[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4655-4656]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01223]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859; FRL-10004-64-ORD]

Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the
availability of a final document titled, ``Integrated Science
Assessment for Particulate Matter'' (EPA/600/R-19/188). The document
was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental
Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development
(ORD) as part of the review of the primary (health-based) and secondary
(welfare-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for
particulate matter (PM) and represents an update of the 2009 Integrated
Science Assessment (ISA) for PM. The welfare-based effects evaluated
consist of non-ecological effects, specifically visibility impairment,
climate effects, and effects on materials. The ISA provides the
scientific basis for EPA's decisions, in conjunction with additional
technical and policy assessments, on the adequacy of the current NAAQS
and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. EPA is
currently developing a separate ISA to support the secondary NAAQS
review for ecological effects for oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur,
and particulate matter.

DATES: The document is available on or about January 6, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The ``Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter
(Final)'' will be available primarily via the internet on EPA's
Integrated Science Assessment Particulate Matter page at https://www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-particulate-matter or
the public docket at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-
2014-0859. A limited number of CD-ROM copies will be available. Contact
Ms. Marieka Boyd by phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>; or email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>to request a CD-ROM, and please provide your name,
your mailing address, and the document title, ``Integrated Science
Assessment for Particulate Matter'' to facilitate processing of your
request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Mr.
Jason Sacks, CPHEA; phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>; or email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
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 review every five years 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).
    Particulate matter is 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 provides the scientific basis for EPA's
decisions, in conjunction with additional technical and policy
assessments, on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the
appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The Clean Air
Scientific Advisory Committee (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 December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71764), EPA formally initiated its
current review of the air quality criteria for the health and welfare
effects of particulate matter and the primary (health-based) and
secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS, requesting the submission of recent
scientific information on specified topics. EPA conducted a workshop
from February 9 to 11, 2015 to gather input from invited scientific
experts, both internal and external to EPA, as well as from the public,
regarding key science and policy issues relevant to the review of the
primary and secondary NAAQS (79 FR 71764). These science and policy
issues were incorporated into EPA's ``Draft Integrated Review Plan for
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter,''
which was available for public comment (81 FR 22977) and discussion by
the CASAC via publicly accessible teleconference consultation (81 FR
13362). The ``Final Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for Particulate Matter'' was released December 6,
2016 (81 FR 87933).
    Subsequent webinar workshops were held on June 9, 13, 20, and 22,
2016, to discuss initial draft materials prepared in the development of
the particulate matter ISA with invited EPA and external scientific
experts (81 FR 29262). The input received during these webinar
workshops aided in the development of the materials presented in the
``Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (External Review
Draft), which was released on October 23, 2018'' (83 FR 53471), and is
available at: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=341593. The CASAC met at a public meeting on
December 12-13, 2018 (83 FR 55529), to review the draft PM ISA. A
public teleconference was then held on March 28, 2019 for CASAC to
review their draft letter to the Administrator on the draft ISA. This
meeting was announced in the Federal Register on March 8, 2019 (84 FR
8523). Subsequently, on April 11, 2019, the CASAC provided a letter of
their review to the Administrator of the EPA, available at: https://
yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/
6CBCBBC3025E13B4852583D90047B352/$File/EPA-CASAC-19-002+.pdf. The
letter from the CASAC, as well as public comments received on the draft
PM ISA, can be found in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859.
    The Administrator responded to the CASAC's letter on the External
Review Draft of the PM ISA on July 25, 2019, and is available at:
https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
264cb1227d55e02c85257402007446a4/6CBCBBC3025E13B4852583D90047B352/
$File/EPA-CASAC-19-002_Response.pdf. Administrator Wheeler's letter to
the CASAC indicated the Agency will ``incorporate the CASAC's comments
and recommendations, to the extent possible, and create a final PM ISA
so that it may be available to inform a proposed decision on any
necessary revisions of the NAAQS in early 2020.'' The U.S. EPA focused
on addressing comments presented in the main body of the CASAC letter
(i.e., the cover letter and consensus responses to charge questions),
and to the extent possible, in the statutorily provided timeframe,
addressed individual CASAC member comments as well as public comments
on the draft PM ISA. The consensus CASAC comments on the draft PM
Policy Assessment (December 16, 2019) stated ``. . . the Draft PM ISA,
does not provide a comprehensive, systematic review of relevant
scientific literature; inadequate evidence and rationale for altered
causal determinations; and a need for clearer discussion of causality
and causal biological mechanisms and pathways.'' To address these
comments in the Final PM ISA, the EPA: (1) Added text to the Preface
and developed a new Appendix to more clearly articulate the process of
ISA development; (2) revised the causality determination for long-term
ultrafine particle (UFP) exposure and nervous system effects to
suggestive of, but not sufficient to infer, a causal relationship; and
(3) added additional text to the Preface of the PM ISA as well as text
in the health effects chapters to clarify the discussion of biological
plausibility and its role in forming causality determinations.
Additionally, the U.S. EPA focused on addressing those comments that
contributed to improving clarity, could be addressed in the near-term,
and identified errors in the draft PM ISA. Lastly, Administrator
Wheeler noted, ``for those comments and recommendations that are more
significant or cross-cutting and which were not fully addressed, the
Agency will develop a plan to incorporate these changes into future PM
ISAs as well as ISAs for other criteria pollutant reviews.''

    Dated: December 31, 2019.
Wayne E. Cascio,
Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2020-01223 Filed 1-24-20; 8:45 am]
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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41193-41194]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16979]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-3345-EM; Docket ID FEMA-2011-0001]

West Virginia; Emergency and Related Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an
emergency for the State of West Virginia (FEMA-3345-EM), dated June 30,
2012, and related determinations.

DATES: Effective Date: June 30, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Miller, Office of Response and
Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that, in a letter
dated June 30, 2012, the President issued an emergency declaration
under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act), as
follows:

    I have determined that the emergency conditions in the State of
West Virginia resulting from severe storms beginning on June 29,
2012, and continuing, are of sufficient severity and magnitude to
warrant an emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.
(``the Stafford Act''). Therefore, I declare that such an emergency
exists in the State of West Virginia.
    You are authorized to provide appropriate assistance for
required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the
Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public
health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a
catastrophe in the designated areas. Specifically, you are
authorized to provide assistance for emergency protective measures
(Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public
Assistance program. This assistance excludes regular time costs for
subgrantees' regular employees.
    Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance is
supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for
Public Assistance will be limited to 75 percent of the total
eligible costs. In order to provide Federal assistance, you are
hereby authorized to allocate from funds available for these
purposes such amounts as you find necessary for Federal emergency
assistance and administrative expenses.
    Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration
for the approved assistance to the extent allowable under the
Stafford Act.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice
that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, Department
of Homeland Security, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Donald
L. Keldsen, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating
Officer for this declared emergency.
    The following areas of the State of West Virginia have been
designated as adversely affected by this declared emergency:

    All 55 counties in the State of West Virginia for emergency
protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal
assistance, under the Public Assistance program.

    The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers
(CFDA) are to be used

for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, Community Disaster Loans;
97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling; 97.033, Disaster
Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA);
97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 97.048, Disaster Housing
Assistance to Individuals and Households in Presidentially Declared
Disaster Areas; 97.049, Presidentially Declared Disaster
Assistance--Disaster Housing Operations for Individuals and
Households; 97.050, Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance to
Individuals and Households--Other Needs; 97.036, Disaster Grants--
Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters); 97.039,
Hazard Mitigation Grant.

W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-16979 Filed 7-11-12; 8:45 am]
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