[Federal Register: August 9, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 153)]
[Notices]
[Page 45550-45551]
[DOCID:fr09au06-79]

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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0558; FRL-8085-4]

Coppers Reregistration Eligibility Decision; Notice of
Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for copper-containing pesticides and opens a
public comment period on this document and its supporting documents.
The Agency's risk assessments and other related documents also are
available in the coppers docket. Coppers are used in agriculture as a
broad-spectrum fungicide and bactericide on virtually all food and
ornamental crops, for algae control in catfish aquaculture, and in
direct aquatic applications as an algaecide, herbicide, molluscicide,
and leech control. Coppers are also registered for antimicrobial
applications including use as an anti-foulant and preservative. EPA has
reviewed coppers through the public participation process that the
Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide
reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these
programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and
safety standards.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0558, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South
Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket telephone number is<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-
2005-0558. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information

provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-
mail. The Federal regulations.gov website is an ``anonymous access''
system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you
send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through
regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and
included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made
available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, 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 EPA
cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot
contact you for clarification, 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.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket 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 material, such as copyrighted
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are
available either in the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov
, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP

Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South
Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The hours of operation
of this Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket telephone number is (703)
305-5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosanna Louie, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax
number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; e-mail address<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution,
or use of pesticides. Since others also may be interested, the Agency
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM 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.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for preparing your comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
    i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
     ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
    iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and
substitute language for your requested changes.

    iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information
and/or data that you used.
    v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
    vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and
suggest alternatives.
    vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of
profanity or personal threats.
    viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period
deadline identified.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to
ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA
has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for
pesticides containing coppers under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA.
Coppers are used in agriculture as a broad-spectrum fungicide and
bactericide used on virtually all food and ornamental crops, in catfish
aquaculture, and in direct aquatic applications as an algaecide,
herbicide, molluscicide, and leech control. Direct aquatic application
sites include a wide range of water bodies including irrigation
waterways, potable water sources and systems, and quiescent water
bodies. Coppers are also registered for antimicrobial applications
including use as an anti-foulant and preservative in wood treatments
and anti-fouling paints. EPA has determined that the data base to
support reregistration is substantially complete and that products
containing coppers that are used in agricultural applications (crops,
ornamentals, and direct aquatic applications) are eligible for
reregistration under FIFRA, provided that the mitigation measures are
adopted and product labels are amended as described in the RED
document. The Agency assessed the homeowner root control use of copper
sulfate pentahydrate, which may potentially pose additional cost
burdens to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to remove the excess
copper from wastewaters until copper concentrations reach acceptable
levels as required, as well as the potential risk to non-target aquatic
animals and plants. However, there is insufficient data to fully assess
this potential burden to POTWs. The Agency is seeking comments on the
extent of copper use as a root killer, and the potential burden placed
on POTWs from this use. Upon submission of any required product
specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) and any necessary changes to the
registration and labeling (either to address concerns identified in the
RED or as a result of product specific data), EPA will reregister
specific products under section 4(g)(2)(C).
    EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in
effect when the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was enacted in
August 1996, to ensure that these existing pesticide residue limits for
food and feed commodities meet the safety standard established by the
new law. Tolerances are considered reassessed once the safety finding
has been made or a revocation occurs. EPA has reviewed and made the
requisite safety finding for the copper tolerances.
    EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The
Agency's Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public
Participation Process, published in the Federal Register on May 14,
2004 (69 FR 26819)(FRL-7357-9), explains that in conducting these
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide.
Due to its uses, risks, and other factors, coppers were reviewed
through the modified 4-Phase process. Through this process, EPA worked
extensively with stakeholders and the public to reach the regulatory
decisions for coppers.
    The reregistration program is being conducted under Congressionally
mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both to make timely
decisions and to involve the public. The Agency is issuing the coppers
RED for public comment. This comment period is intended to provide an
additional opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating
any necessary amendments to the RED. All comments should be submitted
using the methods in ADDRESSES, and must be received by EPA on or
before the closing date. These comments will become part of the Agency
Docket for coppers. Comments received after the close of the comment
period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider these
late comments.
    The Agency will carefully consider all comments received by the
closing date and will provide a Response to Comments document in the
Docket and regulations.gov. If any comment significantly affects the
document, EPA also will publish an amendment to the RED in the Federal
Register. In the absence of substantive comments requiring changes, the
coppers RED will be implemented as it is now presented.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended directs that, after submission
of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, the Administrator
shall determine whether pesticides containing such active ingredient
are eligible for reregistration, before calling in product specific
data on individual end-use products and either reregistering products
or taking other ``appropriate regulatory action.''
    Section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA),
21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review tolerances and exemptions for
pesticide residues in effect as of August 2, 1996, to determine whether
the tolerance or exemption meets the requirements of section 408(b)(2)
or (c)(2) of FFDCA. This review is to be completed by August 3, 2006.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: August 2, 2006.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-12899 Filed 8-8-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S


