EPA Publishes Schedule for Upcoming NAAQS Reviews
Do you need a scorecard to keep track of the major milestones in the EPA’s reviews of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the major pollutants?
If so, you will find the 1-page summary of the schedules for all the major air pollutants under review to be a useful resource. EPA is on court-ordered schedules to complete the reviews of three of the major pollutants — nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Also in the queue are the next periodic reviews for the particulate matter and ozone standards.
The schedule details the projected dates for the completion of each major milestone in EPA’s revised process for reviewing the air quality standards.
The next major milestones are the publication of the first draft integrated science assessment for particulate matter on December 22, 2008, and of the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for nitrogen dioxide on January 16, 2009.
The major steps in the NAAQS review process include:
1. Integrated Review Plan: This builds on the last review to identify key policy-relevant scientific questions and policy issues
2. Integrated Science Assessment: This is an evaluation and synthesis of the most policy-relevant scientific studies published since the last review
3. Risk/Exposure Assessment: This report includes quantitative risk and exposure assessments and an assessment of the scientific evidence, including a discussion of the adequacy of the current standard and potential alternative standards
Each of these documents is reviewed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public.
4. Rulemaking Notices: These include the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), the proposed rule, and the final rule. Each notice undergoes interagency review, and is published in the Federal Register.
EPA solicits public comment on the ANPR and the proposed rule.
A copy of the schedule, including dates for upcoming CASAC meetings, is available below:
NAAQS Review Schedules
Also available is a schematic of the NAAQS Review Process: NAAQS Review Process Diagram
