83 FR 42497 - Release of Risk and Exposure Assessment Plan for the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur and Particulate Matter

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 163 (August 22, 2018)

Page Range		42497-42498
FR Document		2018-17041

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a periodic review of the air quality criteria and the secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and particulate matter (PM). On or about August 6, 2018, the EPA will make available for public review the document titled Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur and Particulate Matter: Risk and Exposure Assessment Planning Document (REA Planning Document). This plan presents considerations and the proposed approach for conducting quantitative analyses of oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and PM exposures and welfare risks in this NAAQS review. This planning document is intended to facilitate consultation with the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and public comment on plans for such quantitative analyses.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42497-42498]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17041]



[[Page 42497]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0128; FRL-9981-88-OAR]


Release of Risk and Exposure Assessment Plan for the Secondary 
National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of 
Sulfur and Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a 
periodic review of the air quality criteria and the secondary National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen, oxides of 
sulfur, and particulate matter (PM). On or about August 6, 2018, the 
EPA will make available for public review the document titled Review of 
the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of 
Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur and Particulate Matter: Risk and Exposure 
Assessment Planning Document (REA Planning Document). This plan 
presents considerations and the proposed approach for conducting 
quantitative analyses of oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and PM 
exposures and welfare risks in this NAAQS review. This planning 
document is intended to facilitate consultation with the Clean Air 
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and public comment on plans for 
such quantitative analyses.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before October 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2014-0128, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The 
EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not 
submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must 
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered 
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you 
wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the Web, 
Cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission 
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. The REA Planning Document will be available primarily via the 
internet at: https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-and-sulfur-dioxide-so2-secondary-standards-planning-documents-current.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger Tennant, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards (Mail Code C504-06), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 
919-541-4072; fax number: 919-541-0237; or email address: 
tennant.ginger@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
https://www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of 
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information on any 
digital storage media that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the 
digital storage media as CBI and then identify electronically within 
the digital storage media the specific information that is claimed as 
CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes 
information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain 
the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the 
public docket. If you submit any digital storage media that does not 
contain CBI, mark the outside of the digital storage media clearly that 
it does not contain CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed 
except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) part 2. Send or deliver information identified as CBI 
only to the following address: OAQPS Document Control Officer (C404-
02), OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle 
Park, North Carolina 27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-
0128.
    2. Tips for Preparing your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the notice by docket number and other identifying 
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
     Follow directions. The agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a CFR part or 
section number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternative and 
substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumption and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

II. Information About the Document

    Two sections of the Clean Air Act (CAA) govern the establishment 
and revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42 U.S.C. 7408) directs the 
Administrator to identify and list certain air pollutants and then to 
issue air quality criteria for those pollutants. The Administrator is 
to list those air pollutants that in his ``judgment, cause or 
contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or welfare;'' ``the presence of which in the 
ambient air results from numerous or diverse mobile or stationary 
sources;'' and ``for which . . . [the Administrator] plans to issue air 
quality criteria. . . . '' Air quality criteria are intended 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 . . . '' 42 U.S.C. 7408(b). Under section 
109 (42 U.S.C. 7409), the EPA establishes primary (health-based) and 
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants for which air quality 
criteria are issued. Section 109(d) 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, if appropriate, revise the NAAQS 
based on the revised criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that an 
independent scientific review committee ``shall complete a review of 
the criteria . . . and the national primary and secondary ambient air 
quality standards . . . and shall recommend to the Administrator any 
new . . . standards and revisions of existing criteria and standards as 
may be appropriate. . . .'' Since the early

[[Page 42498]]

