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OFFICE OF THE

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

FEB 6 2013

The Honorable Jay Inslee

Governor of the State of Washington

Legislative Building

P.O. Box 40002

Olympia, Washington 98504-0002

Dear Governor Inslee:

Thank you for the recommendations of Ted Sturdevant, the Director of Washington Department of

Ecology dated June 2, 2011, on air quality designations for the State of Washington for the 2010

revision to the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide (SO2). Reducing levels

of sulfur dioxide pollution is an important part of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)

commitment to a clean, healthy environment. Exposure to S02 can cause a range of adverse health

effects, including narrowing of the airways which can cause difficulty in breathing and increased asthma

symptoms. This letter is to notify you of the EPA's preliminary intentions regarding your recommended

designations.

On June 3, 2010, the EPA strengthened the health-based or "primary" standard for SO2 by establishing a

standard for 1-hour average S02 concentrations at a level of 75 parts per billion. The Clean Air Act

requires the EPA to complete the initial designations process within two years of promulgating a new or

revised standard. If the Administrator has insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA

has the authority to extend the designation process by up to one year. On July 27, 2012, the EPA

announced that it had insufficient information to complete the designations for the 1-hour SO2 standard

within two years and extended the designations deadline to June 3, 2013.

At this time the EPA is proceeding with designating as nonattainment most areas in locations where

existing monitoring data from 2009-2011 indicate violations of the 1-hour SO2 standard. The EPA

intends to address the designations for all other areas in separate future actions. With input from a

diverse group of stakeholders, the EPA has developed a comprehensive implementation strategy for

these future actions that focuses resources on identifying and addressing unhealthy levels of SO 2 . The

strategy is available at: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxide/implement.html . The EPA will

continue to work closely with you and our other partners at the state, tribal and local levels to ensure

health-protective, commonsense implementation of the 1-hour SO2 standard.

The EPA's review of the most recent monitored air quality data from 2009-2011 shows no violations of

the 2010 SO2 standard in any areas in Washington. Consequently, the EPA is not yet prepared to

propose designation action in Washington and is therefore currently deferring action to designate areas

in Washington. The EPA expects to proceed with designation action in Washington once additional data

are gathered pursuant to our comprehensive implementation strategy. In a separate future action or

actions, the EPA will notify you of our intended designations for these areas and seek public comment

on these actions no later than 120 days prior to promulgating any final designations.
We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the

2010 primary S02 standard. For additional information regarding initial designations on the SO2

standard, please visit our website at www.epa.gov/so2designations . Should you have any questions,

please do not hesitate to call me at (206)553-1234, or have your staff contact Debra Suzuki at (206) 553-

0985 or e-mail suzuki.debra@epa.gov .

cc: Polly Zehm

Acting Director, Washington Department of Ecology

Stu Clark

Program Manager, Air Quality Division, Washington Depallment of Ecology

Gina McCarthy

Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation

Stephen D. Page

Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

Dennis JcLerran

Regional Administrator