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NTC PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OZONE AND PARTICULATE MATTER

Release Date: 01/13/97
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NTC PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OZONE AND PARTICULATE MATTER

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1997

Due to the large amount of public interest in the public comment period for EPA's proposal to tighten air pollution standards for ozone and particulate matter, the Agency is issuing the following information about public hearings and media availabilities being held next week in Boston, Chicago and Salt Lake City.

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PUBLIC HEARINGS SET FOR PROPOSED OZONE AND PARTICULATE MATTER STANDARDS

In response to the significant level of public interest in the proposed ozone and particulate matter standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing the following information on the public hearings which have been scheduled on Jan. 14-15 to facilitate broad public comment:

BACKGROUND

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review the most current science every five years to ensure that current standards for pollutants like particulate matter (soot) and ground-level ozone (smog) are adequately protective of public health. The multi-year review of hundreds of independent peer-reviewed scientific studies showed that the standards are not providing adequate protection. EPA proposed last November revised national air quality standards for particulate matter and ozone in an effort to provide public health protection to 133 million Americans, including 40 million children.

The proposal is currently within a 60-day public comment period to allow EPA to seek broad public comment before any final decision is reached. These hearings aim to reach out to all stakeholders -- including community members, small businesses, industry, state and local government, parents, doctors and scientists -- to obtain the best information available for determining any appropriate final standards later this year.

TO PARTICIPATE

Any citizen or organization may attend the hearings and publicly comment on the proposals. Oral presentations will be limited to five minutes each. Individuals planning to make oral presentations at the hearings should notify Ms. Linda Metcalf, U.S. EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at (919) 541-2865. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be available. Those unable to attend the hearings may also submit oral comments by calling 1-888-TEL-LEPA until Feb. 18. All comments will be considered in the final review process.  

WHERE AND WHEN

Boston, Mass., on Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m. and Jan. 15 at 9 a.m., Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., (617) 262-9600.

Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m. and Jan. 15 at 9 a.m., Midland Hotel, 172 W. Adams at LaSalle, (312) 332-1200.

Salt Lake City, Utah, on Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m.. and Jan. 15 at 9 a.m., Red Lion Hotel, 255 S.W. Temple St., (801) 328-2000.

Also, there will be a special technical hearing on the particulate matter proposal in Durham, N.C., on Jan. 14 at 9a.m., Omni Durham Hotel, 201 Foster St.

PRESS AVAILABILITIES AT HEARING SITES

The following EPA officials will be available to news media to respond to questions about the hearings and the proposals:

BOSTON

Who:John DeVillars, Region I Administrator
                    Richard Wilson, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation
What:Press Availability
Where:Essex South (3rd Floor), Westin Copley Place When: Jan. 14, 1997, 1 p.m.

CHICAGO

Who: Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation
Michelle Jordan, Region V Deputy Administrator
What: Press Availability
Where: Adler Room, Midland Hotel When: Jan. 14, 1997, 1 p.m.

SALT LAKE CITY

Who: Felicia Marcus, Region IX Administrator
Jack McGraw, Region VIII Acting Administrator
John Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards
What: Press Availability
Where: Topaz Room, Red Lion Hotel
When:Jan. 14, 1997, 1 p.m.
More information about the public comment period is available on the World Wide Web at
"http://ttnwww.trpnc.epa.gov/naaqspro." The announcement of the public hearing time and location also appeared Dec. 24, 996 in the Federal Register and is computer-accessible through EPA's electronic bulletin board system, the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) at (919) 541-5742.

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