1980's, this independent review function has been performed by CASAC.
    Presently, the EPA is reviewing the secondary NAAQS for oxides of 
nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and PM.\1\ PM was added to this review 
after the draft Integrated Review Plan (80 FR 69220, November 9, 2015) 
was released to the public and reviewed by CASAC in recognition of 
linkages between these pollutants (oxides of nitrogen, oxides of 
sulfur, and PM) with respect to deposition and atmospheric chemistry, 
as well as from an environmental effects perspective. Additional 
welfare effects associated with PM, such as visibility, climate and 
materials effects, and the health effects of PM (including particulate 
transformation products of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur) are 
considered as part of the review of the NAAQS for PM (81 FR 87933, 
December 6, 2016). The health effects of oxides of nitrogen were 
considered in a separate assessment that was completed recently as part 
of the review of the primary (health-based) NAAQS for oxides of 
nitrogen (83 FR 17226, April 18, 2018). Similarly, the health effects 
of oxides of sulfur are currently being considered in a separate 
assessment as part of the review of the primary NAAQS for oxides of 
sulfur (83 FR 26752, June 8, 2018).
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    \1\ The EPA's call for information for the NOX/
SOX secondary review was issued on August 29, 2013 (78 FR 
53452), and the call for information on the PM review (both 
secondary and primary) was issued on December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764).
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    The EPA's overall plan for this review is presented in the 
Integrated Review Plan for the Secondary NAAQS for Oxides of Nitrogen, 
Oxides of Sulfur and Particulate Matter.\2\ The REA Planning Document 
considers the degree to which important uncertainties identified in 
quantitative analyses from previous reviews have been addressed by 
newly available scientific evidence, tools, or information, including 
those in the second external review draft of the Integrated Science 
Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur and Particulate 
Matter-Ecological Criteria (83 FR 29786, June 26, 2018). Based on these 
considerations, the document reaches preliminary conclusions on the 
extent to which updated quantitative analyses of exposures or public 
welfare risks are warranted in the current review. For updated analyses 
that are supported, this planning document presents anticipated 
approaches to conducting such analyses. This document will be available 
on or about August 6, 2018, on the EPA's Technology Transfer Network 
website at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-and-sulfur-dioxide-so2-secondary-standards-planning-documents-current.
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    \2\ Available at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide-no2-and-sulfur-dioxide-so2-secondary-standards-planning-documents-current.
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    The REA Planning Document will be discussed at a public meeting for 
review by CASAC and the public. A separate Federal Register notice 
provides details about this meeting and the process for participation 
(83 FR 31755, July 9, 2018). The EPA will also consider public comments 
on the REA Planning Document that are submitted to the docket, as 
described above.

    Dated: August 2, 2018.
Panagiotis Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-17041 Filed 8-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 22, 2018 / Notices 42497

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EPA public comment policy, • Explain why you agree or disagree;
AGENCY information about CBI or multimedia suggest alternative and substitute
submissions, and general guidance on language for your requested changes.
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0128; FRL–9981–88–
OAR]
making effective comments, please visit • Describe any assumption and
https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/ provide any technical information and/
Release of Risk and Exposure commenting-epa-dockets. The REA or data that you used.
Assessment Plan for the Secondary Planning Document will be available • If you estimate potential costs or
National Ambient Air Quality Standard primarily via the internet at: https:// burdens, explain how you arrived at
for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of www.epa.gov/naaqs/nitrogen-dioxide- your estimate in sufficient detail to
Sulfur and Particulate Matter no2-and-sulfur-dioxide-so2-secondary- allow for it to be reproduced.
standards-planning-documents-current. • Provide specific examples to
AGENCY: Environmental Protection FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: illustrate your concerns and suggest
Agency (EPA). Ginger Tennant, Office of Air Quality alternatives.
ACTION: Notice of availability. Planning and Standards (Mail Code • Explain your views as clearly as
C504–06), U.S. Environmental possible, avoiding the use of profanity
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Protection Agency, Research Triangle or personal threats.
Agency (EPA) is conducting a periodic Park, NC 27711; telephone number: • Make sure to submit your
review of the air quality criteria and the 919–541–4072; fax number: 919–541– comments by the comment period
secondary National Ambient Air Quality 0237; or email address: tennant.ginger@ deadline identified.
Standards (NAAQS) for oxides of epa.gov.
nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
II. Information About the Document
particulate matter (PM). On or about Two sections of the Clean Air Act
August 6, 2018, the EPA will make I. General Information
(CAA) govern the establishment and
available for public review the A. What should I consider as I prepare revision of the NAAQS. Section 108 (42
document titled Review of the my comments for the EPA? U.S.C. 7408) directs the Administrator
Secondary National Ambient Air to identify and list certain air pollutants
Quality Standards for Oxides of 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through https:// and then to issue air quality criteria for
Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur and those pollutants. The Administrator is
Particulate Matter: Risk and Exposure www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information to list those air pollutants that in his
Assessment Planning Document (REA ‘‘judgment, cause or contribute to air
Planning Document). This plan presents that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information on any digital storage media pollution which may reasonably be
considerations and the proposed anticipated to endanger public health or
approach for conducting quantitative that you mail to EPA, mark the outside
of the digital storage media as CBI and welfare;’’ ‘‘the presence of which in the
analyses of oxides of nitrogen, oxides of ambient air results from numerous or
sulfur, and PM exposures and welfare then identify electronically within the
digital storage media the specific diverse mobile or stationary sources;’’
risks in this NAAQS review. This and ‘‘for which . . . [the Administrator]
planning document is intended to information that is claimed as CBI. In
addition to one complete version of the plans to issue air quality criteria. . . . ’’
facilitate consultation with the Clean Air quality criteria are intended to
Air Scientific Advisory Committee comment that includes information
claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment ‘‘accurately reflect the latest scientific
(CASAC) and public comment on plans knowledge useful in indicating the kind
for such quantitative analyses. that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for and extent of all identifiable effects on
DATES: Comments should be received on public health or welfare which may be
inclusion in the public docket. If you
or before October 22, 2018. submit any digital storage media that expected from the presence of [a]
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, does not contain CBI, mark the outside pollutant in the ambient air . . . ’’ 42
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– of the digital storage media clearly that U.S.C. 7408(b). Under section 109 (42
OAR–2014–0128, to the Federal it does not contain CBI. Information so U.S.C. 7409), the EPA establishes
eRulemaking Portal: https:// marked will not be disclosed except in primary (health-based) and secondary
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online accordance with procedures set forth in (welfare-based) NAAQS for pollutants
instructions for submitting comments. 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for which air quality criteria are issued.
Once submitted, comments cannot be part 2. Send or deliver information Section 109(d) requires periodic review
edited or withdrawn. The EPA may identified as CBI only to the following and, if appropriate, revision of existing
publish any comment received to its address: OAQPS Document Control air quality criteria. The revised air
public docket. Do not submit Officer (C404–02), OAQPS, U.S. quality criteria reflect advances in
electronically any information you Environmental Protection Agency, scientific knowledge on the effects of
consider to be Confidential Business Research Triangle Park, North Carolina the pollutant on public health or
Information (CBI) or other information 27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA– welfare. The EPA is also required to
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. HQ–OAR–2014–0128. periodically review and, if appropriate,
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, 2. Tips for Preparing your Comments. revise the NAAQS based on the revised
etc.) must be accompanied by a written When submitting comments, remember criteria. Section 109(d)(2) requires that
comment. The written comment is to: an independent scientific review
considered the official comment and • Identify the notice by docket committee ‘‘shall complete a review of
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

should include discussion of all points number and other identifying the criteria . . . and the national
you wish to make. The EPA will information (subject heading, Federal primary and secondary ambient air
generally not consider comments or Register date and page number). quality standards . . . and shall
comment contents located outside of the • Follow directions. The agency may recommend to the Administrator any
primary submission (i.e., on the Web, ask you to respond to specific questions new . . . standards and revisions of
Cloud, or other file sharing system). For or organize comments by referencing a existing criteria and standards as may be
additional submission methods, the full CFR part or section number. appropriate. . . .’’ Since the early

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42498 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 22, 2018 / Notices

1980’s, this independent review the EPA’s Technology Transfer Network Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
function has been performed by CASAC. website at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/ 20460.
Presently, the EPA is reviewing the nitrogen-dioxide-no2-and-sulfur- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M.
secondary NAAQS for oxides of dioxide-so2-secondary-standards- Ahmar Siddiqui, Document Control
nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and PM.1 PM planning-documents-current. Officer, at (202) 566–1044, or via email
was added to this review after the draft The REA Planning Document will be at siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov.
Integrated Review Plan (80 FR 69220, discussed at a public meeting for review SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has
November 9, 2015) was released to the by CASAC and the public. A separate transferred CBI to its contractors and
public and reviewed by CASAC in Federal Register notice provides details subcontractors as part of the effluent
recognition of linkages between these about this meeting and the process for guidelines program under 40 CFR
pollutants (oxides of nitrogen, oxides of participation (83 FR 31755, July 9, 2.302(h). EPA determined that this
sulfur, and PM) with respect to 2018). The EPA will also consider transfer was necessary to enable the
deposition and atmospheric chemistry, public comments on the REA Planning contractors, subcontractors, and
as well as from an environmental effects Document that are submitted to the consultants to perform their work in
perspective. Additional welfare effects docket, as described above. supporting EPA in planning,
associated with PM, such as visibility,
Dated: August 2, 2018. developing, and reviewing effluent
climate and materials effects, and the
Panagiotis Tsirigotis, guidelines and standards for certain
health effects of PM (including
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and industries.
particulate transformation products of
Standards. Pursuant to 40 CFR 2.302(h)(2), EPA
oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur)
[FR Doc. 2018–17041 Filed 8–21–18; 8:45 am] is giving notice that it has entered into
are considered as part of the review of
a new contract with ICF, contract
the NAAQS for PM (81 FR 87933, BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
number 68HE0C18D0001, located in
December 6, 2016). The health effects of
Fairfax, Virginia. The purpose of this
oxides of nitrogen were considered in a
separate assessment that was completed ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION contract is to secure economic and
recently as part of the review of the AGENCY environmental assessment support for
primary (health-based) NAAQS for EPA in its development, review,
oxides of nitrogen (83 FR 17226, April [FRL–9982–69–OW] implementation, and defense of water-
18, 2018). Similarly, the health effects of related initiatives for a variety of
oxides of sulfur are currently being Clean Water Act; Contractor Access to industries or states. To obtain assistance
considered in a separate assessment as Confidential Business Information in responding to this contract, ICF has
part of the review of the primary entered into contracts with the
AGENCY: Environmental Protection following subcontractors and
NAAQS for oxides of sulfur (83 FR Agency (EPA).
26752, June 8, 2018). consultants: The Cadmus Group, LLC
ACTION: Notice of intended transfer of (located in Waltham, Massachusetts),
The EPA’s overall plan for this review
confidential business information to CognistX (located in Pittsburgh,
is presented in the Integrated Review
contractor and its subcontractors and Pennsylvania), Great Lakes
Plan for the Secondary NAAQS for
consultants. Environmental Center, Inc. (located in
Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur
and Particulate Matter.2 The REA Traverse City, Michigan), Horizon
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Systems Corporation (located in White
Planning Document considers the Agency (EPA) intends to transfer
degree to which important uncertainties Stone, Virginia), Innovate! Inc. (located
confidential business information (CBI), in Alexandria, Virginia), LimnoTech
identified in quantitative analyses from collected from numerous industries, to
previous reviews have been addressed Inc. (located in Ann Arbor, Michigan),
ICF International (ICF) and its Resources for the Future (located in
by newly available scientific evidence, subcontractors and consultants, under
tools, or information, including those in Washington, DC), RTI International
an EPA contract newly awarded to ICF. (located in Research Triangle Park,
the second external review draft of the Transfer of this information is necessary
Integrated Science Assessment for North Carolina), Wayne Gray (located in
for ICF to assist the Office of Water in Worcester, Massachusetts), Robert
Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur the preparation of economic analyses
and Particulate Matter-Ecological Johnston (located in Millville,
and environmental assessment activities Massachusetts), Klaus Moeltner (located
Criteria (83 FR 29786, June 26, 2018). conducted in support of Clean Water
Based on these considerations, the in Blacksburg, Virginia), Kerry Smith
Act regulations and programs, such as (located in Cave Creek, Arizona), and
document reaches preliminary effluent guidelines and associated
conclusions on the extent to which Raghavan Srinivasan (located in College
planning and review activities, and Station, Texas).
updated quantitative analyses of water quality standards. Much of the
exposures or public welfare risks are All EPA contractor, subcontractor,
information being transferred was or and consultant personnel are bound by
warranted in the current review. For will be collected under the authority of
updated analyses that are supported, the requirements and sanctions
section 308 of the Clean Water Act contained in their contracts with EPA
this planning document presents (CWA) to support effluent guidelines
anticipated approaches to conducting and in EPA’s CBI regulations found at
development in particular. Interested 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. ICF will
such analyses. This document will be persons may submit comments on this
available on or about August 6, 2018, on adhere to an EPA-approved security
intended transfer of information to the plan which describes procedures to
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

address noted below. protect CBI. ICF will apply the
1 The EPA’s call for information for the NO /SO
X X
secondary review was issued on August 29, 2013 DATES: Comments on the transfer of data procedures in this plan to CBI
(78 FR 53452), and the call for information on the are due August 27, 2018. previously gathered by EPA and to CBI
PM review (both secondary and primary) was ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to that may be gathered in the future. The
issued on December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764).
2 Available at https://www.epa.gov/naaqs/ M. Ahmar Siddiqui, Document Control security plan specifies that contractor
nitrogen-dioxide-no2-and-sulfur-dioxide-so2- Officer, Engineering and Analysis personnel are required to sign non-
secondary-standards-planning-documents-current. Division (4303T), U.S. EPA, 1200 disclosure agreements and are briefed

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Document Created: 2018-08-22 00:38:06
Document Modified: 2018-08-22 00:38:06

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 of availability.
Dates		Comments should be received on or before October 22, 2018.
Contact		Ginger Tennant, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (Mail Code C504-06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number:
FR Citation		83 FR 42497