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Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, EPA is required to periodically review and if appropriate revise the air quality criteria for the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). There are primary and secondary NAAQS for lead providing protection of public health and welfare. This action would address EPA's obligation to periodically review the NAAQS for lead.

Statement of Need: Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, EPA is required to review and if appropriate revise the air quality criteria and national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) every 5 years. On October 18, 2016, EPA published a final rule retaining the primary and secondary NAAQS for lead.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, EPA is required to review and if appropriate revise the air quality criteria and the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) every 5 years.

Alternatives: The main alternative for the Administrator's decision on the review of the national ambient air quality standards for lead is whether to retain or revise the existing standards.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The Clean Air Act makes clear that the economic and technical feasibility of attaining standards are not to be considered in setting or revising the NAAQS, although such factors may be considered in the development of state plans to implement the standards. Accordingly, when the Agency proposes revisions to the standards, the Agency prepares a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to provide the public with illustrative estimates of the potential costs and health and welfare benefits of attaining the revised standards.

Risks: To be determined.