Science Inventory

Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter Policy Assessment for the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) External Review Draft

Citation:

Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter Policy Assessment for the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) External Review Draft.

Impact/Purpose:

The Policy Assessment is intended to help "bridge the gap" between the scientific information and assessment and the judgments required of the EPA administrator in determining whether, and if so how, it is appropriate to revise the primary Ozone NAAQS. The Policy Assessment will consider the available scientific evidence presented in the integrated Science Assessment (ISA) and the Risk and Exposure Assessment (REA) (which is incorporated into eh Policy Assessment), together with related limitations and uncertainties, and will focus on the basis 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 in the standard(s). Following the review of the first draft of this document (Updates to the Policy Assessment for the Reconsideration of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone, External Review Draft) as needed, a final draft document will be produced after considering CASAC and public comments. All documents will be made publicly available.

Description:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a review of the air quality criteria and the secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM). The major phases of the process for reviewing NAAQS include the following: (1) planning, (2) science assessment, (3) risk and exposure assessment, and (4) policy assessment. As an initial step in the risk and exposure assessment phase, the EPA’s staff has considered the extent to which quantitative analyses of ecological risks are warranted in the current review, based on the available scientific evidence and technical information. These considerations focus on the availability of new scientific evidence, tools or information and the degree to which important uncertainties identified in quantitative analyses from the last review have been addressed by newly available evidence, tools, or information. The purpose of the REA planning document is to present staff's considerations and preliminary conclusions regarding potential quantitative analyses in the current review of the secondary NOx, SOx and PM NAAQS.

Record Details:

Record Type:DOCUMENT( ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT)
Product Published Date:09/27/2023
Record Last Revised:06/20/2024
OMB Category:Highly Influential
Record ID: 356658