[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63007-63009]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24945]

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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-73353; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2014-89]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Proposing To Amend
Certain of Its Rules To Remove and Replace Obsolete References to Fixed
Return Options With the Updated References to Binary Return Derivatives
Contracts

October 15, 2014.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that on October 8, 2014, NYSE MKT LLC (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE
MKT'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to [sic]. The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public
Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange is proposing to amend certain of its rules to remove
and replace obsolete references to Fixed Return Options with the
updated references to Binary Return Derivatives contracts (``ByRDs'').
The Exchange recently filed and received approval for rule changes
related to, among other things, a name change for securities previously
known as Fixed Return Options or FROs to reflect a name change to
ByRDs.\4\ However, several references to FROs remain in Rules
462(d).10, 909ByRDs and 980ByRDs. This rule filing is intended to
replace these remaining references to FROs with references to ByRDs,
which will clarify Exchange rules and alleviate any investor confusion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Securities and Exchange Release No. 71957 (April 16,
2014), 79 FR 22563 (April 22, 2014) (SR-NYSEMKT-2014-06).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) \5\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''),
in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\6\ in
particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system. Specifically, the Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change will remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market by making rule text
consistent with the new name of the options product (i.e., ByRDs).\7\
The Exchange also believes that the proposed clarifying changes and
deletions of obsolete references to FROs may reduce potential investor
confusion, and protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \7\ See supra n. 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed change is not
designed to address any competitive issue but rather to revise obsolete
or inaccurate rule text, thereby reducing confusion and making the
Exchange's rules easier to understand and navigate. The Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change will serve to promote regulatory
clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the marketplace
and facilitating investor protection.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

    Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \8\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a
brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon
filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of this requirement would allow
the Exchange to delete or correct outmoded references without delay,
which would allow market participants to realize the benefits of the
clarified rules. The Commission believes that the waiver of the 30-day
operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the
public interest because it would eliminate potential investor confusion
without delay by amending the Exchange's rules to accurately reflect
the name of the options product (ByRDs) and by removing references to
its former name (Fixed Return Options). Therefore, the Commission
designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \11\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please include
File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2014-89 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2014-89. This
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements

with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington,
DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2014-89 and should
be submitted on or before November 12, 2014.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-24945 Filed 10-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71764-71766]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28278]

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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9920-00-ORD; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0859]

Notice of Workshop and Call for Information on Integrated Science
Assessment for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Workshop; Call for Information.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of
Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment
(NCEA) is preparing an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) as part of
the review of the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). This ISA is intended to
update the scientific assessment presented in the Integrated Science
Assessment for Particulate Matter (EPA 600/R-08/139F), published in
December 2009. Interested parties are invited to assist EPA in
developing and refining the scientific information base for the review
of the PM NAAQS by submitting research studies that have been
published, accepted for publication, or presented at a public
scientific meeting.
    EPA is also announcing that a workshop, entitled ``Workshop to
Discuss Policy-Relevant Science to Inform EPA's Review of the Primary
and Secondary NAAQS for PM,'' is being organized by NCEA and EPA Office
of Air and Radiation's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS). The workshop will be held February 9-February 11, 2015, in
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The workshop will be open to
attendance by interested public observers on a first-come, first-served
basis up to the limits of available space.

