UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

OFFICE OFTHE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## DEC 0 9 2011

The Honorable Togiola T.A. Tulafono Territory ofAmerican Samoa AP. Lutali Executive Office Building Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 Dear Governor Tulafono: Thepurpose ofthis letter is to notifyyou ofthe U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency'spreliminary decision to designate the Territory ofAmerican Samoaas unclassifiable/attainment for the revised 2008 ozoneNational Ambient Air Quality Standards, and to inform you ofour approach for completing the designations for the revised ozone NAAQS. OnMarch 12,2008, the EPArevised its NAAQS for ground-level ozone to provide increased protection ofpublichealth and the environment. TheEPA lowered the primary 8-hour ozone standard from 0.08 partspermillion (ppm) to 0.075 ppm to protect against health effects associated with ozone exposure, including a range ofserious respiratory illnesses and increasedpremature death from heart or lung disease. The EPArevised the secondary 8-hour ozone standard, making it identical to the primary standard, to protect against welfare effects, including impacts on sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems. History shows us that betterhealth and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closelywiththe states and tribes, the EPAis implementingthe standardsusing a common sense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state and local governments. As part ofthis routineprocess, EPA is working with the states to identify areas in the countrythat meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce ozonepollution. Within one year after a new or revised airquality standard is established, the CleanAir Actrequires the Governor ofeach state to submitto the EPA a list ofall areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the standard. As a first step in implementingthe 2008 ozone standards, the EPA asked statesto submittheir designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by March 12,2009. 

### In September 2009, the EPA announced it was reconsidering the 2008 ozone standards. The EPA later took steps to delay the designation process for the 2008 ozone standards pending outcome ofthe reconsideration. However, in September 2011, the Office ofManagement and Budgetreturned to EPA the draft final rule addressing the reconsideration ofthe 2008 standards. On September 22, 2011, the EPA restarted the implementation effort by issuing a memorandum to clarify for state and local agencies the status ofthe 2008 ozone standards and to outline plans for moving forward to implementthem. The EPA indicated that it would proceed with initial area designations for the 2008 standards, and planned to use the recommendations states made in 2009 as updated by the most current, certified air quality data from 2008­

Printed on RecycledPaper2010. While the EPA did not request that states submit updated designation recommendations, the EPA provided the opportunity for states to do so. As required bythe Clean AirAct, the EPA will designate an area as nonattainmentifit is violating the 2008 ozone standards or contributingto a violation ofthe standards in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous ozone standards, the EPA intends to designate an area as unclassifiable/attainment ifthere are certified, quality-assured air quality monitoring data showing the area is meeting the ozone standards orthere are no monitoring data for the area, and the EPA has not made a detennination that the area is contributing to a violation in anearby area. The Territory ofAmerican Samoa did not provide EPA with a recommendation for ozone designations. Nevertheless, we would like to infonn you that the EPA intends to designate the Territory ofAmerican Samoa as unclassifiable/attainment. The EPA will also make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 3D-day public commentperiod shortly in the 

### FederalRegister. Afterconsidering additional infonnation we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final ozone designations in the spring of2012. The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing ozone airpollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules for powerplants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steadyprogress to reduce ozonefonning pollution and will protectpublic health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implementthe 2008 ozone standards. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me orAmyZimpfer, Associate Director, Air Division, ofmy staffat 415-947-4146 orzimpfer.amy@epa.go Sincerely, 

# h

Jared Blumenfeld

cc: To'afa Vaiage'e, Director, American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency Faamao Asalele, Jr., Assistant Director, American SamoaEnvironmental Protection Agency GinaMcCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director, Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards