UNITEDSTATESENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONAGENCYREGION5AUG1 92014TheHonorableJohnKasichGovernorofOhioRiffleCenter,301hFloor77SouthHighStreetColumbus,Ohio43215DearGovernorKasich:77WESTJACKSONBOULEVARDCHICAGO,IL60604-3590REPLYTOTHEATIENTIONOF:ThankyouforyourrecommendationsdatedDecember13,2013,ofairqualitydesignationsforthe2012revisedprimarymmualfineparticle(PM2.s)NationalAmbientAirQualityStandard(NAAQS)throughoutOhio.IappreciatetheinformationOhiosharedwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyaswemoveforwardtoimprovePM2.sairquality.ThisletteristonotifyyouofEPA'spreliminaryresponsetoOhio'srecommendationandtoinfom1youofourapproachforcompletingtheinitialareadesignationsforthe2012revisedprimaryannualPM2.sstandard.OnDecember14,2012,EPApromulgatedarevisedprimarymmualPM2.sNAAQS(78FR3086,January15,2013).Inthataction,EPArevisedtheprimarymmualPivh5standard,strengtheningithom15.0microgrmnspercubicmeter(J..Lg/m3)to12.0)lglm\retainedtheexisting24-hourPM2.sstandardat35)lg/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM,o(coarseparticle)standardat150)lg/m3;andretainedthecurrentsuiteofsecondaryPMstandards.EPArevisedtheprimaryannualPM2sstandardbasedonanintegratedassessmentofanextensivebodyofnewscientificevidence,whichsubstantiallystrengthensourbodyofknowledgeregardingPM2.s-relatedhealtheffects.TherevisedprimarymmualPM2.sstandardwillprovideincreasedprotectionforchildren,olderadults,personswithpre-existingheartandlungdisease,andotherat-riskpopulationsagainstanarrayofPM2s-relatedadversehealtheffects,includingprematuremortality,increasedhospitaladmissionsandemergencydepartmentvisits,anddevelopmentandexacerbationofchronicrespiratorydisease.Historyshowsusthatbetterhealthandcleanerairgohand-in-handwitheconomicgrowth.Workingcloselywiththestatesandtribes,EPAisimplementingthestandardsusingacommonsenseapproachthatimprovesairqualityandminimizestheburdenonstate,local,andtribalgovernments.Aspartofthisprocess,EPAisworkingwiththestatesandtribestoidentifyareasinthecountrythatmeetthestandardsandthosethatneedtotakestepstoreducePM2.sairpollution.Withinoneyearofpromulgationofaneworrevisedairqualitystandard,theCleanAirActrequirestheGovernorofeachstatetosubmittoEPAalistofallareasinthestate,withadesignationrecommendationforeacharea.Asafirststepinimplementingthe2012annualPM2.sstandard,Governorsweretosubmittheirdesignationrecommendations,includingappropriateareaboundaries,byDecember13,2013.Recycled/Recyclable•PrintedwithVegetableOilBasedInkson100%RecycledPaper(100%Post-Consumer)AsrequiredbytheCleanAirAct,EPAthenpromulgatesdesignationsforallareasacrossthecountry.EPAdesignatesanareaas"nonattainment"ifitisviolatingthe2012annualPM2.sNAAQSorifitiscontributingtoaviolationoftheNAAQSinanearbyarea.ConsistentwithdesignationsforpreviousPM2sstandards,EPAintendstouseadesignationcategoryof"unclassifiable/attainment"forareasthataremonitoringattainmentordonothavemonitors,butforwhichEPAhasreasontobelievearelikelyattainmentandarenotcontributingtonearbyviolations.Additionally,EPAintendstodesignateas"unclassifiable"thoseareaswhereEPAcannotdeterminebasedonavailableinformationwhethertheareaismeetingtheNAAQSorwhereEPAhasnotdeterminedthattheareacontributestoanearbyviolation.Atthistime,EPAisproceedingwithinitialareadesignationsusingquality-assured,certifiedairqualitymonitoringdatafrom2011to2013.EPAhasreviewedOhio'sDecember12,2013annualPM2.sdesignationrecommendationsandotherrelevanttechnicalinformation,including2011-2013airqualitydata,andEPAintendstomodifyOhio'srecommendedareaboundariesfortheCanton-Massillon,OH,Cleveland,OH,andCincinnati-Hamilton,OH-KYareas.TechnicalSupportDocuments,whichprovideadetailedanalysistosupportourpreliminarydecisions,areenclosedandarealsoavailableontheEPA'swebsiteathttp://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2012standards/state.htm.EPAintendstodesignateallotherareasofthe stateasunclassifiable/attainment.EPAwillcontinuetoworkwithslateofficialsregardingtheappropriateboundariesforfheareasinOhio.IfOhiohasadditionalinfonnationforEPAtoconsider,pleasesubmitittousbyOctober29,2014.EPAwillmakeitsproposeddesignationdecisionsandsupportingdocumentationavailabletothegeneralpublicforreviewandconunent.Wewillbeannouncinga30-daypubliccommentperiodshortlyintheFederalRegister.Afterconsideringanyadditionalinformationwereceive,theEPAplanstopromulgatefinalannualPM2.sdesignationsinDecemberof2014.EPAiscommittedtoworkingwiththestatesandtribestosharetheresponsibilityofreducingPM2.sairpollution.Currentandupcomingfederalstandardsandsafeguards-includingpollutionreductionrulesforpowerplants,vehicles,andfuels-willensuresteadyprogresstoreducePM2s-formingpollutionandwillprotectpublichealthincommunitiesacrossthecountry.Welookforwardtoacontinueddialoguewithyouandyourstaffasweworktogethertoimplementthe 2012 annual

PM2

. s standard.

If you

any questions,

please contact

m

e or you

r staff

may contact

Ronna Beckmann

or Eileen Deamer

, the Region

5 Intergo

ve rnm

e ntal Liaisons

, at (312)

886

- 3000. Sincere

l y, Susan Hedman Regional Administrator Enc

l osures cc:

Craig

W. Butler Director,

Ohio

E nvironmental

Protection

Agency Robert Hodanbosi Chief, Division

of Air Pollution

Control Ohio

Envi ronmental

P rotection

Agency