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 Standards; Requirements For Preparation, Adoption, and 

Submittal of Implementation Plans; and NOX Budget Trading Program And CAIR NOX 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 Standards,

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 (NOX) 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 

June 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 these 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 of Health and Environmental Control was held on October 9, 2008. 

No comments were received. A transcript 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 

cc: 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, Staff 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