UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900

Seattle, WA 98101-3140 

### JAN 9 2009 REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR



### CERTIFIED MAIL
- RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
The Honorable Christine Gregoire Governor ofWashington Post Office Box 40002 Olympia., Washington 98504-0002

. Dear Governor Gregoire: On March 12, 2008 the Environmental Protection Agencyrevised the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone to provide increasedprotection ofpublic health and welfare from ozonepollution. The new primary ozone standard was lowered from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm based on numerous epidemiological studies conducted during the past decade in which ma,ny ofthe health effects associated with ozone exposure have been demonstrated at and belowthe level ofthe 0.08 ppm standard, which was promulgated in 1997. These include a range ofserious respiratory effects and increased premature mortality. EPA also strengthened the secondary 8-hour ozone standard, making it identical to the revised primary standard, to protect against welfare effects such as impacts on vegetation and forested ecosystems.

. Within oneyear ofpromulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS, section 1 07(d)(l)(A) of the Clean 

### AirAct requires the Governor.ofeach state to submit to EPA a 

## list ofall areas inthe state, recommending designations for each as "attainment," ''nonattainment,'' or ''unclassifiable'' with respect to the new orrevised standard. Therefore, we ask that youprovide your designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, to EPA byMarch 12, 2009, with respect to the revised ozone NAAQS. Establishing area designations is a key step in the process ofproviding the health protections that the Clean AirAct mandates. Areas that are designated as

.not attaining the air quality standards will berequired to adopt plans to reduce ambient

concentrations ofozone. The enclosed memorandum provides guidance to state and local airpollution control agencies and Tribes on the process for designating areas under the 2008 revised ozone standard. We plan 14;> announce ourintended designations as early as possible after receipt ofyour recommendations, butno later than 120 days prior to promUlgating final designations. Following the announcement ofintended designations, stateS and Tribes 

## win have the opportunityto comment on any modifications EPA proposes to theirrecommendations. In accordance with section 107(d)(1)(B) ofthe Clean 

### Air Act, we intend to issue final designations by March 12,2010 (although that deadline maybe extended up to one additional year ifEPA determines 

### that insufficient information is available to establish designations by that date).

### Our designations will be based on the most recent 3 years ofcertified, quality assured monitoring data available. Ozone nonattainment areas will be classified at the time ofdesignation. The approach EPA will use 

### to classify nonattainment areas 

### under the 2008 revised ozone NAAQS will 

### be established through a separate notice-and-comment rulemaking.

We look forward to working with you and your staffto develop area designations under the2008 revised 

### ozone standards in 

### a timely manner. Ifyou have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Your air 

### quality staffmay wish to contact State and Tribal Air

### Program Manager, Mahbubul Islam at (206)

### 553-6985 or Krishna Viswanathan at (206) 553-2684. Sincerely,

# ~Q~ Elin D. Miller Regional Ad.mitristrator

.
Enclosure

cc: Mr. 

### Jay Manning Director, Washington Department ofEcology
Mr. Stu 

### Clark Air 

### Quality Program Manager Washington Department ofEcology