Good morning. For the record my name is Eric Massey

. I am the Director ofthe Ai r Quality Division for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and I appreciate this opportunityto provide oral comments on EPA's proposed revisions to the Exceptional Events Rule. ADEQ commends EPA for the level ofeffort it has gone to listen and adapt to the concerns of States that have experienced hardships implementingthe existing Exceptional Events Rule

. Western States in particular have been heavily involved throughout the history ofthis rule, submitting comments, working on potential improvements and working collaboratively with EPA and other States to improve the

· process necessary to develop the documentation that's been provided.

ADEQ's specific experience throughout this entire process has been laborious, but always positive. To our understanding no other State has gained as much experience with implementing this rule, in large part due to the specific conditions of Arizona's unique environment. Ourefforts have always been focused on making certain that the most defensible exceptional event documents are developed with the most efficient and productive processes that can be developed. ADEQ aspires to lead Arizona and the nation in protecting and enhancing the environment atthe same time improving the quality of life for the people in ourState. It is our belief that the most sustainable solutions are achieved when we properly balance the needs ofour unique environment, oureconomy and the communities

. Through this balance we believe thatwe achieve better outcomes and generate more support for our solutions leading to lasting improvements in all three areas. It isthrough this balance thatwe believe we can help make Arizona the number one state in which to live, work, recreate, start a business, get an education and recreate. The proposed changes to the Exceptional Events Rule fit well into ADEQ's vision and mission. The changes have been made in response to partnerships developed between EPA and the States. It benefits from lessons that States have learned through implementation and uses that experience to encourage more efficient processes. At the same time itcontinues to ensure environmental protection, but ensures that States, t!ieir communities and theireconomies are not held responsible for natural events orthose that cannot otherwise be reasonably prevented or controlled. Overall ADEQ supports all ofthe changes that EPA has made to this ru le, but recognizes thatthere is still work to be done reviewing the entire package. We believe that there are still some areas where additional changes could be made that preserve the balance ofthe rule but still provide procedural benefit for Arizona. As a result we intend to submit written comments in addition to the oral comments provided today. Finally, we wantto recognize Senator Flake's leadership in this matterand also support his request for an extension ofthe public comment period. There are many important programs that are currently in public comment or in the beginning stages ofimplementation (specifically the Clean Power Plan and Ozone). States already have stretched their limited resources in an effortto begin developing responses and programs that will implementthese programs into the future. Additional time will provide States with the ability to provide more thoughtful and thorough comments on all ofthese programs that compete for State time

. Thank you for this opportunity to comment, and Iwould be happy to clarify any of my remarks ifthere are any questions.