### UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

### Region 1

August 19, 2014 The Honorable Dannel Malloy Governor of Connecticut 21 0 Capitol Avenue Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Dear Governor Malloy: 

### 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912

Thank you for your recommendation dated December 13 , 2013 of air quality designations for the 20 12 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2
.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) throughout Connecticut. I appreciate the information Connecticut shared with the U.S
. E nvironmenta l Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2 .s air quality. This letter i s to notify you of the EPA's preliminary response to Connecticut'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, 201 2, 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 PM 2
.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (Jlg/m3 ) to 12.0 J.1g/m3 ; retained the existing 24

-hour PM2
. s standar d at 35 Jlg/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hour PM10(coarse particle) s tandard at 150 J.1 g/ 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 substant ially strengthens our body 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 -rel ated adver se 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 air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the standard s using a commonsense approach that improves air quality and minimize s the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. As part ofthis routine process, the EPA is work i ng with the states and tribes to identify areas in the country that meet the standards and those that ne ed to take steps to reduce PM2 .s air pollution. Within one year ofpromulgating a new or revised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Governor ofeach sta te to s ubmit 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, 2013.2 As required by the Clean Air Act, the EP1\. then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonatta inme nt " if it is vio lating the 20 I 2 annual PM 2.s NAAQS or if it i s contributing to a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2
.s standards , the EPA intends to u s e a designation category of
" unclassifiablc/ attainment " for areas that are mon itoring attainment or do not have monitors, but for which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attainment and arc not contribu t ing to nearby violations. Additionall y , the EPA intends to designate as " unclassifiable " those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on avai lab le information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where EP 1\. 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. We ha ve cons idered the annual PM2.s designation recommendations submitted by Connecticut on December 13, 20 1 3 a nd have reviewed the relevant technical inf ormat ion , including 2011

- 2013 air quality data. These data do not indicate any violation of the 2012 annual PMi.s NAAQS in Connecticut or contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the ent ire state of Connecticut as unclassifiable/attairunent. The EPA wi II make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the genera l p ubli c 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 t o promulgate final annual PM2
.s designations in December of2014. The EPA is committed to wo rking with the states and tribe s to s hare the r espons ibility of reducing P M2
.s ai r polluti on. Cur r ent and upcoming federal standards and safeguards

- including pollution reduction rules for power plants , vehicles , and fuels

- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2
.sforming pollution and w ill protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward t o 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 have your staff co nt act Alison Simcox of my sta f f at 617-918-1684 or simcox.alison @ epa . gov.

cc: Rob Klec , CT DEEP Commi s sioner 

# rz;: 1

L
Regional Administrator, EPA New E ngland
.

Anne Gobin , Chief , CT DEEP Bureau ofAir Management Janet G. McCabe , Acting Ass i stant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D. Page , Director, Office of A ir Quality Plan ning a n d Standards