Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman 

Toby Baker, Commissioner 

Zak Covar, Commissioner 

Richard A. Hyde, P.E., Executive Director 

TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

Protecting Texas by Reducing and Preventing Pollution 

May22, 2015 

Mr. Ron Curry 

Administrator 

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 

Fountain Place 12th Floor, Suite 1200 

1445 Ross Avenue 

Dallas, Texas 75202-2733 

Subject: Addendum to Request for Determination of Attainment of the 1997 EightHour Ozone Standard for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) and 

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Areas and Request for a One-Year Extension of 

the HGB 2008 Eight-Hour Ozone Standard Attainment Date 

Dear Mr. Curry: 

Based on a conversation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

Region 6 staff regarding the requirements for a one-year extension of the attainment 

deadline for the HGB 2008 eight-hour ozone nonattainment area, the Texas 

Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) submits this addendum to the February 

27, 2015 letter to the EPA which is enclosed for your reference. 

In the February 27letter, the TCEQ requested that the EPA issue a determination of 

attainment, also known as a clean data determination, of the 1997 eight-hour ozone 

National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for the HGB and DFW nonattainment 

areas. Under 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §51.1118, an EPA determination that 

an area is attaining the 1997 eight-hour ozone NAAQS suspends certain state planning 

requirements related to attainment of the standard. 

The TCEQ also requested a one-year attainment date extension to July 20, 2016, for the 

HGB 2008 eight-hour ozone NAAQS marginal nonattainment area in accordance with 

Federal Clean Air Act, §181(a)(5). The HGB area meets the monitoring data requirement 

with a 72 parts per billion fourth highest daily eight-hour monitored average in the I-!GB 

2008 ozone nonattainment area as measured at the Conroe Relocated monitor 

(C78/A321) in 2014. 

The Februm-y 27, 2015 letter indicated that TCEQ submitted a base year emissions 

inventory state implementation plan revision to EPA on July 16, 2014, to comply with 

P.O. Box 13087 • Austin, Texas 78711-3087 • 512-239-1000 • tceq.texas.gov 

How is our customer service? tceq.texas.govjcustomersurvey 

p1 inlecl on recyclecl pape1 usmg vegel<~ble"b<Jsecl ink 
Mr. Ron Curry 

Page 2 

May 22, 2015 

marginal area requirements for the 2008 eight-hour ozone NAAQS. In addition, the 

TCEQ certifies that the state is implementing all requirements and commitments 

pertaining to the area in the applicable ozone implementation plan. If you have 

questions or need additional information, please contact David Brymer, Director of the 

Air Quality Division, at (512) 239-1725. 

Sincerely, 

Richard A. Hyde, P.E., Executive Director 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

Enclosure 

RH/DB/lb 

ce: Wren Stenger, Multimedia Planning & Permitting Division, EPA 

Mark Hansen, Multimedia Planning & Permitting Division, EPA 

Guy Donaldson, Multimedia Planning & Permitting Division, EPA 
Bryan VV 3ht.n._..,.·, Ph.D_, P.E .. Chairman 

Tuby !~n ker. Cnmmis:;fonj~t 

Z.1k Covar, Cnmmi.>~sioner 

Richard A. Hyde. P.E., Execl.tliue Director 

·-; 

TEXAS COMMISSJON ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUAU1Y 

Mr. Ron Cun·y 

Administrator 

Protecting Texw; hy Reducing and Preventiny Pollution 

February 27, 2015 

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 

Fountain Place 12th Floor, Suite 1200 

1445 Ross Avenue 

Dallas, Texas 75202-2733 

Re: Request for Determinauon of Attainment of the 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone Standard 

For the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Areas 

and Request for a One-Year Extension ofthe HGB 2008 Eight-Hour Ozone 

Standard Attainment Date 

Dear Mr. Curry: 

The Texas Commission on Envil'Onmental Quality (TCEQ) requests that the United States 

Environmental Protection Agenc'Y (EPA) issue a determination of attainment, also known as a clean 

data determination, of the 1997 eight-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for 

the HGB and DFW nonattainment areas. Under 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §51.918 as well 

as pmpused CFR §51.1118, an EPA determination that an area is attaining the 1997 eight-hour owne 

:\;\AQ.S suspends certain state planning requirements related to attainment of the standard. 

This determination or attainment reqnestis based on complete, quality-assured, certitled ambient air 

monitoring data that show the HGB and the DFW areas have monitored attainment of the 1997 eighthour ozone NMQS for 2012 through 2014. The HGB urea monitored attainment of the standard with 

an So parts per billion {ppb) design value, and the DFW area with an 81 ppb design value. The 2014 

Annual Data Certification was submitted to the EPA Feb!'Llary 24, 2015. 

The TCEQ also requests a one-year attainment elate extension to .July 20, 2016 for the HGB 2008 

eight-hour ozone NAAQS marginal nonattainment area in accordance with Fedct·al Clean Air Act, 

§181(a)(5). The TCEQ certifies that the state has complied with all marginal requirements and 

commitments pertaining to the HGB area by submitting a base year emissions inventory state 

impletnentntion phm revision to the EPA on .July 16. 2014. The 11GB area also meets the monitoring 

data requirement with a 72 ppb fourth highesl daily eight-hour monitored average in the HGB 2008 

owrw nonattainnwnl area as measured at the Conroe Relocated monitor (C78/A321) in 2014. 
Mr. Curry 

Page 2 

Fehntary 27. 20l5 

If you have questions or need additionallliformalion please contaet David Brymer, Direetm· of the Air 

Quality Division, at (512) 239-1725. 

Sincerely, 

t") 

; _\ .... -_, -_X:,~ t ·''·'"'}"'' '•·-

Richard A. Hyde, P.E., 'iixecutive Director 

Texas Commission on Envimnmental Quality 

RII/DilJih 

t:c: Ms. Wren Stenger, Multimedia l'lanning & Pet·mitting Division, EPA 

Mr. Mark Hansen, Multimedia Planning & Permitting Division, EPA 

Mr. Guy Donaldson, Multimedia Planning & Permitting Division, EPA