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

The Honorable Earl Ray Tomblin Governor of West Virgini a 1900 Kanawha Boulevard , East Charleston, West Virg i nia 25305 Dear Governor Tomblin: 

# ..DEC l 8 201 4
THE ADMINISTRATOR

I am writing to summarize the U.S. Env ironmental Protection Agency's recent action to address fine particle pollution in your state. As required by th e Clean Air Act, the EPA h as determined which areas are meeting the national ambient air quality standards for fine particle pollution and w hi ch areas must take steps to reduce emiss i ons that contribute to vio l ati ons of the standard
. On December 14, 20 12, the EPA st rengthened the annual, health -based fine particl e s tandard from 1 5
. 0 micrograms per cubic meter (IJ.g/m 3) to 1 2.0 IJ.g/m3

. Thousands of sc i entific stud ies have linked exposure to these t iny particles-approximately 1130th the size of a human h air-with serious human health problems includi ng premature death in peop le with h ea rt and lung d i sease, nonfata l heart attacks, and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular d i sease . I appreciate the information you and your s taff have shared with the EPA throughout this process to assess fine particle po ll ution levels in communities across your state and the i mpact of emiss ion sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air. After considering your recommendations, reviewing the mos t recent certified fi n e particle air quality data fo r your state and evaluatin g facto r s to assess contributi on to nearby levels of fme particle pollution, I have determined that no area within West Virginia violates the 2012 standard or contribu tes to a nearby vio l ati on of the s tandard. As a result, the EPA is des i gnati ng all of West Virg i nia "unc l ass ifiab le/attai nment." Because ai r quality monitoring for 2014 is nearl y comp lete, if a state or tribe requests it, the EPA will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fine particle monitoring data for 2012-2014. If you wou ld like the EPA to re -eva luate any areas withi n your state , please submit to the EPA , complete, quality

- assured and certified air quality data for 2014 by February 27 , 2015
. The EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle pollution leve ls. Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1 997 and 2006 fine particl e pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels of fine particle pollution. In addition , current and upcoming federal stand ards and safeguards, in cluding po ll ution reduction rules for power p l ants, vehicles and fuels will assure s teady reductions of fine particle pollution and will protect public health in communities across th e country.

Internet Address (URL) • h ttp ://www
. epa . gov Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable O il Based I nks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Chlori ne Free Recycled PaperTogether , we ha ve made co n s id e r able p r ogress to reduce fine particle poll ut ion. Nationwide, monitored le vels of fine particle pollution fe ll 34 pe r ce n t since 2000 when we first began nationwide monito rin g for part icl es of this size. I am confident this progress will accelerate as together w e con t inue t o work towa r ds our s h ared goa l of clea n air. F or addit io nal information about t hese designations, please v i s i t

our website at: www. epa . go v / pmde s ign a tion s .

If you h ave questions or concerns, please contact me or your staff may contact Mark Rupp, Deputy Associate Administrator for In tergove rnmental Relations, at rupp.mark @ epa . go v or at (202) 564-7178. · ncerely,**~**