December 4 , 2008

**CERTIFIED MAIL** James I. Palmer, Regional Administrator US EPA Region 4 Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta. GA 30303 - 8909 **Re: South Carolina**  **Air Quality Implementation Plan** Dear Mr. Palmer : The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgates amendments to Federal Regulations throughout each calendar year. In order to maintain consistency with the appropriate Federal revisions, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (Department) also annually reviews its State Regulations and South Carolina Air Quality Implementation Plan (also known as the State Implementation Plan or SIP). Recent Federal amendments include clarification, guidance and technical amendments regarding National Primary And Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standard s; Requirements For Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal ofImplementation Plans; and NO X Budget Trading Program And CAIR NO X And SO2 Trading Programs For State Implementation Plans . As such, the Department proposes to amend the following State Regulations to adopt the corresponding recent Federal amendments:

 On January 18, 2007, the EPA promulgated revisions to the definition of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to add HFE -7300 to the list of compounds excluded from the definition. The Department proposes to amend R. 61 - 62.1, Definitions and General Requirements , to incorporate this amendment to the definition of VOCs.  The Department proposes to amend R. 61 - 62.5, Standard No. 2, Ambient Air Quality S tandards, to respectively adopt the Federal change in the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for the 24 -hour primary standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).  On October 19, 2007, the EPA promulgated revisions to the Federal Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). Pursuant to EPA correspondence received on February 20, 2008, the Department proposes to amend R. 61 -62.96, Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ) Budget Trading Program General Provisions , to incorporate by reference recent Federal amendments to the relevant subparts of the Federal Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). The Department is also proposing to correct previous omissions to Standard No. 5 - Volatile Organic Compounds . The aforementioned proposed changes were promulgated during the period from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007, and are necessary to maintain consistency with Federal rules and propose typographical corrections and clarifications to R.61 -62, Air Pollution Control Regulations and Standards as necessary. Pursuant to S.C. Code Section, 1 -23 - 120(

### H)(1), the proposed changes will not be more stringent than Federal rules and will not require legislative review.South Carolina SIP Revision

– 2007 EOY Revision

December 4 , 2008 Page 2 A public notice to revise the aforementioned portions of the SIP was published in the State Register on Ju ne 27, 2008 . A staff informational forum on this issue was held on July 28, 2008, at 10:00 am in Room 2380 of the Aycock Building, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina. One member of the regulated community was present. A summary of thes e comments has been included as a transcript in Appendix A . Because these comments were primarily aimed at clarifying the need for revision, no changes were made to the final regulation published in the State Register. A public hearing before the Board o f Health and Environmental Control was held on October 9, 2008. No comments were received. Atranscript of this meeting is included as Appendix B. A final notice to revise the aforementioned portions of the SIP was published in the State Register on October 24, 2008. The Department requests final approval from EPA on the revisions to the South Carolina SIP. The Department appreciates the assistance provided by EPA staff regarding the formulation of this plan. Should you or your staff have any questions or comments concerning this SIP revision, please contact Maeve S.R. Mason of my staff at (803) 898 -2230 or masonmr@dhec.sc.gov. Sincerely, Robert W. King, Jr., P.E. Deputy Commissioner Environmental Quality Control South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control c c: Richard A. Schutt, Chief, Regulatory Development Section, EPA Region 4 Zuri Farngalo , Regulatory Development Section, EPA Region 4 cc (w/out attachments) : Myra Reece, Chief, BAQ, SCHEC Renee Shealy, Assistant Bureau Chief, BAQ, SCDHEC Robert J. Brown, Jr., Director, Air Planning, Development and Outreach, BAQ, SCDHEC CD enclosure (3 copies): 1. Text of Final Regulation (strikeout and clean copy) 2. Appendix A: Notices of Drafting, Notice of Proposed Regulation, Staf f Informational Forum sign-in sheet and transcript 3 . Appendix B: Notice of Final Regulation and Public Hearing transcript 4 . Appendix C: Copy of Legal Authority