DATES: The workshop will be held on February 9-11, 2015. All
communications and information submitted in response to the call for
information should be received by EPA by February 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at U.S. EPA, 109 T.W. Alexander
Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. An EPA contractor, ICF
International, is providing logistical support for the workshop. To
register, please visit the Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/pmworkshop2015/. Interested parties can participate in person or via
webinar. The pre-registration deadline is February 4, 2015. Please
direct questions regarding workshop registration or logistics to
Whitney Kihlstrom at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or<EMAIL_ADDRESS>For
specific questions regarding technical aspects of the workshop see the
section of this notice entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Information in response to the call for information may be
submitted electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/
courier. Please follow the detailed instructions as provided in the
section of this notice entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details on the period for
submission of research information from the public, contact the Office
of Research and Development (ORD) Docket at EPA's Headquarters Docket
Center; telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; facsimile:<PHONE_NUMBER>; or email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>For technical information, contact Mr. Jason Sacks,
NCEA; telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; facsimile:<PHONE_NUMBER>; or email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or Dr. Scott Jenkins, OAQPS; telephone: (919) 541-
1167; facsimile:<PHONE_NUMBER>; or email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Project

    Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs the Administrator
to identify and to list certain air pollutants and then to issue ``air
quality criteria'' for those pollutants. 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 such
pollutant in the ambient air . . .'' Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA
is then to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for
each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the
CAA 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 and welfare.
EPA is also to revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised
air quality criteria.
    Particulate matter (PM) is one of six ``criteria'' pollutants for
which EPA has established NAAQS. Periodically, EPA reviews the
scientific basis for these standards by preparing an Integrated Science
Assessment (ISA), formerly called an Air Quality Criteria Document
(AQCD). The evidence and conclusions presented in the ISA directly
inform the technical and policy assessments conducted by OAQPS.
Collectively, these documents form the scientific and technical bases
for EPA's decisions on the adequacy of existing NAAQS and the
appropriateness of new or revised standards.
    At the start of a NAAQS review, EPA issues an announcement of the
review and notes the initiation of the development of the ISA. At that
time, EPA also issues a request that the public submit scientific
literature that they want to bring to the attention of the Agency for
consideration in the review process. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee (CASAC), an independent scientific advisory committee
mandated by section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act and part of EPA's
Science Advisory Board (SAB), is charged with independent expert
scientific review of EPA's draft ISAs and other technical and policy
assessments. As the process proceeds, the public will have
opportunities to review and comment on draft PM ISAs and other
technical and policy assessments. These opportunities will also be
announced in the Federal Register.
    For the review of the PM NAAQS being initiated by this notice, the
Agency is interested in obtaining additional new information,
particularly concerning: (a) Toxicological studies of effects of
controlled exposure to PM on laboratory animals and humans; (b)
epidemiologic (observational) studies of health effects associated with
ambient exposures of human populations to PM; (c) the quantification of
light extinction in urban and non-urban areas--for example, new studies
regarding visibility preferences, including studies in additional urban
and non-urban areas that disentangle visibility preferences from health
preferences, the sensitivity of visibility preferences to survey
methods and/or preferences regarding intensity versus frequency of
visibility impairment; (d) climate impacts from PM-related aerosols,
particularly regarding the quantification of anthropogenic aerosol
effects on radiative forcing; and (e) ecological studies that examine
the effects on agricultural crops and natural terrestrial and/or
aquatic ecosystems from ambient exposures to PM, including information
regarding interactions with other ecosystem stressors and co-occurring
pollutants. EPA also seeks recent information in other areas of PM
research such as chemistry and physics, sources and emissions,
analytical methodology, transport and transformation in the
environment, and ambient concentrations. This and other selected
literature relevant to a review of the NAAQS for PM will be assessed in
the forthcoming PM ISA. It is important to note that for the evaluation
of PM and ecological effects, this does not include studies that
examine effects due to the deposition of oxides of nitrogen
(NOX) or sulfur oxides (SOX) in the particulate
form (e.g., ammonium sulfate), which will be covered in the ongoing
review of the NOX/SOX secondary standard. Other
opportunities for submission of new peer-reviewed, published (or in-
press) papers will be possible as part of public comment on the draft
ISAs that will be reviewed by CASAC.
    As part of this review of the PM NAAQS, EPA intends to sponsor a
workshop on February 9-February 11, 2015 to provide the opportunity for
internal and external experts to highlight significant new and emerging
PM research, and to make recommendations to the Agency regarding the
design and scope of the review for the primary (health-based) and
secondary (welfare-based) PM standards to ensure that it addresses key
policy-relevant issues and considers the new and emerging science that
is relevant to informing EPA's understanding of these issues. EPA
intends that workshop discussions will build upon three prior
publications (available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html):
    1. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter:
Final Rule (78 FR 2086, January 15, 2013). The preamble to the final
rule included detailed discussions of policy-relevant issues central to
the last review.
    2. Integrated Science Assessment for PM--Final Report. (EPA/600/R-
08/139F, December 2009). The ISA is a comprehensive review, synthesis,
and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science, including key
science judgments that are important to inform the development of the
risk and exposure assessments, as well as other aspects of the NAAQS
review. The 2009 PM ISA, completed by EPA's NCEA, included
consideration of studies published through mid-2009.
    3. Provisional Assessment of Recent Studies on Health Effects of
Particulate Matter Exposure (EPA/600/R-12/056F, December 2012). This
assessment, which was completed by EPA's NCEA, evaluated studies
published too late for inclusion in the final PM ISA. The provisional
science assessment focused on epidemiologic studies that used
PM2.5 (i.e., fine PM) or PM10-2.5 (i.e., coarse
PM) and were conducted in the U.S. or Canada, and toxicological or
epidemiologic studies that compared effects of PM from different
sources, PM components, or size fractions published through August
2012. The document was not intended to critically review individual
studies or integrate the scientific findings to draw causal conclusions
as is done for an ISA, but rather to ensure that the Administrator was
fully aware of the ``new'' science that had developed since 2009 before
making final decisions on whether to retain or revise the then-existing
PM standards.
    Workshop participants are encouraged to review these documents
thoroughly before the meeting, as they provide important background
information on the scientific findings and analytical approaches
considered in the previous review, as well as insights into the key
policy-relevant questions from that review. In addition, participants
may also want to review related documents (available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html), including the
Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (Final Report, April 2011), Quantitative
Health Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter (Final Report, June
2010), and Particulate Matter Urban-Focused Visibility

