Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Carbon Monoxide (First External Review Draft, Mar 2009)

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Abstract

EPA announced that the First External Review Draft of the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Carbon Monoxide (CO) and related Annexes was 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.

EPA released this draft document to seek 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.

Impact/Purpose

The Integrated Plan for Review of the NAAQS for CO {U.S. EPA, 2008 #8615} identifies key policy-relevant questions that provide a framework for this review of the scientific evidence. These questions frame the entire review of the NAAQS, and thus are informed by both science and policy considerations. The ISA organizes and presents the scientific evidence such that it, when considered along with findings from risk analyses and policy considerations, will help the EPA address these questions during the NAAQS review:

Status

The first 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.

Citation

U.S. EPA. Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Carbon Monoxide (First External Review Draft, Mar 2009). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-09/019, 2009.

History/Chronology

Date Description
01-Mar 1970The National Air Pollution Control Administration published the first Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide.
02-Oct 1979EPA released an updated Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA-600/8-79-022).
03-Aug 1984EPA 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).
04-Dec 1991EPA published an updated Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/600/8-90/045F).
05-Jun 2000EPA published an updated Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/600/P-99/001F).
06-Sep 2007EPA 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]
07-Jan 2008EPA held a workshop to discuss policy-relevant science to inform EPA's planning for the CO NAAQS review. [Federal Register Jan 15, 2008]
08-Mar 2008EPA 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].
10-Aug 2008EPA released the final Plan for Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide (EPA/452/R-08/005).
11-Mar 2009EPA released the Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (First External Review Draft) (EPA/600/R-09/019).
12-Apr 2009EPA'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]
13-May 2009EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) 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]

Additional Information

Included for public review is the draft Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (First External 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 May 8, 2009.