EPA Publishes Second Draft of PM Criteria Document
In March 2001 EPA published for public comment its Second External Review Draft of the Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter.
This draft of the criteria document synthesizes new research on the health and environmental effects of PM published from mid-1996 through late-2000.
This multi-volume compendium is significant because any changes to the NAAQS must be based on the information in the Criteria Document.
EPA typically prepares several drafts of the Criteria Document, which are subject to public comments. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) convenes public meetings to review each draft and make comments to EPA. This influential panel must “reach closure” on the document before EPA can move to the next step of the process and propose regulations. EPA staff make changes in the draft document to satisfy the concerns raised by CASAC.
For draft comments of the CASAC review committee on the most recent version of the Criteria Document, see CASAC Preliminary Comments on the PM Criteria Document.
For a copy of the current version of the Criteria Document go to: http://cfpub1.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/partmatt.cfm?ActType=default.
Copies are also available in CD-ROM and hard copy versions, and may be requested from Emily Lee of EPA at: lee.emily@epa.gov.
EPA is in the midst of preparing a Third External Review Draft of the Criteria Document, which will likely be out for public comment in late 2001.
Comments on the Criteria Document may be sent to:
Dr. Lester Grant
National Center for Environmental Assessment
U.S. EPA
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Email: grant.lester@epamail.epa.gov.
The comments of a coalition of health and environmental organizations on the Criteria Document may be found at: /article/archive/17/.
