UNITEDSTATESENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONAGENCYREGION4TheHonorablePatMcCroryGovernorofNorthCarolinaOfficeoftheGovernor20301MailServiceCenterRaleigh,NorthCarolina27699-0301DearGovernorMcCrory:ATLANTAFEDERALCENTER61FORSYTHSTREETATLANTA,GEORGIA30303-8960AUG192014ThankyoufortheletterdatedDecember13,2013,fromJohnSkvarla,ill,Secretary,NorthCarolinaDepartmentofEnvironmentandNaturalResources(NCDENR),providingyourrecommendationsofairqualitydesignationsforthe2012revisedprimaryannualfineparticle(PM2.s)NationalAmbientAirQualityStandard(NAAQS)throughoutNorthCarolina.IappreciatetheinformationNorthCarolinasharedwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyaswemoveforwardtoimprovePM2.sairquality.ThisletteristonotifyyouoftheEPA'spreliminaryresponsetoNorthCarolina'srecommendationandtoinformyouofourapproachforcompletingtheinitialareadesignationsforthe2012revisedprimaryannualPM2.sstandard.OnDecember14,2012,theEPApromulgatedarevisedprimaryannualPM2.sNAAQS(78FR3086,January15,2013).Inthataction,theEPArevisedtheprimaryannualPM2.sstandard,strengtheningitfrom15.0microgramspercubicmeter(J.Lg/m3)to12.0J.Lg/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM2.sstandardat35J.Lg/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM1o(coarseparticle)standardat150J.Lg/m3;andretainedthecurrentsuiteofsecondaryPMstandards.TheEPArevisedtheprimaryannualPM2.sstandardbasedonanintegratedassessmentofanextensivebodyofnewscientificevidence,whichsubstantiallystrengthensourbodyofknowledgeregardingPM2.s-relatedhealtheffects.TherevisedprimaryannualPM2.sstandardwillprovideincreased protectionforchildren,olderadults,personswithpre-existingheartandlungdisease,andotherat-riskpopulationsagainstanarrayofPM2.s-relatedadversehealtheffects,includingprematuremortality,increasedhospitaladmissionsandemergencydepartmentvisits,anddevelopmentandexacerbationofchronicrespiratorydisease.Historyshowsusthatbetterhealthand cleanerairgohand-in-handwitheconomicgrowth.Workingcloselywiththestatesandtribes,theEPAisimplementingthestandardsusingacommonsenseapproachthatimprovesairqualityandminimizestheburdenonstate,local,andtribalgovernments.Aspartofthisroutineprocess,theEPAisworkingwiththestatesandtribestoidentifyareasinthecountrythatmeetthestandardsandthosethatneedtotakestepstoreducePM2.sairpollution.Withinoneyearofpromulgatinganeworrevisedairqualitystandard,theCleanAirAct(CAA)requirestheGovernorofeachstatetosubmittotheEPAalistofallareasinthestate,withadesignationrecommendationforeacharea.Asafirststepinimplementingthe2012annualPM2.sstandard,Governorsweretosubmittheirdesignationrecommendations,includingappropriateareaboundaries,byDecember13,2013.InternetAddress(URL)•http://www.epa.govRecyled/Recyclable•PrintedwithVegetableOilBasedInksonRecycledPaper(Minimum30%Postc:onsumer)AsrequiredbytheCAA,theEPAthenpromulgatesdesignationsforallareasacrossthecountry.TheEPAdesignatesanareaas"nonattainment"ifitisviolatingthe2012annualPM2.sNAAQSorifitiscontributingtoaviolationoftheNAAQSinanearbyarea.ConsistentwithdesignationsforpreviousPM2.sstandards,theEPAintendstouseadesignationcategoryof''unclassifiable/attainm.ent"forareasthataremonitoringattainmentordonothavemonitors,butforwhichtheEPAhasreasontobelievearelikelyattainmentandarenotcontributingtonearbyviolations.Additionally,theEPAintendstodesignateas"unclassifiable"thoseareaswheretheEPAcannotdeterminebasedonavailableinformationwhethertheareaismeetingtheNAAQSorwheretheEPAhasnotdeterminedthattheareacontributestoanearbyviolation.Atthistime,theEPAisproceedingwithintendedinitialareadesignationsusingquality-assured,certifiedairqualitymonitoringdatafrom2011to2013.TheEPAhasconsideredtheannualPM2.sdesignationrecommendationssubmittedbyNorthCarolinaonDecember13,2013,andhasreviewedtherelevanttechnicalinformation,including2011-2013airqualitydata.Thisdatadoesnotindicateanyviolationofthe2012annualPM2.sNAAQSinNorthCarolinaorcontributiontoanynearbyarea.Accordingly,theEPAintendstodesignatetheentirestateofNorthCarolinaasunclassifiable/attainment.TheEPAwillmakeitspreliminarydesignationdecisionsandsupportingdocumentationavailabletothegeneralpublicforreviewandcomment.Wewillbeannouncinga30-daypubliccommentperiodshortlyintheFederalRegister.Afterconsideringtheadditionalinformationwereceive,theEPAplanstopromulgatefinalannualPM2.sdesignationsinDecemberof2014.TheEPAiscommittedtoworkingwiththestatesandtribestosharetheresponsibilityofreducingPMz.sairpollution.Currentandupcomingfederalstandardsandsafeguards-includingpollutionreductionrulesforpowerplants,vehicles,andfuels-willensuresteadyprogress toreducePM2.sfonningpollutionandwillprotectpublichealthincommunitiesacrossthecountry.Welookforwardtoacontinueddialoguewithyouandyourstaffasweworktogethertoimplementthe2012annualPM2.sstandard.Shouldyouhaveanyquestions,pleasedonothesitatetocontactme,orBeverly H.Banister,DirectorJAirPesticidesandToxicsManagementDivision,at(404)562-9077,orhaveyourstaffcontactScottDavis,Chief,AirPlanningBranch,at(404)562-9127.Sincerely,RegionalAdministratorcc:JohnSkvarla,ill,Secretary,NCDENRSheilaHolman,Director,DivisionofAirQuality,NCDENRJanetG.McCabe,ActingAssistantAdministratorforAirandRadiationStephenD.Page,Director,OfficeofAirQualityPlanningandStandards