UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX

The Honorable Neil Abercrombie Executive Chambers, State Capitol Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Dear Governor Abercrombie: 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105·3901



## AUG 1 9 2014 OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Thank you for your recommendation, dated November 18,2013, ofair quality designations for the 2012 annual fine particle National Ambient Air Quality Standard (2012 annual 

### PMz.s NAAQS) throughout Hawaii. This letter is to notify you ofthe U
.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) preliminary response to Hawaii's recommendation and to inform you ofour approach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 annual 

### PMz.s NAAQS. The EPA agrees with your recommendation
. We have considered the annual 

### PMz
.sdesignation recommendation submitted by Hawaii on November 18,2013 and have reviewed the relevant technical information, including 20U-2013 air quality data
. These data do not indicate any violation ofthe 2012 ammal 

### PMz.s NAAQS in Hawaii or contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state ofHawaii as unclassifiable/attainment. This intended unclassifiable/attainment designation includes the EPA's review and concurrence of submitted exceptional event claims. On July 10, 2014, the EPA approved as exceptional events due to volcanic emissions 268 exceedances ofthe 2012 annual 

### PMz
.sNAAQS that occurred at the Kona monitoring station from 2011 through 2013. See letter from Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, U.S
.EPA Region 9 to NolanHirai, Manager, CleanAir Branch, Hawaii Department ofHealth, dated July 10, 2014. The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly in the Federal Register. After considering the additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final annual 

### PMz.s designations in Decemoer of2014. As background, on December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual 

### PMz
.sNAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J.lg/m3) to 12.0 jlg/m3; retained the existing 24- hour PM2.s standard at 35 jlg/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hom' PM10 (coarse particle) standard at 150 jlg/m3; and retained the current suite ofsecondary PM standards
.The EPA revised the primary annual 

### PMz.s standard based on an integrated assessment ofan extensive body ofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens ourbody ofknowledge regarding PM2.s-related health effects. The revised primary mmual PM2.s standard will provide increasedprotection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existing heart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array ofPM2.s-related

Printed on Recycled Paperadverse health effects, includingpremature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation ofchronic respiratory disease. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" ifit is violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS or ifit is contributing to a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of"unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors, and that the EPA has reason to believe are likely attainment and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on available information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS orwhere the EPA has not determined that the area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013. The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing PM2 .5 air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollutionreduction rules for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2.s-forming pollution and will protectpublic health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work togetherto implement the 2012 annual PM2 .5 NAAQS. Should you have any questions, please contact me, or have your staffcontact DeborahJordan ofmy staffat 415-947-8715, orjordan.deborah@epa.gov. Sincerely,

cc: Dr. LindaM. Rosen, Director ofHealth, Hawaii Department ofHealth Gary L. Gill, Deputy Director, Hawaii Department ofHealth 

# ..

Stumi Yamada, P.E., Chief, Environmental ManagementDivision, Hawaii Department ofHealth (via email) Nolan Hirai, Manager, Clean Air Branch, Hawaii Department ofHealth