SUN-12-2009 09:16 US EPA

JAMES H. DOUGLAS

GOVERNOR

State of Vermont

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

June 4, 2009

Mr. Ira W. Leighton

Acting Regional Administrator

EPA New England, Region 1

I Congress Street

Suite I100

Boston, MA 02114-2023

617 918 1505 P.01

Re: VERMONT DESIGNATIONS FOR THE 2008 REVISED OZONE

NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

Dear Mr. Leighton:

In accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) pertaining to

area designations for the 2008 revised ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

(NAAQS), we are pleased to recommend that the State of Vermont be designated as

'attainment/unclassifiable for the both the primary and secondary ozone NAAQS. This

fulfills our obligation to identify areas in Vermont that have ozone concentrations above

the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 8-hour primary and secondary standards

which were promulgated on March 12, 2008.

The State of Vermont has used ozone data from for 2005-2007 from sites located

in Bennington and Chittenden counties, in the towns of Bennington and Underhill,

respectively. These monitoring locations effectively span the state in a north/south

direction. The attached tables summarize the data and show that both ofthese monitoring

locations currently attain the 8-hour ozone primary and secondary NAAQS. Regional

concentration patterns for monitored ozone lend support to our belief that all other

counties in Vermont similarly meet the ozone standards.

In addition, I would like to reemphasize that Vermont's attainment status is

precarious given ozone's regionally episodic nature and the proven transport of ozone

precursors from regions upwind regions. We strongly believe that maintenance of our

attainment status depends on the equitable implementation of control measures on

sources of ozone-forming precursor emissions in the eastern half of the US.

Vermont is committed to working with states in the Ozone Transport Region

(OTR) on regional control strategies. However, evidence is strong that transport of ozone

precursors does not stop at the OTR borders. More broadly applicable measures for, at

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SUN-12-2009 09:16 US EPA

Mr. Ira W. Leighton

June 4, 2009

Page 2

617 918 1505 P.02

least the eastern half of the US, are needed to achieve the comprehensive emission

reductions, of nitrogen oxides in particular, that will eliminate the current widespread

non-attainment of ozone standards and the resulting toll on human health.

Sincerely,

cc: David Conroy, Air Programs Branch (EPA Region 1)

Anne Arnold, Air Quality Unit (EPA Region l)

Enclosures
SUN-12-2009 09:16 US EPA 617 918 1505 P.03

STATE. OF VERMONT

AREA DESIGNATIONS UNDER CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA) SECTION 107(D)

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OZONE N.A.AQS

---------------DESIGNATIONS ----------

POLLUTANT DESIGNATED

AREA

COTINTY

NONATTAINMENTATTAINMENT/

UNCLASSIFIABLE

8-hour ozone State of

Vermont

X

8-hour ozone Addison X

8-hour ozone Bennington X

8-hour ozone Caledonia X

8-hour ozone Chittenden X

8-hour ozone Essex X

8-hour ozone Frankin X

8-hour ozone Grand Isle X

8-hour ozone Lamoille X

8-hour ozone Orange X

8-hour ozone Orleans X

8-hour ozone Rutland X

8-hour ozone Washington X

8-hour ozone Windham X

8-hour ozone Windsor X
SUN-12-2009 09:17 US EPA 617 918 1505 P.04

Vermont Primary and Secondary Ozone Compliance Data

----------Bennington---------- ----------Underhill----------

Annual 4th Annual 4th

maximum Truncated 3 maximum Truncated 3

daily year average daily year average

maximum of annual 4th maximum of annual 4th

Year average maximum (average maximum

------------------------- (ppm)4-----------------------

1987 0.083 ii

1988 . 0.102

1989 0.082 0.089 0.070

1990 0.086 0.090 0.072

1991 0.093 0.087 0.080 0.074

1992 0.081 0.086 11 0.086 0.079

1993 6.082 0.085 0.076 0.080

1994 0.081 0.081 0.075 0.079

1995 0.078 0.080 0.074 0.075

1996 0.079 0.079 0.065 0.071

1997 0.082 0.079 „0.072 0.070

1998 0.075 0.078 10.073 0.070

1999 0.083 0.080 0.079 0.074

2000 0.071 0.076 0.071 0.074

2001 0.083 0.079 0.076 0.075

2002 0.086 0.080 0.084 0.077

2003 0.073 0.080 0.074 0.078

2004 0.074 0.077 10.071 0.076

2005 0.073 0.073 10.069 0.071

2006 0.068 0.071 10.065 0.068

j 2007 0.077 , 0.077

The 2008 primary and secondary ozone NAAAQS is 0.075 ppm. For

the 2008 attainment designation (2005-2007), Vermont is in attainment

for the primary and secondary ozone NAAQS.

TOTAL P.04