UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4

The Honorable Steve Beshear Governor ofKentucky 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1 00 Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Dear GovernorBeshear: ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303·8960 

# AUG 1 92014

Thank you for the letter dated December5, 2013, from Leonard K. Peters, Secretary, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, providing your recommendations ofair quality designations for the 2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) throughout Kentucky. I appreciate the information Kentucky shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary response to Kentucky's recommendation and to inform you ofourapproach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PM2.s standard.
On December 14,2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2.sNAAQS (78 FR3086, January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J.Lg/m3) to 12.0 J.lg/m 3 ; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.5 standard at 35 Jlg/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hourPMw(coarse particle) standard at 150 J.lg/m3; and retained the current suite ofsecondary PM standards. TheEPA revised the primary annual PM2

.s standard based on an integrated assessment ofan extensive body ofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens ourbody ofknowledge regarding PM2

.s-related health effects. The revised primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increased protection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existing heart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array ofPM2.s-related adverse health effects, including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation ofchronic respiratory disease. History shows us that better health and cleaner airgo hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementingthe standards using a commonsense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. As part of this routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas inthe country that meet the standards and those thatneedto take steps to reduce PM2

.s airpollution. Within one year of promulgating a neworrevised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the Governor of each state to submit to the EPA a list ofall areas in the state, with a designation recommendation for each area. As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PM2.s standard, Governors were to submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by December 13, 2013.
As required by the CAA, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" ifit is violating the 2012 annual PM2

.s NAAQS orifit is contributing to a violation oftheNAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Basad Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)

### PM2

.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of''unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors, butfor which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attaining the NAAQS and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on available information whetherthe area is meeting the NAAQS orwhere EPA has not determined that the area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations for most areas using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data for most areas from 2011 to 2013.
After considering Kentucky's December 5, 2013, annual PM2.s designation recommendations and other relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air quality data, the EPA intends to modify Kentucky's recommended area designation from attainment or attainment/unclassifiable to nonattainment for portions ofBoone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties in the Northern Kentucky area and for Jefferson County and aportionofBullitt County in the Louisville area ATechnical Support Document, which provides a detailed analysis to supportthe EPA's preliminary decision to designate the aforementioned areas as nonattainment, is enclosed and is also available on the EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2012standards/state.htm

. The EPA will continue to work with Commonwealth officials regarding the appropriate boundaries for these areas in 

### Kentucky

. IfKentucky has additional information for the EPA to consider, please submit it to us by October 29, 2014

. The EPA intends to designate all other areas in the Commonwealth as unclassifiable/attainment.
The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly in the Federal Register. Afterconsidering the additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in Decemberof2014.
The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing PM2

. s airpollution

. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards

- including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2

.s-forming pollution and will protectpublic health i n communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implement the 2012 annual PM2

### s standard

. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (404) 562-8357, or Beverly H. Banister, Director, Air Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, at (404) 562-9077, or have your staffcontact Scott Davis, Chief, Air Planning Branch, at (404) 562-9127. Sincerely,

# Iff£:~ Regional Administrator

cc; Leonard K. Peters, Secretary, KEEC Sean Alteri, Director, Kentucky Department ofAir Quality Janet G. McCabe, Acting AssistantAdministrator for Air and Radiation St

ephen D. Page, Director , Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards