Environmental Assessment
Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (Second External Review Draft)
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Report Information
EPA has announced that the Second External Review Draft of the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Carbon Monoxide (CO) and related Annexes have been made available for independent peer review and public review. This draft ISA document represents a concise synthesis and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science and will ultimately provide the scientific bases for EPA's decision regarding whether the current standards for CO sufficiently protect public health and the environment.
Tom Long
- by phone at: 919-541-1880
- by fax at: 919-541-2985
- by email at: long.tom@epa.gov
Background
EPA has released this second draft document for review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public (meeting date and location to be specified in a separate Federal Register notice). The draft document does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, any final EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. EPA will consider any timely public comments submitted when revising the document.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of six principal (or 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). The ISA and supplementary annexes, in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provide the scientific basis for EPA decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), an independent science advisory committee whose existence and whose review and advisory functions are mandated by Section 109 (d) (2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) with independent scientific review of EPA's air quality criteria.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of six principal (or 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). The ISA and supplementary annexes, in conjunction with additional technical and policy assessments, provide the scientific basis for EPA decisions on the adequacy of the current NAAQS and the appropriateness of possible alternative standards. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), an independent science advisory committee whose existence and whose review and advisory functions are mandated by Section 109 (d) (2) of the Clean Air Act, is charged (among other things) with independent scientific review of EPA's air quality criteria.
History/Chronology
| Mar 1970 | The National Air Pollution Control Administration published the first Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide. |
| Oct 1979 | EPA released an updated Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA-600/8-79-022). |
| Aug 1984 | EPA published the Revised Evaluation of Health Effects Associated with Carbon Monoxide Exposure: An Addendum to the 1979 EPA Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA-600/8-83-033F). |
| Dec 1991 | EPA published an updated Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/600/8-90/045F). |
| Jun 2000 | EPA published an updated Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/600/P-99/001F). |
| Sep 2007 | EPA formally initiated its current review of the air quality criteria for CO, requesting the submission of recent scientific information on specific topics. [Federal Register Sep 13, 2007] |
| Jan 2008 | EPA held a workshop to discuss policy-relevant science to inform EPA’s planning for the CO NAAQS review. [Federal Register Jan 15, 2008] |
| Mar 2008 | EPA released an external review draft of EPA's Plan for Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/452/D-08-001) for public comment. The plan was discussed by the CASAC via a publicly accessible teleconference consultation on April 8, 2008 [Federal Register Mar 11, 2008]. |
| Aug 2008 | EPA released the final Plan for Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/452/R-08/005). |
| Mar 2009 | EPA released the Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (First External Review Draft) (EPA/600/R-09/019) for public review and comment. [Federal Register Mar 12, 2009] |
| Apr 2009 | EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) announced a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory (CASAC) CO Review Panel to discuss the CO ISA (First External Review Draft). [Federal Register Apr 3, 2009] |
| May 2009 | EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) announced a public teleconference to review and approve the draft report of the CASAC Carbon Monoxide Review Panel regarding the review of the CO ISA (First External Review Draft). [Federal Register May 28, 2009] |
| Sep 2009 | EPA released the Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (Second External Review Draft) (EPA/600/R-09/019B) for public review and comment. [Federal Register Notice September 23, 2009] |
Next Steps
The second external review draft ISA for CO will be discussed at a public meeting for review by CASAC, and public comments received will be provided to the CASAC review panel. A future Federal Register notice will inform the public of the exact date and time of that CASAC meeting. In revising and finalizing the ISA, EPA will take into account CASAC advice and recommendations as well as public comments. The final ISA is scheduled for release in January 2010.
Additional Information
Included for public review is the draft Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (SecondExternal Review Draft). Comments on this document may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select Environmental Protection Agency and the keyword EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0925 (for the docket ID) to comment on this report.
The deadline for comments is Nov. 13, 2009.
The deadline for comments is Nov. 13, 2009.
Citation
U.S. EPA. Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (Second External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-09/019B, 2009.
Downloads
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.