UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON , D.C. 20460

The Honorable David Ige Governor of Hawaii Executive Chambers, State Capitol Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Dear Governor Ige: 

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. T HE AD M IN I STRATOR

I am writing to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent action to address fine particle pollution in your state. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient air quality standards for fine particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations of the standard. On December 14, 2012, the EPA strengthened the annual, health-based fine particle standard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (Jlg/m3) to 12. 0 Jlg/m3

. Thousands of scientific studies have linked exposure to these tiny particle s-approximately 1130th the size of a human hair

- with serious human health problems including premature death in people with heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks , and increased ho spital admissions and doctor and emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the information your predecessor and your state staff have shared with the EPA throughout thi s process to assess fine particle pollution levels in communities across your state and the impact of emission sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air. After considering your state's recommendations, reviewing the most recent certified fine particle air quality data for your state and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels of fine particle pollution, I have determined that no area within Hawaii violates the 2012 standard or contributes to a nea rby violation of the standard. As a result, the EPA is designating all of Hawaii "unclassifiable /attainment." Because air quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete, if a state or tribe requests it , the EPA will evaluate the sta tus of an area based on its annual fine particle monitoring data for 2012-2014. If you would like the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your state, please submit to the EPA, complete, quality-assured and certified air quality data for 20 14 by February 27,2015
. The EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle pollution levels. Efforts by sta tes and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 fine particle pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels of fine particle pollution. In addition, current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels will assure steady reductions of fine particle pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country.

I n ternet Add re ss ( URL) • http : /lwww
.epa .gov Recyc l ed/Recyclable • Pri n ted wit h Vegetable O i l Based I nks o n 100% Postco n sumer, Process Chlori n e F ree Recycled Pape rTogether , we have made cons id erable progress to reduce fine particle po ll ution. Nationw ide , monitored levels of fine particle pollution fell 34 percent si n ce 2000 when we first began nationwide mo ni tori ng for particle s of this s i ze. I am confide n t this progress will accelerate as together we conti nu e to work towards our shared goal of clean air. For additional ipformat i on about these designations , please visit our webs i te at: www.epa.gov / pmdesignations .

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me or your staff may contact Mark Rupp, Deputy Associate Administrator for Intergovernmental Relations , at rupp.mark @e pa.gov or at (202) 564-7178. S in cerely,