y

225 Main Capitol Building

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Governor Corbett:

Thank you for your March 17, 2009 and November 22, 2011 recommendations on air quality

designations for the revised 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone

throughout Pennsylvania. I appreciate the information Pennsylvania shared with the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as we move forward to improve ozone air quality. This letter

is to notify you of EPA’s preliminary response to Pennsylvania’s recommendations and to inform you

of our approach for completing the designations for the revised ozone standards.

On March 12, 2008, EPA revised its NAAQS for ground-level ozone to provide increased

protection of public health and the environment. EPA lowered the primary 8-hour ozone standardfrom 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm to protect against health effects associated with ozone

exposure, including a range ofserious respiratory illnesses and increased premature death from heart

or lung disease. 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 that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth.

Working closely with the states and tribes, EPA is implementing the standards using a common sense

approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state and local governments. As part

ofthis routine process, EPA is working with the states to identify areas in the country that meet thestandards and those that need to take steps to reduce ozone pollution. Within one year after a new or

revised air quality standard is established, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the Governor of each state

to submit to EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the

standard. As a first step in implementing the 2008 ozone standards, EPA asked states to submit their

designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries by March 12, 2009. In

September 2009, EPA announced it was reconsidering the 2008 ozone standards. EPA later took steps

to delay the designation process for the 2008 ozone standards pending outcome ofthe reconsideration.

However, in September 2011, the Office of Management and Budget returned to EPA the draft final

rule addressing the reconsideration ofthe 2008 ozone standards. On September 22, 2011, EPA

restarted the implementation effort by issuing a memorandum to clarify for state and local agencies the

status of the 2008 ozone standards and to outline plans for moving forward to implement them. EPAindicated that it would proceed with initial area designations for the 2008 standards, and planned to use

the recommendations states made in 2009 as updated by the most current, certified air quality data

from 2008-20 10. While EPA did not request that states submit updated designation recommendations,EPA provided the opportunity for states to do so. Thank you for the November 22, 2011 updateddesignation recommendation from Pennsylvania based on the assessment of preliminary 2009-2011 air

quality data.
recommendations and other relevant technical information, including 2008

2010 air quality data, EPA

intends to support Pennsylvania’s recommended area designations and boundaries for the Lancaster

and Reading areas. EPA intends to modify Pennsylvania’s recommended area boundaries for theAllentown-Bethiehem-Easton, Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, and Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley

areas. In order for EPA to consider 2009-20 1 1 air quality data in the final designation decisions forthese areas, Pennsylvania must submit certified, quality assured 2009-20 1 1 air quaLity monitoring datafor the area to EPA by February 29, 2012. The enclosed Technical Support Document provides adetailed analysis to support our preliminary decisions. EPA intends to designate all other areas ofthestate as unclassifiable/attainment.

EPA will continue to work with state officials regarding the appropriate boundaries for the

areas in Pennsylvania. If Pennsylvania has additional information that the Commonwealth would likeEPA to consider, please submit it to us by February 29,2012. 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 Federal Register.After considering the additional information we receive, EPA plans to promulgate final ozone

designations in spring of 2012.

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

ozone air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollutionreduction rules for power plants, 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 staff as we work together to

implement the 2008 ozone standards. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact meor have your staff contact Dr. Jennie Saxe, EPA’s Pennsylvania Liaison, at (215) 814-5806.

Sincerely,

,41V1 M

Shawn M. Garvin

Regional Administrator

Enclosure

cc: The Honorable Michael Krancer, Secretary

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection