UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 2



## AUG 1 9 2014 The Honorable John deJongh , Jr. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Governor House 21-22 Kongens Gade Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas , Virgin Is lands 00802 Dear Governor deJongh : 290 BROADWAY NEW YORK , NY 10007- 1866

This letter is in re sponse to the recommendation from Commissioner Alicia Barnes dated February 3, 2014 regarding air quality designations for the 2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands
. I appreciate the information the U.S. Virgin Islands shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary response to the U.S. Virgin Islands recommendation and to inform you of our approach for compl eting the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PM2.s standard. On December 14 ,2 012 , the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2
.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15 , 2013)
. In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2
.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J..Lg/m 3 ) to 12.0 J..Lg/m 3 ; retained the existing 24 -hour PM2
.s standard at 35 J..Lg/m 3 ; retained the existing 24-hour PM10(coarse particle) standard at 150 J..Lg/m 3 ; and retained the current suite of secondary PM standards
. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2
.s standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body of new scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens our body of knowledge regarding P1vh s-related health effects. The revi · ,;ed primary annual PM2 .s standard will provide increased protection for children , older adu lts, persons with pre.. existing heart and lung disease , and other at-risk populations against an array of PM2 s-rel ated adverse health effects, including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions and eme rgency department visits, and development and exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease. History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth
.. Workin g closely with the states and tribes , the EPA is implementing the standards using a commonsense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state , loc al, and tribal governments. As part of thi s routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the country that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2 .s air pollution. Wi thin one year of promulgating a new or revised air quality stand ard , the Clean Air Act requires the Governor of each state to submit to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with a designation recomm endation for each area . As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PM2 .s standard, Governors were to submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by December 13 , 2013.

Internet Address (URL) • http://www

.epa .gov Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled PaperAs required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating the 2012 annual PM2
.s NAAQS or if it is contributing to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2
.s standards , the EPA intends to use a designation category of " unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors , but for which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attainment and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally , the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable " those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on available information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPA has not determined that the area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time , the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations using quality-assured , certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013. After considering the U.S. Virgin Island's February 3, 2014 annual PM2
.s designation recommendation and other relevant technical information , including 2011-2013 air quality data, the EPA agrees with the U.S. Virgin Island ' s recommendation and intends to designate the entire U.S. Virgin Islands as unclassifiable. A Technical Support Document, which provides additional detail regarding the status of data for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the rationale to support the EPA ' s unclassifiable designation , is available on the EPA ' s website at http: //w\V\V
.epa.gov/pmdes ignations/20 12standards/state.htm If the U.S
. Virgin Islands has additional information for the EPA to consider , please submit it to us by October 29 , 2014. The EPA will 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 

### Fed eral Register. After considering the additional information we receive , the EPA plans to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014. The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing PM2
.s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2 s-forming 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 2012 annual PM2
.s standard
. Should you have any questions , please do not hesitate to contact me , or have your staff contact Richard Ruvo of our Air Programs Branch at (212) 63 7-4014 or ruvo.richard @ epa.gov . Sincerely ,

Judith A. Enck Regional Administrator

cc: Jean-Pierre Oriol , Department of Planning and Natural Resources Magdalene Morancie, Department of Planning and Natural Resources Verline Marcellin , Department of Planning and Natural Resources Janet G
. McCabe , Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D
. Page , Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards