[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 15, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34290-34291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16795]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 50
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0922; FRL- 8930-6]
RIN 2060-AO19
Public Hearings for Primary National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing two public hearings to be held for the
proposed rule ``Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for
Nitrogen Dioxide'' which is published elsewhere in this Federal
Register. The hearings will be held in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday,
August 3, 2009 and Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, August 6,
2009.
In the notice of proposed rulemaking, EPA proposes to make
revisions to the primary nitrogen dioxide (NO2) national
ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in order to provide requisite
protection of public health. Specifically, EPA proposes to supplement
the current annual standard by establishing a new short-term
NO2 standard based on the 3-year average of the 99th
percentile (or 4th highest) of the annual distribution of 1-hour daily
maximum concentrations. The EPA proposes to set the level of this new
standard within the range of 80 to 100 parts per billion (ppb) and
solicits comment on standard levels as low as 65 ppb and as high as 150
ppb. Also, EPA proposes to establish requirements for an NO2
monitoring network that will include monitors within 50 meters of major
roadways. In addition, EPA is soliciting comment on an alternative
approach to setting the standard and revising the monitoring network.
Consistent with the terms of a consent decree, the Administrator will
sign a notice of final rulemaking by January 22, 2010.
DATES: The public hearings will be held on August 3, 2009 in Arlington,
Virginia, and on August 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Please
refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the
public hearings.
ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held at the following locations:
1. Arlington, VA: Environmental Protection Agency Conference
Center, First Floor Conference Center South, One Potomac Yard, 2777 S.
Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. All visitors will need to go
through security and present a valid photo identification, such as a
driver's license.
2. Los Angeles, CA: Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown, 711 South Hope
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017, telephone (213) 488-3500.
Written comments on this proposed rule may also be submitted to EPA
electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or through hand delivery/
courier. Please refer to the notice of proposed rulemaking for the
addresses and detailed instructions for submitting written comments.
A complete set of documents related to the proposal is available
for public inspection at the EPA Docket Center, located at 1301
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A
reasonable fee may be charged for copying. Documents are also available
through the electronic docket system at http://www.regulations.gov .
The EPA Web site for the rulemaking, which includes the proposal
and information about the public hearings can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/air/nitrogenoxides/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the
public hearings or have questions concerning the public hearings,
please contact Ms. Tricia Crabtree at the address given below under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Questions concerning the ``Primary National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide'' proposed rule should be addressed to
Dr. Scott Jenkins, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Health and Environmental Impacts Division (C504-06),
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-1167, e-mail:
[email protected] .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposal for which EPA is holding the
public hearings is published elsewhere in this Federal Register and is
also available on the following Web site: http://www.epa.gov/air/nitrogenoxides/. The public hearings will provide interested parties
the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning the
proposed rules. The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral
presentations, but will not respond to the presentations at that time.
Written statements and supporting information submitted during the
comment period will be considered with the same weight as any oral
comments and supporting information presented at the public hearings.
Written comments must be
[[Page 34291]]
received by the last day of the comment period, as specified in the
proposal.
The two public hearings will be held in Arlington, VA, on August 3,
2009 and Los Angeles, CA, on August 6, 2009. The public hearings will
begin each day at 9 a.m. and continue into the evening until 9 p.m.
(local time) or later, if necessary, depending on the number of
speakers wishing to participate. The EPA will make every effort to
accommodate all speakers that arrive and register before 9 p.m. The EPA
is scheduling lunch breaks from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner
breaks from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. If you would like to present oral
testimony at the hearings, please notify Ms. Tricia Crabtree (C504-02),
U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. The preferred method for
registering is by e-mail ([email protected]). Ms. Crabtree may be
reached by telephone at (919) 541-5688. She will arrange a general time
slot for you to speak. The EPA will make every effort to follow the
schedule as closely as possible on the day of the hearings.
Oral testimony will be limited to five (5) minutes for each
commenter to address the proposal. We will not be providing equipment
for commenters to show overhead slides or make computerized slide
presentations unless we receive special requests in advance. Commenters
should notify Ms. Crabtree if they will need specific audiovisual (AV)
equipment. Commenters should also notify Ms. Crabtree if they need
specific translation services for non-English speaking commenters. The
EPA encourages commenters to provide written versions of their oral
testimonies either electronically on computer disk or CD ROM or in
paper copy.
The hearing schedules, including lists of speakers, will be posted
on EPA's Web site for the proposal at http://www.epa.gov/air/nitrogenoxides/prior to the hearings. Verbatim transcripts of the
hearings and written statements will be included in the rulemaking
docket.
How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?
The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0922. The EPA has also developed a Web site for
nitrogen dioxide NAAQS materials, including the notice of proposed
rulemaking, at the address given above. Please refer to the notice of
proposed rulemaking for detailed information on accessing information
related to the proposal.
Dated: July 9, 2009.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. E9-16795 Filed 7-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P