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Conference on Air Quality Modeling
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: June 28, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 124)] [Notices] [Page 33411-33412] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [AD-FRL-5249-4; Docket No. AQM-95-01] Conference on Air Quality Modeling AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Conference.
SUMMARY: EPA announces the Sixth Conference on Air Quality Modeling. Such a conference is required by Section 320 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to be held every 3 years. The purpose of the Sixth Conference is to provide a forum for public review of modeling techniques that may be candidates for use in regulatory applications. DATES: The sixth conference will be held on August 9-10, 1995 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. As needed to allow for presentation of all verbal comments, the conference may extend to noon of the next day. Requests to speak at the conference should be submitted to the individuals listed below by July 26, 1995. All written comments must be submitted by COB October 10, 1995. ADDRESSES: Conference: The conference will be held in the GSA Auditorium, GSA National Capitol Region Building, 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC.
Comments: Written statements or comments not presented at the conference should be submitted (in duplicate if possible) to: OAR Regulatory Docket (6102), Room M-1500, Waterside Mall, Attention: OAR Regulatory Docket AQM-95-01, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Copies of technical review materials may be obtained from several sources. Copies of all materials may be obtained from the docket. Many materials will also be available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161; (703) 487-4650. In addition, many materials may be obtained from the Support Center for Regulatory Air Models Bulletin Board System by downloading the appropriate file. To register or access this electronic bulletin board, users with a personal computer should dial (919) 541- 5742.
Docket: Items referenced in this notice as well as comments received are maintained in Docket AQM-95-01. The docket is available for public inspection and copying between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the address above. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph A. Tikvart, Chief, Air Quality Modeling Group (MD-14), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; [[Page 33412]] telephone (919) 541-5562 or C. Thomas Coulter, telephone (919) 541-0832. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Background The Guideline on Air Quality Models (Revised)(hereafter, ``Guideline'' \1\) is used by EPA, States, and private industry in the review and preparation of new source permits and SIP revisions. The Guideline serves as a means by which consistency is maintained in air quality analyses. It was first incorporated in the Code of Federal Regulations in 1978 and was subsequently revised in 1986 to include knowledge concerning modeling analyses that developed since the original guidance was issued. In 1988 four techniques were added as supplement A to the Guideline as a result of public comments on the 1986 revisions. In 1993, the Guideline was further revised with supplement B, and supplement C is expected to be promulgated soon. \1\ The Guideline is published as appendix W to 40 CFR part 51.
To support the process of developing and revising the Guideline during the period 1977-1988, the First, Second and Third Conferences on Air Quality Modeling were held as required by Section 320 of the Clean Air Act to help standardize modeling procedures. These modeling conferences provided EPA with comments on the Guideline and associated revisions, thereby facilitating introduction of improved modeling techniques into the regulatory process. In October 1988, the Fourth Conference on Air Quality Modeling was held. Its purpose was to advise the public on new modeling techniques and to solicit comments to guide EPA's consideration of any rulemaking needed to further revise the Guideline. The new models provide techniques for situations where specific procedures had not previously been available, and also improve several previously adopted techniques. The Fifth Conference on Air Quality Modeling, held in March 1991, served as the public hearing for the proposed supplement B revisions to the Guideline (aforementioned). Since the Fifth Conference and the imminent adoption of supplement C, EPA believes it is time to consider a wide range of modeling issues in order to update its available modeling tools with state-of-the-science techniques. The Agency believes the Sixth Conference will appropriately serve as an ideal forum for the airing of these issues and the public offering of new ideas. The public feedback from such a conference is invaluable. Public Participation The Sixth Conference on Air Quality Modeling will be open to the public; no admission fee is charged. The conference will begin the first morning with introductory remarks by EPA officials. The conference will continue with prepared presentations on several key modeling areas, i.e., long range transport modeling under the Interagency Workgroup on Air Quality Modeling (IWAQM <SUP>2) and the development of an enhanced Gaussian dispersion model with boundary layer parameterization (AERMOD <SUP>3). In the afternoon, invited speakers will discuss special topics, i.e., the Electric Power Research Institute's building downwash program, as well as several new and developing models (CAMRAQ, MODELS3, HPDM). \2\ IWAQM was formed in 1991 to provide a focus for development of technically sound regional air quality models for regulatory assessments of pollutant source impacts on federal Class I areas. IWAQM is an interagency collaboration that includes efforts by EPA, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service.
\3\ AMS/EPA Regulatory Model; AERMOD is being developed by AERMIC: AMS/EPA Regulatory Model Improvement Committee.
The second morning, discussion of special topics will continue based on voluntary presentations. Such presentations may include topics such as air models for accidental releases, fires, etc., air models for risk assessment of toxic pollutants, model evaluation, candidate models for Guideline appendix B, and miscellaneous models/data processing systems. These presen-tations will be followed by a critical review/ discussion of the IWAQM and AERMOD modeling systems facilitated jointly by the Air & Waste Management Association's AB-3 Committee and the American Meteorological Society's Committee of Meteorological Aspects of Air Pollution. That afternoon representatives of State and local air pollution control agencies, appropriate Federal agencies, and professional and constituency groups will be invited to make statements. The conference will then be opened to statements and comments from the general public.
For the new models and modeling techniques described, EPA will be asking the public to address the following questions: <bullet> What is the scientific merit of the models presented? <bullet> What is their accuracy? <bullet> What should be the regulatory use of individual models for specific applications?
<bullet> What implementation issues are apparent and what additional guidance is needed?
<bullet> What are the resource requirements of modeling systems presented?
<bullet> What additional analyses or information are needed? Persons wishing to speak at the conference, whether to volunteer a presentation on a special topic or to offer general comment on any of the modeling techniques scheduled for presentation, should contact EPA at the address given in the FURTHER INFORMATION section no later than July 26. Such persons should identify the organization (if any) on whose behalf they are speaking and the length of presentation. An early contact regarding voluntary presentations of special topics, as well as time required and any materials that can be made publicly available, would help facilitate organization of the conference. If a presentation of general comments is projected to be longer than 10 minutes, the presenter should also state why a longer period is needed. Persons failing to submit a written notice but desiring to speak at the conference should notify the presiding officer immediately before the conference and will be scheduled on a time-available basis. The conference will be conducted informally and chaired by an EPA official. There will be no sworn testimony or cross examination. A verbatim transcript of the conference proceedings will be produced and placed in the docket. Speakers should bring extra copies of their presentation for inclusion in the docket, for the convenience of the reporter. Speakers will be permitted to enter into the record any additional written comments that are not presented orally. Additional written statements or comments should be sent to the OAR Regulatory Docket (see ADDRESSES section). A transcript of the proceedings and a copy of all written comments will be maintained in Docket AQM-95-01 which will remain open until October 10, 1995 for the purpose of receiving additional comments. Dated: June 21, 1995.
Mary D. Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 95-15875 Filed 6-27-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P