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Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides, External Review Draft
Citation:
Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides, External Review Draft.
Impact/Purpose:
The Policy Assessment is intended to help "bridge the gap" between the scientific information and assessment and the judgements required of the EPA Administrator in determining whether, and if so how, it is appropriate to revise the primary SO2 NAAQS. The Policy Assessment will reflect EPA staff's views regarding the broadest array of options supported by the available information. The Policy Assessment will consider the available scientific evidence presented in the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) and the Risk and Exposure Assessment (REA), together with related limitations and uncertainties, and will focus on the basic elements of an air quality standard: indicator, averaging time, form, and level. These elements, which serve to define each NAAQS, will be considered collectively in evaluating the public health and welfare protection afforded by the standard(s). Following the review of the first draft of this document (Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides, External Review Draft), as needed, a second draft will be produced and also provided to CASAC for review as well as made available to the public for review and comment. A final draft document will be produced after considering CASAC and public comments. All documents will be made publicly available.
Description:
Sulfur oxides are one of the six major air pollutants for which EPA has issued air quality criteria and established national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) based on those criteria. The Clear Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to periodically review and revise, as appropriate, existing air quality criteria and NAAQS. The CAA also requires an independent scientific committee to review the criteria and to advise the Administrator regarding any recommended revisions to the existing criteria and standards, as may be appropriate. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) of EPA’s Science Advisory Board serves as this independent scientific committee.
URLs/Downloads:
Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary National AmbientPeer Review Plan (PDF, NA pp, 39 KB, about PDF)
Policy Assessment for the Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides, External Review Draft (PDF, NA pp, 4728 KB, about PDF)