UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 4 

The Honorable Pat McCrory 

Governor, State ofNorth Carolina 

State Capitol 

20301 Mail Service Center 

ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 

61 FORSYTH STREET 

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960 

FEB - 6 2013 

Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-0301 

Dear Governor McCrory: 

Thank you for your staff's recommendations dated June 2, 2011, with updates on July 23, 2012, and 

January 23,2013, on air quality designations for the State ofNorth Carolina for the 2010 revision to the 

primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide (S02). Reducing levels of S02 

pollution is an important part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 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 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 S02 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 S02 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 S02. 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 S(h standard. 

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

the 2010 S02 standard in any areas in North Carolina. Consequently, the EPA is not yet prepared to 

propose designation action in North Carolina and is therefore currently deferring action to designate 

areas in North Carolina. The EPA expects to be able to proceed with designation action in North 

Carolina 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, 

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov 

Recycled/Recyclable • Printed wtth Vegetable OR Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer) 
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 S02 

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

please do not hesitate to call me at 404-562-8357 or Beverly Banister of my staff at 404-562-9326. 

Sincerely, 

~~9'(( Gwendol~eyes Fleming 

Regional Administrator 

cc: John E. Skvarla, III 

Secretary, North Carolina Department 

of Environment and Natural Resources 

Sheila Holman 

Director, Division of Air Quality 

David Brigman 

Director, Western North Carolina Air Quality 

Don R. Willard 

Deputy Director, Mecklenburg County Land Use and 

Environmental Services Agency 

William M. Barnette 

Director, Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Department 

Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation 

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