The Honorable Pat McCrory 

Governor ofNorth Carolina 

Office of the Governor 

20301 Mail Service Center 

Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-0301 

Dear Governor McCrory: 

Thank you for the letter dated December 13, 2013, from John Skvarla, ill, Secretary, North Carolina 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), providing your recommendations of 

air quality designations for the 2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) throughout North Carolina. I appreciate the information North Carolina 

shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air 

quality. This letter is to notify you of the EPA's preliminary response to North Carolina's 

recommendation and to inform you of our approach 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.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, 

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/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.s 

standard at 35 J.Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM1o(coarse particle) standard at 150 J.Lg/m3; and 

retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s 

standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body of new scientific evidence, which 

substantially strengthens our body of knowledge 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 of chronic respiratory disease. 

History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working 

closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the 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 in the 

country that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s air pollution. Within 

one year of promulgating a new or revised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the 

Governor of each state to submit to the EPA a list of all 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. 

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov 

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As required by the CAA, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The 

EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS or if it is 

contributing to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous 

PM2.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of ''unclassifiable/attainm.ent" for areas 

that are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors, but for which the EPA has reason to believe 

are likely attainment 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 whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where the EPA has not determined that the 

area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area 

designations using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013. 

The EPA has considered the annual PM2.s designation recommendations submitted by North Carolina 

on December 13,2013, and has reviewed the relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air 

quality data. This data does not indicate any violation of the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS in North 

Carolina or contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state 

of North Carolina 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. After considering the additional information we receive, the EPA plans 

to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of 2014. 

The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing 

PMz.s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards - including pollution 

reduction rules for power plants, vehicles, and fuels - will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2.sfonning pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to 

a continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the 2012 annual PM2.s 

standard. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, or Beverly H. Banister, 

DirectorJ Air Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, at ( 404) 562-9077, or have your staff 

contact Scott Davis, Chief, Air Planning Branch, at (404) 562-9127. 

Sincerely, 

Regional Administrator 

cc: John Skvarla, ill, Secretary, NCDENR