IlliNOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

1021 North Grand Avenue East, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276 ~ {217) 782-2829 

Jarnes R. Thompson Center, 100 Wesl Randolph, Suite 11-300, Chicago, JL 60601 0 {J12) 814-6026 

217/782-7326 

217/782-9143 (TDD) 

October 15, 2010 

PAT QUINN, GOVERNOR 

Dr. Susan Hedman, Regional Administrator 

Office of the Regional Administrator, R-19J 

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 

77 West Jackson Boulevard 

Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507 

Re: PM2.5 Redesignation Request for Chicago 

Dear Dr. Hedman: 

DOUGLAS P. ScoTT, DIRECTOR 

OCT 2 5 

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The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), on behalf of the State of Illinois, 

hereby requests that the Illinois portion of the Chicago PM25 non attainment area (NAA) be 

redesignated to attainment ofthe PM2.s National Ambient Air Quality Staodard (NAAQS) 

promulgated in 1997. The Chicago portion of the PM25 NAA consists of Cook, DuPage, Kane, 

Lake, McHenry and Will counties, as well as Aux Sable and Goose Lake Townships in Gnmdy 

County and Oswego Township in Kendall County. The Illinois EPA understands that the State of 

Indiana has already submitted a similar redesignation request for the Indiana portion of the NAA. 

Ambient air monitoring data collected by the Illinois EPA in the Chicago area from 2007 

through 2009, as well as data collected in Indiana during the same 3-year period, demonstrates 

that the entire Chicago NAA is currently meeting the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. In fact, in November 

2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published its determination that the 

entire Chicago NAA attains the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition to demonstrating that air 

quality in the Chicago NAA attains the NAAQS, the Chicago area has met all of the relevant 

requirements under Section 107, Section II 0, and Part D of the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

The Illinois EPA }H;r,~by submits a Maintenance Plan for the Chicago PM2.5 nonattainment area 

pursuant to Sections 107(d)(3)(E), 110(a)(2), and 175A of the CAA. Also included are 

attainment year 2008 and Maintenance Plan year 2025 motor vehicle emissions budgets 

developed using the MOBILE6 model. The Maintenance Plan SIP submittal and the motor 

vehicle emissions budgets are required as part of the Illinois EPA's redesignation request The 

Maintenance Plan provides the supporting information for this request, consistent with the 

criteria for redesig1mtion set forth in Section 175A of the CAA. 

The Maintenance Plan constitutes a revision of the Illinois' State Implementation Plan (SIP) for 

PM25. Accordingly, the Illinois EPA held a public hearing in Chicago on July 14, 2010, to 

accept comments on the draft Maintenance Plan. Comments were accepted for an additional30 

days after the hearing. The Illinois EPA's responses to comments received are included with this 

submittaL 

Rockford "' 410:1 )\1. Main St., Rockford, I L 611 03 '" (8 J S) 987·77h0 

Elgin" 595 5. Stale, Elgin, II_ 60123 "{IJ47) 603-3131 

Bureau of land- Peoria~ 7620 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61614" (309) 693-5~62 

Collinsville,. 2009 Mall Street, Collinsville, IL 62234 0 (61 8) 346-5120 

1 

Des !"lai111~o" 9511 W. !Iarrison St., Des Pli!ines, ll 60016 "{847) 294-4000 

Peoria"' 5415 N. Univ~rsity St., Peoria, IL 61614" {:!09) 693-5463 

Ch;unpaign o 2125 S. fir;;! St., Champaign, IL h Hl20 e (217) 273 .. 5300 

lvhrion ~ 1J09 _w. Main St., Suite 116, M;,rion, IL 62959 ~ (6 113) 993-7200 

Prinitd on Rcr'ycb:l Pa[lCI 
In order to assist with your review of the Chicago Maintenance Plan SIP submittal, the Illinois 

EPA has included the following documents: 

Attachment 1) 

Attachment 2) 

Attachment 3) 

Attachment 4) 

Attachment 5) 

Attachment 6) 

Draft Maintenance Plan for the Chicago Nonattainment Area for the 1997 

PM25 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, AQPSTR 10-05, Illinois 

EPA, June 1,2010. 

Notice of Public Hearing, June 11, 2010. 

Public Hearing Sign-in Sheet. 

Transcript of Public Hearing held on July 14, 2010. 

Responsiveness Summary for Comments Received from the Public 

Hearing for the Draft Maintenance Plan related to the 1997 PM2.s National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and its Associated Draft Motor 

Vehicle Emissions Budgets for the Chicago N onattainment Area. 

Final Maintenance Plan for the Chicago N onattainment Area for the 1997 

PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, AQPSTR 10-05, lllinois 

EPA, September 7, 2010. 

Illinois EPA believes that this submittal will allow the U.S. EPA to expeditiously take the 

necessary actions to redesignate the Chicago area to attainment for the 1997 PM2.s NAAQS. If 

further information is required or should you have any questions, please feel free to contact 

Laurel L. Kroack, Chief of the Bureau of Air. 

Very truly yours, 

JL'!RiJcJ£1-

Douglas'P. Scott 

Director 

Attachments 

cc: Cheryl L. Newton, U.S. EPA Region 5 

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