UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 4 

The Honorable Pat McCrory 

Office ofthe Governor 

20301 Mail Service Center 

Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-030 I 

Dear Governor McCrory: 

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 Donald R. van der Vaart, 

Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), dated September I8, 

2015, on air quality designations for the State of North Carolina for the 2010 revision to the primary 

National Ambi.ent 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 of the EPA's preliminary intentions regarding your recommended designations. 

On June 3, 2010, the EPA strengthened the health-based or "primary" standard for S0 2 by establishing a 

standard for !-hour average S02 concentrations at a level of 75 parts per billion. Within 1 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 I6 states 

as nonattainment, but did not at that time designate other areas. Pursuant to a March 2, 2015, courtordered schedule, 

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

July 2, 2016, December 31 , 20 17, and December 3 1, 2020. 

This current round of designations, to be completed by July 2, 20 16, addresses two groups of areas: (I) 

areas that have newly monitored violations of the 20 I 0 S02 NAAQS based on the most recent tlu·ee 

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 2012 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. 3-1 3-cv-3953 (SI) (N.D. Cal. Mar. 2, 2015). 

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

Recyled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Monimum 30% Postconsumer) 
After carefully considering North Carolina's recommendations and other available technical 

information, the EPA intends to designate as unclassi fiable/attainment the following areas, including the 

following counties or portions of counties: 

Intended Unclassifiable/ Attainment 

Area 

Brunswick County, NC* 

Intended Unclassifiable/ Attainment 

Area Counties 

Brunswick County, NC (p) 

(p) indicates portion of county 

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

modification to the boundary that you have recommended. 

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, 20 16. 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, 2016. 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 3 1, 2017, 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/s-o2designations. Should 

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

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

banister.beverly@epa.e:ov. 

Enclosure 

cc: Donald R. van der Yaart 

Secretary, NC DEQ 

Sheila olman 

Director, North Carolina Division of Air Quality 

Sincerely, 

~y H

Reg

eather 

ional 

McTee

Admini

r Toney 

strator 

~ 

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

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