ROLE OF SECONDARY STANDARDS

SEC. 817. ROLE OF SECONDARY STANDARDS (a) Report.— The Administrator shall request the National Academy of Sciences to prepare a report to the Congress on the role of national secondary ambient air quality standards in protecting welfare and the environment. The report shall: (1) include information on the effects on welfare and the environment which are caused by ambient concentrations of pollutants listed pursuant to section 108 and other pollutants which may be listed; (2) estimate welfare and environmental costs incurred as a result of such effects; (3) examine the role of secondary standards and the State implementation planning process in preventing such effects; (4) determine ambient concentrations of each such pollutant which would be adequate to protect welfare and the environment from such effects; (5) estimate the costs and other impacts of meeting secondary standards; and (6) consider other means consistent with the goals and objectives of the Clean Air Act which may be more effective than secondary standards in preventing or mitigating such effects. (b) Submission to Congress; Comments; Authorization.— (1) The report shall be transmitted to the Congress not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. (2) At least 90 days before issuing a report the Administrator shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed report. The Administrator shall include in the final report a summary of the comments received on the proposed report. (3) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.