### Fw: One for the O3 docket
Tricia Crabtree to: Tricia Crabtree 01/12/2010 04:39 PM

From: alexbalboa

_ us@yahoo.com To: Gina McCarthy/DC/USEPA/US@EPA Date: 01/08/2010 07:28 PM Subject: Concerns

Alex Balboa 1996 Waverly Drive Bel Air, MD 21015-1100

January 8, 2010

Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Rm. 6101A Washington, DC 20460

Assistant Administrator McCarthy:

I was reading the latest news media article "EPA proposes nation's strictest limits on smog Large segments of the U.S. would be over limit" (January 8, 2010) with great interest. Please review and implement an action plan to thoroughly address this extremely troubling issue. Media reports continue to underscore the alleged widespread and overwhelming levels of smog pollution throughout Harford County and/or the State of Maryland at all levels with little action to address this significant issue, despite strong documentation indicating such problems exist. Please contact the appropriate stakeholders/personnel to turnaround these growing issues and concerns. Please coordinate, collaborate and cooperate on Federal, State and/or local jurisdictional levels in addressing these concerns potentially impacting adversely public health, policy, finances, trust, confidence, ecosystem, environment and quality of life issues. Thank you for your time in this matter and hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Alex Balboa 1996 Waverly Drive Bel Air, MD 21015-1100

...The Environmental Protection Agency proposed the nation's strictest-ever smog limits Thursday, a move that could put large parts of the country in violation of federal air-quality regulations. ...The EPA proposed allowing a ground-level ozone concentration of 60 to 70 parts per billion, down from the 75 parts per billion standard adopted under President George W. Bush in 2008. ...Obama administration officials and environmental groups say the new standards align with the levels scientists say are needed to safeguard against increased respiratory diseases, particularly in children, and that they could eventually save $100 billion in heath costs. The EPA said compliance costs could be up to $90 billion nationwide. ...The EPA's proposal could lead to cleaner air in Maryland, where the Baltimore area once was considered second to Los Angeles as the smoggiest place in the country. Though air quality has improved greatly in recent years as a result of pollution controls imposed at the federal and state level, it is still worse in most of the state than what the EPA is considering as the new safety threshold for human health. ...A 65-ppb standard - the middle of the proposed range - wouldavert 1,700 to 5,100 premature deaths nationwide in 2 020

, c ompared with the 75-ppb standard, the EPA estimates. The agency says the stricter standard would prevent 26,000 more cases of aggravated asthma and more than 1 million days when people miss work or school. ...The EPA also proposed setting a "secondary standard" to protect plants and trees from repeated smog exposure during growing season, a move environmentalists said would boost national parks, forests and sensitive ecosystems. ...EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said the agency was "stepping up to protect Americans from one of the most persistent and widespread pollutants we face. ... Using the best science to strengthen these standards is a long overdue action that will help millions of Americans breathe easier and live healthier." ...Environmentalists praised the agency for proposing regulations that match the unanimous recommendations of an EPA science advisory committee. ..."We applaud EPA for listening to health professionals and scientists, and proposing a rule that provides real protection for millions of people," said Bruce Nilles, director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign. "This rule will help ensure that all major sources of pollution get cleaned up." ...Maryland counties over suggested limit Maryland counties where ozone levels were higher from 2006-2008 than the range of limits under consideration by the EPA: ...•Anne Arundel ...•Baltimore ...•Calvert ...•Carroll ...•Cecil ...•Charles ...•Frederick ...•Garrett ...•Harford ...•Kent ...•Montgomery ...•Prince George's ...•Washington ...Baltimore City's ozone levels exceeded the lower limit the EPA is considering, of 60 parts per billion, but were just under the higher limit of 70 parts per billion.

Sincerely,

Alex Balboa
4104200982

Alex Balboa sent this message via Congress.org, which uses the Capwiz·XC system. Congress.org is a free public service of Capitol Advantage and Knowlegis, LLC. You may access Congress.org here: http://congress.org