How Does the National Ambient Air Quality Standard Review Process Work?
EPA undertakes an extensive scientific and technical assessment process during the standard review for any pollutant. The first step in the process is the preporation of the Agency’s “criteria document,” an extensive assessment of scientific data pertaining to the health and environmental effects associated with the pollutant under review. EPA then prepares a document (known as a “staff paper”) that interprets the most relevant information in the “criteria document” and identifies 1) factors EPA staff believes should be considered in the standard review; 2) uncertainties in the scientific data; and 3) ranges of alternative standards the staff believes should be considered. The “staff paper” is compiled by technical staff to assess the policy implications of the science. It represents the views of the staff and, in final form, is ultimately used as the basis for staff recommendations to the EPA Administrator. Drafts of both the “criteria document” and the “staff paper,” which are based
