Air Quality Criteria for Lead (First External Review Draft)

Note: EPA has updated this document, but this version is provided as a courtesy to the public as a matter of public record.

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Notice

Volumes I-II (Air Quality Criteria Document for Lead) are being released for public comment and for review by EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).

Comments on this document (Vol. I-II) may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select 'Environmental Protection Agency' and the keyword 'ORD-2005-0018' (for the docket ID). As published in the December 2, 2005 Federal Register Notice, all comments must be submitted by February 15, 2006. Comments received by this date will be considered by the EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) during their review.

Background:

The Clean Air Act mandates periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants, also referred to as criteria pollutants, including lead. Under the review process, EPA's Office of Research and Development develops a criteria document -- a compilation and evaluation by U.S. EPA scientific staff and other expert authors of the latest scientific knowledge useful in assessing the health and welfare effects of the air pollutant. In this case, the Lead Criteria Document presents the latest available pertinent information on atmospheric science, air quality, exposure, dosimetry, health effects, and environmental effects of lead. In developing criteria documents, EPA must consider the advice of CASAC.

History/Chronology:

The following is a brief history of the development of the Air Quality Criteria for Lead.

• 2004 - EPA begins the mandated periodic revision of the Lead Criteria Document.
• 2005 - CASAC and the public review and comment on the Project Work Plan for the document. (See Related Entries).
• 2005 - EPA conducts peer consultative workshops in August 2005.
• 2005 - EPA releases the first external review draft of the Lead Criteria Document (see Downloads)

Next Steps:

CASAC will hold a public meeting to review the second external review draft of the Air Quality Criteria Document for Lead in March 2006. A Federal Register Notice will announce the date of the meeting and its location. EPA will then review their feedback and recommendations with plans to publish the second external review draft by May 2006.

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