Assessment (Final Document, July 2010).
    Based in large part on the input received during this workshop, EPA
will develop a draft Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for the PM NAAQS.
This draft IRP will outline the schedule, process, and approaches for
evaluating the relevant scientific information and addressing the key
policy-relevant issues to be considered in this review. CASAC will be
asked to review the draft IRP in the mid-2015 and the public will also
have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan. The final IRP,
prepared in consideration of CASAC and public comments, will outline
the process and schedule for conducting the review and the planned
scope of the assessment documents (e.g., an ISA, a risk/exposure
assessment, and a policy assessment) as well as the key policy-relevant
issues/questions that will guide the review.

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

    Submit your materials identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-
0859 by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
     Email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: Office of Research and Development (ORD) Docket
(Mail Code: 28221T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-
566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The ORD Docket is located in EPA's
Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. EPA's Docket Center Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is<PHONE_NUMBER>. 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 materials
by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of these
materials. For attachments, provide an index, number pages
consecutively with the materials, and submit an unbound original and
three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2014-0859. 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
EPA's policy to include all materials it receives in the public docket
without change and to make the materials available online at
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless materials includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The
www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email directly
to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address
will be automatically captured and included as part of the materials
that are placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit electronic materials, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact information in the body of your
materials and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read
your materials due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider the materials you
submit. 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 EPA's public docket visit EPA's Docket
Center homepage at www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    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 EPA's
Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: November 24, 2014.
Gina Perovich,
Acting Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2014-28278 Filed 12-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P