UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 6 1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 1200 DALLAS TX75202-2733

DEC 9

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### 2011

The Honorable Bobby Jindal Governor ofLouisiana 900 North 3rd Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

Dear Governor Jindal:

Thank you for yourrecommendations dated January 25, 20II, on air quality designations for the revised 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone throughout Louisiana. I appreciate the information Louisiana shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as we move forward to improve ozone air quality. This letteris to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary response to Louisiana's recommendations and to inform you ofour approach for completing the designations for the revised ozone standards.

On March 12,2008, the EPA revised its national ambient air quality standards for ground-level ozone to provide increasedprotection ofpublic health and the environment. The EPA lowered the primary 8- hour ozone standard from 0.08 parts permillion (ppm) to 0.075 ppm to protect againsthealth effects associated with ozone exposure, including arange ofserious respiratory illnesses and increased premature death from heart or lung disease. The EPA revised the secondary 8-hour ozone standard, making it identical to the primary standard, to protect against welfare effects, including impacts on sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems.
History shows us thatbetter health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementingthe standards using a common sense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state and local governments. As part ofthis routine process, the EPA is working with the states to identify areas in the country that meetthe standards and those that need to take steps to reduce ozone pollution. Within one year after anew or revised air quality standard is established, the Clean AirActrequires the governor ofeach state to submitto the EPA alist ofall areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2008 ozone standards, the EPA asked states to submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate areaboundaries, by March 12, 2009. In September2009, the EPA announced it was reconsidering the 2008 ozone standards. TheEPA latertook steps to delaythe designation process for the 2008 ozone standards pending outcome ofthe reconsideration. However, in September20II, the Office ofManagementand Budgetreturned to the EPA the draft final rule addressing the reconsideration ofthe 2008 ozone standards. On September 22, 2011, the EPA restarted the implementation effortby issuing amemorandum to claritY for state and local agencies the status ofthe 2008 ozone standards and to outlineplans for moving forward to implementthem. The EPA indicated thatitwould proceed with initial areadesignations for the 2008 standards, and planned to

use the recommendations states made in 2009 as updated bythe most current, certified air quality data from 2008-2010. While the EPA did notrequestthat states submit updated designation recommendations, the EPA provided the opportunity for states to do so. Thank you for the January 25, 2011, updated designation recommendation from Louisianabased on the assessment 01'2008-2010 air quality data.

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov/region6 Recycled/Recyclable. Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper, Process Chlorine Free

### As required by the Clean AirAct, the EPA will designate an area as nonattainment ifit is violating the 2008 ozone standards or contributing to a violation ofthe standards in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous ozone standards, the EPA intends to designate an area as unclassifiable/attainment ifthere are certified, quality-assured air quality monitoring data showing the

areais meeting the ozone standards orthere are no monitoring data forthe area, and the EPA has not made a determination that the area is contributing to a violation in anearby area.

Afterconsidering the January 2011 ozone designation recommendations from Louisiana and other relevant technical information, including 2008-2010 air quality data, the EPA intends to modify state's recommended area designation and boundary forthe Baton Rouge area. Louisianarecommended that East Baton Rouge Parishbe designated nonattainment. At this phase ofthe process, in addition to East Baton Rouge Parish, we intendto designate as nonattainment the parishes ofAscension, lberville, Livingston and West Baton Rouge because these Parishes have significant emissions and were included in the priornon-attainmentboundaries. The enclosedTechnical Support Document provides a detailed analysis in support thereof. The EPA intends to designate all other areas ofthe state as unclassifiableiattainment.

The EPA wiJl continue to work with state officials regarding the appropriate boundary for the Baton Rouge area. IfLouisianahas additional information that you would like the EPA to consider, please submit it to us by February 29, 2012. The EPA will also make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly in the FederalRegister. 

### Afterconsidering additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final ozone designations in spring of20l2.

The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing

ozone airpollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules for powerplants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steady progress to reduce ozoneforming pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to

a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work togetherto implement the 2008 ozone standards. Should you have any questions, please do nothesitate to contact me at (214) 665-2100, orhave your staffcontact Mr. Guy Donaldson ofmy staffat (214) 665-7242.

1\rme riz Regional Administrato

Enclosure

cc: Ms. Peggy Hatch, Secretary Louisiana Department ofEnvironmental Quality

Ms. Tegan Blades Treadaway, AirPermits Division Administrator Louisiana Department ofEnvironmental Quality