UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 4 

The Honorable Nathan Deal 

Governor of Georgia 

203 State Capitol 

Atlanta, Georgia 30334 

Dear Governor Deal: 

ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 

61 FORSYTH STREET 

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960 

FEB 1 6 2016 

Thank you for your updated recommendations, submitted on behalf of you by Judson H. Turner, 

Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), dated September 17, 2015, on air 

quality designations for the State of Georgia for the 2010 revision to the primary National Ambient Air 

Quality Standard (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (S0 2). Reducing levels of S02 pollution is an important 

part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's commitment to a clean, healthy environment. 

Exposure to S02 can cause a range of adverse health effects, including narrowing of the airways which 

can cause difficulty breathing and increased asthma symptoms. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA's 

preliminary intentions regarding your recommended designations. 

On June 3, 2010, the EPA strengthened the health-based or "primary" standard for S02 by establishing a 

standard for 1-hour average S02 concentrations at a level of 75 parts per billion. Within I year after a 

new or revised standard is established, the Clean Air Act requires the Governor of each state to submit 

to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the 

standard. Through an interactive process, the EPA considers the recommendations and then promulgates 

designations for all areas across the country. On July 25, 2013, the EPA designated 29 areas in 16 states 

as nonattainment, but did not at that time designate other areas. Pursuant to a March 2, 20 15, courtordered schedule, 

1 the EPA must complete the remaining S02 designations by three specific deadlines: 

July 2, 2016, December 31 , 2017, and December 31, 2020. 

This current round of designations, to be completed by July 2, 2016, addresses two groups of areas: (1) 

areas that have newly monitored violations of the 20 I 0 S0 2 NAAQS based on the most recent three 

calendar years of certified monitored ambient air quality data, and (2) areas that contain any stationary 

source that had not been announced as of March 2, 20 15, for retirement and that according to the EPA's 

Air Markets Database emitted in 20 12 either: (i) more than 16,000 tons of S02 or (ii) more than 2,600 

tons ofS02 with an annual average emission rate of at least 0.45 pounds ofS02/mmBTU. 

1 Sierra Club v. McCarthy, No. 3-13-cv-3953 (SI) (N.D. Cal. Mar. 2, 20 15). 

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov 

Recyled/Recyclable • Pnnlod with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer) 
After carefully considering Georgia's recommendations and other available technical information, the 

EPA intends to designate as unclassifiable/attainment the following area, including the following 

counties or portions of counties: 

Intended U nclassifiable/ Attainment 

Area 

Juliette, GA Area* 

Intended Unclassi fiable/ Attainment 

Area Counties 

Butts 

Cra~rford 

Jasper 

Jones 

Lamar 

Monroe 

Upson 

The asterisk (*) indicates the boundary for this intended unclassifiable/attainment area represents a 

modification to the boundary that you have recommended. 

Based on ambient air qual ity data collected between 2012 and 2014 indicating a violation of the 20 I 0 

S02 NAAQS, the EPA initially identified Chatham County in Georgia as an area that would potentially 

create the obligation for us to designate by July 2, 2016. The consent decree directs the EPA to evaluate 

data collected for the most recent 3 years (i.e., between 2013 and 2015), and Georgia has submitted to 

the EPA complete, quality assured, and certified data for calendar year 2015 for Chatham County 

indicating compliance with the 2010 S02 NAAQS. As a result, Chatham County is no longer subj ect to 

the July 2, 2016, deadline under the consent decree, and the EPA intends to designate this area by either 

December 3 1, 2017, or December 31 , 2020. 

The enclosed Technical Support Document provides a detailed analysis that supports our intended 

designation decisions. If your State has additional information that the EPA should consider prior to 

finalizing these designations, please submit it to us by April 19, 2016. We also will be publishing a 

notice in the Federal Register announcing a 30-day period for the public to provide input on the EPA's 

intended designation decisions. We will promulgate the designation for this area by July 2, 201 6. We 

will designate all other previously undesignated areas in the State on a schedule consistent with the 

prescribed timing of the court order, i.e., by December 31, 201 7, or December 31, 2020. 

We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to complete the 

area designations and implement the 20 I 0 primary S02 standard. For additional information regarding 

designations under the S02 standard, please visit our website at www.epa.gov/so2designations. Should 

you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me, or have your staff contact Beverly H. Banister, 

Director, Air, Pesticides and Taxies Management Division at (404) 562-9070 or 

banister. beverlv(ci),epa. gov. 

rAY 

H

Reg

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McTeer 

Admini

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~ 
Enclosure 

cc: Judson H. Turner 

Director, GA EPD 

Karen Hays 

Chief, GA EPD, Air Protection Branch 

Janet G. McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation 

Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards