teleconference consultations (79 FR 16325, 79 FR 30137, 79 
FR 34739). On June 23-24, 2014, EPA held a workshop to discuss, with 
invited internal and external scientific experts, initial draft 
materials prepared in the development of the ISA (79 FR 33750).
    The ``External Review Draft Integrated Science Assessment for 
Sulfur Oxides--Health Criteria'' will be discussed at a public meeting 
for review by CASAC and the public. In addition to the public comment 
period announced in this notice, the public will have an opportunity to 
address CASAC. A separate Federal Register notice will inform the 
public of the exact date and time of the CASAC meeting and of the 
procedures for public participation.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at 
www.regulations.gov

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-
0357, by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-9744.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Avenue 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. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should 
be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments by 
mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of the comments. For 
attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the 
comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2013-0357. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will 
be marked ``late,'' and may only be considered if time permits. It is 
the EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public 
docket without change and to make the comments available online at 
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information through 
www.regulations.gov or email that you consider to be CBI or otherwise 
protected. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' 
system, which means the EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you 
send an email comment directly to the EPA without going through 
www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured 
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket 
and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, the EPA recommends that you include your name and other 
contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or 
CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment due to technical 
difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, the EPA may not 
be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use 
of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any 
defects or viruses. For additional information about the EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www2.epa.gov/dockets.
    Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: November 6, 2015.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2015-29800 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 / Notices 73183

Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 Environmental Assessment (NCEA) 1880; facsimile: 919–541–1818; or
CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to within the EPA’s Office of Research and email: long.tom@epa.gov.
become a party to these proceedings Development as part of the review of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
should file a motion to intervene at the primary (health-based) National
above address in accordance with FERC Ambient Air Quality Standards I. Information About the Document
Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Five copies (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). The Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act
of such comments, protests, or motions Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), in directs the Administrator to identify
to intervene should be sent to the conjunction with additional technical certain pollutants which, among other
address provided above on or before the and policy assessments, provides the things, ‘‘cause or contribute to air
date listed above. scientific basis for the EPA’s decisions pollution which may reasonably be
Comments and other filings on the adequacy of the current NAAQS anticipated to endanger public health or
concerning MAG E.S.’s application to and the appropriateness of possible welfare’’ and to issue air quality criteria
export electric energy to Canada should alternative standards. EPA intends to for them. These air quality criteria are
be clearly marked with OE Docket No. develop a separate ISA as part of an to ‘‘accurately reflect the latest scientific
EA–306–B. An additional copy is to be independent review for the secondary knowledge useful in indicating the kind
provided directly to both Ruta Kalvaitis (welfare-based) NAAQS for oxides of and extent of all identifiable effects on
Skucas, Pierce Atwood LLC., 900 17th nitrogen and sulfur. public health or welfare which may be
Street NW., Suite 350, Washington, DC EPA is releasing this draft document expected from the presence of [a]
20006 and Simon Pelletier, MAG Energy to seek review by the Clean Air pollutant in the ambient air. . . .’’
Solutions, Inc., 999 de Maisonneuve Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is
Boulevard West, Suite 875, Montreal, and the public (meeting date and then to establish NAAQS for each
Quebec H3A 3L4 Canada. location to be specified in a separate pollutant for which EPA has issued
A final decision will be made on this Federal Register notice). This draft criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act
application after the environmental document is not final as described in subsequently requires periodic review
impacts have been evaluated pursuant EPA’s information quality guidelines, and, if appropriate, revision of existing
to DOE’s National Environmental Policy and it does not represent, and should air quality criteria to reflect advances in
Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR not be construed to represent, Agency scientific knowledge on the effects of
part 1021) and after a determination is policy or views. When revising the the pollutant on public health or
made by DOE that the proposed action document, EPA will consider any public welfare. EPA is also required to review
will not have an adverse impact on the comments submitted during the 60-day and, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS,
sufficiency of supply or reliability of the comment period in response to this based on the revised air quality criteria
U.S. electric power supply system. notice. (for more information on the NAAQS
Copies of this application will be DATES: The 60-day public comment
review process, see http://www.epa.gov/
made available, upon request, for public period begins on November 24, 2015, ttn/naaqs/review.html).
inspection and copying at the address Sulfur oxides are one of six criteria
and ends on January 25, 2016.
provided above, by accessing the pollutants for which EPA has
Comments must be received on or
program Web site at http://energy.gov/ established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA
before January 25, 2016.
node/11845, or by emailing Angela Troy reviews the scientific basis for these
ADDRESSES: The ‘‘External Review Draft standards by preparing an ISA (formerly
at Angela.Troy@hq.doe.gov. Integrated Science Assessment for called an Air Quality Criteria
Issued in Washington, DC, on November Sulfur Oxides—Health Criteria’’ will be Document). The ISA, in conjunction
18, 2015. available primarily via the Internet on with additional technical and policy
Christopher Lawrence, EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment for assessments, provides the scientific
Electricity Policy Analyst, Office of Electricity Sulfur Dioxide (Health Criteria) home basis for the EPA’s decisions on the
Delivery and Energy Reliability. page at http://www2.epa.gov/isa/ adequacy of the current NAAQS and the
[FR Doc. 2015–29885 Filed 11–23–15; 8:45 am] integrated-science-assessment-isa- appropriateness of possible alternative
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
sulfur-dioxide-health-criteria or the standards. The CASAC, an independent
public docket at http:// science advisory committee whose
www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA– review and advisory functions are
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HQ–ORD–2013–0357. A limited number mandated by Section 109(d)(2) of the
AGENCY of CD–ROM copies will be available. Clean Air Act, is charged (among other
Contact Ms. Marieka Boyd by phone: things) with independent scientific
[FRL–9939–18–ORD; Docket ID No. EPA– 919–541–0031; fax: 919–541–5078; or review of the EPA’s air quality criteria.
HQ–ORD–2013–0357] email: boyd.marieka@epa.gov to request On May 10, 2013 (78 FR 27387), EPA
a CD–ROM, and please provide your formally initiated its current review of
Draft Integrated Science Assessment
name, your mailing address, and the the air quality criteria for the health
for Sulfur Oxides—Health Criteria
document title, ‘‘External Review Draft effects of sulfur oxides and the primary
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Integrated Science Assessment for (health-based) SO2 NAAQS, requesting
Agency (EPA). Sulfur Oxides—Health Criteria’’ to the submission of recent scientific
ACTION: Notice; public comment period. facilitate processing of your request. information on specified topics. EPA
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For held a workshop on June 12 and 13,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection information on the public comment 2013, to discuss with invited scientific
Agency (EPA) is announcing a 60-day period, contact the ORD Docket at the experts, both internal and external to
public comment period for the draft EPA Headquarters Docket Center; the EPA, key science and policy issues
document titled, ‘‘External Review Draft telephone: 202–566–1752; facsimile: relevant to the review of the health
Integrated Science Assessment for 202–566–9744; or email: Docket_ORD@ effects of sulfur oxides (78 FR 27387).
Sulfur Oxides—Health Criteria’’ (EPA/ epa.gov. These science and policy issues were
600/R–15/066). The draft document was For technical information, contact Dr. incorporated in EPA’s ‘‘Integrated
prepared by the National Center for Tom Long, NCEA; telephone: 919–541– Review Plan for the Primary National

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73184 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 / Notices

Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur holidays. The telephone number for the the body of your comment and with any
Dioxide’’ (EPA–452/R–14–007), which Public Reading Room is 202–566–1744. disk or CD–ROM you submit. If the EPA
was finalized in October 2014 with a Such deliveries are only accepted cannot read your comment due to
prior draft available for public comment during the docket’s normal hours of technical difficulties and cannot contact
(79 FR 14035) and discussion by the operation, and special arrangements you for clarification, the EPA may not
CASAC via publicly accessible should be made for deliveries of boxed be able to consider your comment.
teleconference consultations (79 FR information. If you provide comments Electronic files should avoid the use of
16325, 79 FR 30137, 79 FR 34739). On by mail or hand delivery, please submit special characters, any form of
June 23–24, 2014, EPA held a workshop three copies of the comments. For encryption, and be free of any defects or
to discuss, with invited internal and attachments, provide an index, number viruses. For additional information
external scientific experts, initial draft pages consecutively with the comments, about the EPA’s public docket visit the
materials prepared in the development and submit an unbound original and EPA Docket Center homepage at http://
of the ISA (79 FR 33750). three copies. www2.epa.gov/dockets.
The ‘‘External Review Draft Integrated Docket: Documents in the docket are
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Science Assessment for Sulfur Oxides— listed in the www.regulations.gov index.
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2013–
Health Criteria’’ will be discussed at a Although listed in the index, some
0357. Please ensure that your comments
public meeting for review by CASAC information is not publicly available,
are submitted within the specified
and the public. In addition to the public e.g., CBI or other information whose
comment period. Comments received
comment period announced in this disclosure is restricted by statute.
after the closing date will be marked
notice, the public will have an Certain other materials, such as
‘‘late,’’ and may only be considered if
opportunity to address CASAC. A copyrighted material, are publicly
time permits. It is the EPA’s policy to
separate Federal Register notice will available only in hard copy. Publicly
include all comments it receives in the
inform the public of the exact date and available docket materials are available
public docket without change and to
time of the CASAC meeting and of the either electronically in
make the comments available online at
procedures for public participation. www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
www.regulations.gov, including any
II. How To Submit Technical Comments personal information provided, unless a the ORD Docket in the EPA
to the Docket at www.regulations.gov comment includes information claimed Headquarters Docket Center.
to be Confidential Business Information Dated: November 6, 2015.
Submit your comments, identified by
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2013– (CBI) or other information whose Mary A. Ross,
0357, by one of the following methods: disclosure is restricted by statute. Do Deputy Director, National Center for
• www.regulations.gov: Follow the not submit information through Environmental Assessment.
on-line instructions for submitting www.regulations.gov or email that you [FR Doc. 2015–29800 Filed 11–23–15; 8:45 am]
comments. consider to be CBI or otherwise BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
• Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. protected. The www.regulations.gov
• Fax: 202–566–9744. Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’
• Mail: U.S. Environmental system, which means the EPA will not
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center know your identity or contact
COMMISSION
(ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 information unless you provide it in the
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, body of your comment. If you send an FCC To Hold Open Commission
DC 20460. The phone number is 202– email comment directly to the EPA Meeting Thursday, November 19, 2015
566–1752. without going through
• Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is www.regulations.gov, your email November 12, 2015.
located in the EPA Headquarters Docket address will be automatically captured The Federal Communications
Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, and included as part of the comment Commission will hold an Open Meeting
1301 Constitution Avenue NW., that is placed in the public docket and on the subjects listed below on
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket made available on the Internet. If you Thursday, November 19, 2015, which is
Center Public Reading Room is open submit an electronic comment, the EPA scheduled to commence at 10:30 a.m. in
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday recommends that you include your Room TW–C305, at 445 12th Street SW.,
through Friday, excluding legal name and other contact information in Washington, DC.

Item No. Bureau Subject

1 ........... Public Safety and Homeland Security ......... Title: Improving Wireless Emergency Alerts and Community-Initiated Alerting (PS Dock-
et No. 15–91).
Summary: The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would
improve the effectiveness of WEA message content and the geographic targeting of
WEA messages, and facilitate WEA testing and proficiency training.
2 ........... Wireless Tele-Communications ................... Title: Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Governing Hearing Aid Compatible Mo-
bile Handsets (WT Docket No. 07–250).
Summary: The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking that would update the scope of the wireless hearing aid compatibility
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

rules and seek comment on additional measures that would ensure greater deploy-
ment of hearing aid compatible wireless handsets.

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 14:09:25
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 14:09:25

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; public comment period.
Dates		The 60-day public comment period begins on November 24, 2015, and ends on January 25, 2016. Comments must be received on or before January 25, 2016.
Contact		For information on the public comment period, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-9744; or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 73183