U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

(40 CFR Part 50)

[AD-FDL ]

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

for Ozone and Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of Public Hearings.

SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing public hearings on the proposed revisions to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter as well as the proposed reference method (Appendix L, 40 CFR part 50) and the proposed requirements for designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM2.5, and ambient air quality surveillance for particulate matter that were published on December 13, 1996 (61 FR 65715, 65637, and 65779, respectively). These public hearings are the opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, or arguments required by section 307(d)(5) of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Public hearings on the proposed ozone and particulate matter NAAQS decisions will be held on January 14 and 15, 1997 at the locations identified below. The record of each hearing will be held open for 30 days to allow for submission of any rebuttal or supplementary information. The January 14, 1997 hearings will begin at 10:30 a.m. (local time) and end at 8:00 p.m. (local time).

The January 15, 1997 hearings will begin at 9:00 a.m. (local time) and end at 3:00 p.m. (local time). The public hearing on the proposed reference method (Appendix L) and the proposed requirements for designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM2.5 and air quality surveillance for particulate matter will be held on January 14, 1997 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (local time) and ending at 5:00 p.m (local time). As previously announced, the public comment period for the proposed decisions will close on February 18, 1997. This comment period applies to all public comments, written or oral, including any made via the telephone hotline and electronic mailboxes established for this purpose.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments (duplicate copies preferred) to Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments on the proposed revisions to the ozone NAAQS should be submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-95-58. Comments on the proposed revisions to the particulate matter NAAQS (including Appendix L) should be submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-95-54. Comments on the proposed requirements for designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM2.5 and ambient air quality surveillance for particulate matter should be submitted to the above address, Attention: Docket No. A-96-51.

Public hearings on the proposed revision to the ozone and particulate matter NAAQS will be held at the following locations:

1)	Westin Copley Place

10 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA 02116

617-262-9600

2)	Midland Hotel

172 West Adams at LaSalle

Chicago, IL 60603

312-332-1200

3)	Red Lion Hotel

255 South West Temple Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84101

801-328-2000

The public hearing on the proposed reference method (Appendix L, 40 CFR part 50), and the proposed requirements for designation of reference and equivalent methods for monitoring PM2.5 and ambient air quality surveillance for particulate matter (40 CFR parts 53 and 58) will be held at:

Omni Durham Hotel

201 Foster Street

Durham, NC 27701

919-683-6664.

Rebuttal or supplementary information or other written statements for the record of any public hearings should be submitted (duplicate copies preferred) to the appropriate docket at the address specified above for the submission of written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ozone NAAQS --

Dr. David McKee, MD-15, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: (919) 541-5288. Particulate Matter NAAQS -- Ms. Patricia Koman at the above address, telephone: (919) 541-5170. PM2.5 Reference Method, Reference and Equivalent Methods, and Ambient Air Surveillance for Particulate Matter -- Mr. Neil Frank, MD-14, Emissions, Monitoring, and Analysis Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: (919) 541-5560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Court Order on Particulate Matter NAAQS

The court order entered in American Lung Association v. Browner, CIV-93-643-TUC-ACM (D. Ariz., October 6, 1994), has been modified to change the date specified for the close of the public comment period on the proposed decision on particulate matter NAAQS from January 29, 1997 to

February 18, 1997. The date for final decision on the particulate matter NAAQS, June 28, 1997, remains unchanged. Public Hearings

Individuals planning to make oral presentations at the hearing(s) should notify Ms. Linda Metcalf, MD-15, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone: (919) 541-2865, at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing(s). Oral presentations will be limited to five minutes each. Any member of the public may file a written statement before, during, or within 30 days after the hearings. Written statements (duplicate copies preferred) should be submitted to the appropriate docket at the address specified above.

A verbatim transcript of the hearings as well as written statements received will be available for inspection and copying during normal working hours at the Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center at the address specified above.

Availability of Related Information

Any supplemental air quality, exposure and risk analyses for ozone and/or particulate matter prepared by EPA will be entered into the appropriate docket and will also be available to the public through the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Bulletin Board System (BBS) in the Clean Air Act Amendments area, under Title I, Policy/Guidance Documents. To access the bulletin board, a modem and communications software are necessary. To dial up, set your communications software to 8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit. Dial (919) 541-5742 and follow the on-screen instructions to register for access. After registering, proceed to choice "<T> Gateway to TTN Technical Areas", then choose "<E> CAAA BBS". From the main menu, choose "<1> Title I: Attain/Maint of NAAQS", then "<P> Policy Guidance Documents." To access these documents through the World Wide Web, click on "TTN BBSWeb", then proceed to the Gateway to TTN Technical areas, as above. If assistance is needed in accessing the system, call the help desk at (919) 541-5384 in Research Triangle Park, NC.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 50

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.

_________________	_____________________________

Date	Assistant Administrator

for Air and Radiation