The Honorable Neil Abercrombie

Executive Chambers

State Capitol

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Dear Governor Abercrombie:

Thank you for your recommendations dated May 19, 2011 on air quality designations for the state of Hawaii for the 2010 revision to the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide

(SO 2).Reducing levels of SO2pollution is an important part ofthe U. S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s (EPA) commitment to a clean, healthy environment. Exposure to SO2can cause a range of adverse health effects, including narrowing of the airways which can cause difficulty breathing and increased asthma symptoms. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA’s preliminary intentions regarding

your recommended designations.On June 3, 2010, the EPA strengthened the health-based or “primary” standard for SO2by establishing a standard for 1-hour average SO2concentrations 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. Ifthe 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 SO2standard

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 SO2standard. The EPA

intends to address the designations for all other areas in separate future actions. With input from a diverse group ofstakeholders, EPA has developed a comprehensive implementation strategy for these future actions that focuses resources on identifying and addressing unhealthy levels of SO2.The

strategy is available at: 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 healthprotective, common sense implementation ofthe 1-hour SO2standard.

The EPA’s review ofthe most recent monitored air quality data from 2009-2011 indicates several

monitors on the Island of Hawaii may exceed the 2010 SO2standard. In your recommendation letter,

you have requested that the EPA exclude data from those monitors from being considered for

designations purposes under the EPA’s Exceptional Events Rule due to SO2emissions from an active

volcano. The EPA has not yet determined whether such exclusion is merited under the Exceptional

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We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the

2010 primary SO2standard. For additional information regarding initial designations ofthe SO2

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

please do not hesitate to call me, or have your staff contact Deborah Jordan, Director, Air Division at

415-947-8715, or iordan.deborah(epa.gov.

Sincerely,

4Jared

4&

Blumenfeld

cc: Loretta Fuddy, Director, Hawaii Department of Health

Gary Gill, Deputy Director, Hawaii Department of Health

Stuart Yamada, Chief, Environmental Management Division, Hawaii Department of Health

Nolan Hirai, Acting Branch Manager, Clean Air Branch, Hawaii Department of Health

Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation

Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards