UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 2 

The Honorable John P. deJongh 1L 

Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands 

Governor House 

21-22 Kongens Gade 

Charlotte Amalie 

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802 

Dear Governor deJongh: 

290 BROADWAY 

NEWYORK, NY 10007-1866 

FEB - 6 2013 

Thank you for your recommendations of May 20 and December 23, 2011 and March 15, 2012 on air 

quality designations for the Virgin Islands for the 2010 revision to the primary National Ambient Air 

Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide (S02). Reducing levels of sulfur dioxide 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 S02 by establishing a 

standard for 1-hour average S02 concentrations at a level of 75 parts per billion. The Clean Air Act 

requires the EPA to complete the initial designations process within two years of promulgating a new or 

revised standard. If the Administrator has insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA 

has the authority to extend the designation process by up to one year. On July 27, 2012, the EPA 

announced that it had insufficient information to complete the designations for the 1-hour S02 standard 

within two years and extended the designations deadline to June 3, 2013. 

At this time the EPA is proceeding with designating as nonattainment most areas in locations where 

existing monitoring data from 2009-2011 indicate violations ofthe 1-hour S02 standard. The EPA 

intends to address the designations for all other areas in separate future actions. With input from a 

diverse group of stakeholders, EPA has developed a comprehensive implementation strategy for these 

future actions that focuses resources on identifying and addressing unhealthy levels of S02. The strategy 

is available at: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxide/implement.html. The EPA will continue to 

work closely with you and our other partners at the state, tribal and local levels to ensure healthprotective, common sense implementation of the 1-hour S02 standard. 

The EPA's review of the most recent monitored air quality data from 2009-2011 shows no violations of 

the 2010 S02 standard in any areas in the Virgin Islands. Consequently, the EPA is not yet prepared to 

propose designation action in the Virgin Islands and is therefore currently deferring action to designate 

areas in the Virgin Islands. The EPA expects to be able to proceed with designation action in the Virgin 

Islands once additional data are gathered pursuant to our comprehensive implementation strategy. 

In a separate future action or actions the EPA will notify you of our intended designations for these 

areas, and seek public comment on these actions, no later than 120 days prior to promulgating any final 

designations. 

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

Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 50% Postconsumer content) 
We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the 

201 0 primary S02 standard. For additional information regarding initial designations on the S02 

standard, please visit our website at www.epa.gov/so2designations. Should you have any questions, 

pi case do not hesitate to call me, or have your staff contact Richard Ruvo of my staff at 212-63 7-4014 or 

ruvo.richard@epa.gov. 

cc: Alicia V. Barnes, Commissioner 

Sincerely, 

\.k)~~· ~~..k- Judith A. Enck 

Regional Administrator 

Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources 

David Simon, Director 

Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources 

Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation 

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