EPA is seeking qualified researchers to aid in a fresh look at one of its most far-reaching air quality standards, marking another step forward since a narrower evaluation was cut short last year.
With a notice set for formal publication in Wednesday’s Federal Register, the agency will open a 21-day window for nominations of epidemiologists, biostatisticians and other experts to what is dubbed the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Ozone Panel.
The panel will provide independent know-how and feedback to EPA staff as they proceed with a full review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone, a lung-damaging compound that is the main ingredient in smog.
The call for candidates comes two months after the agency held afour-day online workshop as the public kickoff to the fresh review announced last August by Administrator Michael Regan. A detailed plan is supposed to be released this fall; the Biden administration’s latest regulatory rundown released Friday lists the review as a “long-term” action and does not set a target date for potential changes to the status quo.
