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EPA/AR RIN: 2060-AN83 Publication ID: Fall 2008 
Title: Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead 
Abstract: On October 5, 1978, the EPA promulgated primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead under section 109 of the Clean Air Act (43 FR 46258). Both primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare) standards were set at a level of 1.5 µg/m3 as a quarterly average (maximum arithmetic mean averaged over a calendar quarter). Subsequent to this initial standard-setting, the Clean Air Act requires that the standard be reviewed periodically. The last such review occurred during the period 1986 to 1990. For that review, an Air Quality Criteria Document (AQCD) was completed in 1986 with a supplement in 1990. Based on information contained in the AQCD, an EPA Staff Paper and Exposure Assessment were prepared. Following the completion of these documents, the Agency did not propose any revisions to the 1978 Pb NAAQS. The current review of the Pb air-quality criteria was initiated in November 2004 by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) with a general call for information published in the Federal Register. In January 2005, NCEA released a work plan for the review and revision of the Pb AQCD. Workshops were held to provide author feedback on a developing draft of the AQCD in August 2005. The final AQCD was released October 1, 2006. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards prepared a draft Staff Paper for the Administrator, which included an initial evaluation of the key studies and scientific information contained in the AQCD and additional preliminary technical analyses. Drafts of the AQCD and the draft Staff Paper were reviewed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the public. A final Staff Paper was completed on November 1, 2007. An ANPRM was published in December 2007 outlining the results of the final risk assessment and giving consideration to the policy assessment. The Administrator's proposal to revise the lead NAAQS was published on May 20, 2008, with a request for public comment. Input received during the public comment period will be considered in the Administrator's final decision. 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Economically Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 50   
Legal Authority: 42 USC 7408 and 7409   
Legal Deadline:
Action Source Description Date
NPRM  Judicial  As per May 14, 2005, order.  05/01/2008 
Final  Judicial  As per July 1, 2008, order.  10/15/2008 
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
ANPRM  12/17/2007  72 FR 71488   
ANPRM Comment Period End  01/16/2008    
NPRM  05/20/2008  73 FR 29184   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/21/2008    
Final Action  11/00/2008    
Additional Information: SAN No. 5059; EPA publication information: NPRM - http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2008/May/Day-20/a10808a.pdf; EPA Docket information: EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0735
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: Federal, Local, State, Tribal 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Deirdre Murphy
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation
C539-02,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Phone:919 541-0729
Fax:919 541-0840
Email: murphy.deirdre@epa.gov

Karen Martin
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation
C504-06,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone:919 541-5274
Fax:919 541-0237
Email: Martin.Karen@epamail.epa.gov