UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON , D.C
. 20460

The Honorable Steve Beshear Governo r of Kentucky 700 Cap itol Avenue, Su ite 100 Frankfor t , Kentucky 40 601 Dear Governor Beshear: 

# DEC 1 8 

## 2.0 14

THE ADMINISTRATOR

I am writing to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent action to address fine particle pollution in your state. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient air quality standards for fine particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to vio lations of the standard. On December 14,201 2, the EPA strengthened the annua l, h ea lth-based fine particle standard from 1 5.0 micrograms per cubic meter ( f..l g/m 3 ) to 12.0 f.!g/m 3

. Thousands of scientific studies have link ed exposure to these tiny parti c les- a pproximately 1/ 30th the size of a human hair-with serious human health problems including prematur e death in people with heart and lung disease , nonfatal heart attacks, and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency room v i sits for re spiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the information you and your staff have shared w ith the EPA throughout this process to assess fine particle po ll u tion levels in communities across your sta te and the imp act of emission sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air . Afte r consideri n g your recommendations, rev iewing th e most recent certified fine particle a ir quality data fo r you r state and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels of fine particle pollution, I have determined that most areas in your state meet the 2012 annua l fine particle standard. As a result, the EPA i s designating the majority of the state
" unclassitiable/attainment. " Also, so me areas in your s tate either do not meet the 2012 annual fine particle standard or they contribute to a nearby violation of the standard. The EPA is designating those areas "nonattainment.'' Nonattainment areas will be required to take action to reduce fine p articl e pollution and meet the standard no later than 2021. As required by the Clean Air Act, those actions may include stricter contro l s on industrial facilities and additional planning requirements for transportat ion -rel ated sources. The enclosed table lists the areas, and counties within them , that the EPA is designating nonattainment.

I n te rn e t A dd ress (URL) • h ttp ://www
. e pa . gov Recyc l ed/ Rec y c l a bl e • Prin ted wit h Vegetable O i l Based I nks on 1 00% Postconsumer
. P rocess Chlori n e Free Recycled PaperBecause air quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete , if a state or tribe requests it, the EPA will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fine particle m onitoring data for 2012 - 2014.lfyou would like the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your state, please subm i t to the EPA , complete ,

quali t y-ass ured a nd certified air quality data for 2014 by Feb ruary 27, 2015. The EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle pollution levels. Effort s b y s tate s and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 fin e particle pollution st a ndard s a re already workin g t o r e duc e unhealth y le ve l s o f fin e particle pollution. In addition , current and upcomin g federal standard s and safeguards , i ncluding p o llut i on reduction rule s f o r power plants , vehicl es and fuels will assur e s teady reductions of fine particle pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. Together, we have made considerable progress to reduce fine particle pollution. Nationwide, monitored levels of fine particle pollution have fa llen 34 percent since 2000 when we first began nationwide monitoring for particle s of thi s si z e. I am confid e nt this progress will continu e as we work together towards our shared goal of clean air. For additional information about the s e d es ignations , please v isit our website at: www.epa.uov / pmdes i gnations .

If you have questions or concerns , please contact me or your staff may contact Mark Rupp, Deputy A ss ociate Administrator for Intergovernmental Relations, at rupp.mark'U 'c pa.gm or at (202) 564-7 1 78. Gina McCarthy Enclosure

### Enclosure- Initial Nonattainment Area Designations for the 2012 Annual Fine Particle Standard, Kentucky

State Area Name 2014 EPA Designated Nonattainment Counties Boone, KY (p) 

### Cincinnati-Hamilton, O H- KY Campbell , KY (p) 

### KY Kenton, KY (p) Louisvill e , KY-IN Bullitt, KY (p) Jefferson, KY (p) partial county