UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue. Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98101-3140 

### JAN 9 2009 REGIONAl ADMINISTRATOR



### CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIYr REQUESTED The Honorable Sarah Palin

. Governor ofAlaska Post Office Box 1100011 Juneau, Alaska 99811-0001 Dear GovernorPalin: On March 12, 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency revised the national ambient 

### air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone to provide increased protection ofpublic health and welfare from ozonepollution. The new primary ozone standard was lowered from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppmbased onnumerous epidemiological studies conducted during the past decade in which many ofthe health effects associated with ozone exposure havebeen demonstrated at and below the level ofthe 0.08 ppm standard, which was promulgated in 1997. These include a range ofserious respiratory effects and increased premature m,ortality. 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 onvegetation and forested ecosystems. Within one year ofpromulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS, section 1 07(d)(1)(A) of the Clean AirAct requires the Governor ofeach state to submit to EPA a list ofall areas in the state, recommending designations for each as "attainment," "nonattainment," or "unclassifiable" withrespectto the new orrevised standard. Therefore, we ask that you provide your designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, to EPA byMarch 12,2009, with respectto the revised ozone NAAQS. Establishing area designations is a key step in the process

.ofproviding thehealth'protections that the Clean 

### Air Act 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 

### air pollution control agencies and Tribes on theprocess for designating areas under the 2008 revised ozonestandard. Weplan to announce ourintended designations as early as possible after receipt ofyour recommendations, but no laterthan 120 days prior to promulgating final designations. Following the announcement ofintended designations, states and Tribes will have the opportunity to comment on any modifications EPA proposes to their recommendations. In accordance with section 107(d)(I)(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 bythat date)... 

### Our

### designations will bebased 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 fOlWard to 

### working with you and your staff

### to develop area designations under the 2008 

### 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,

Elin D. Miller Regional Administrator
Enclosure

cc: Mr. Larry 

### Hartig Commissioner, Alaska Department

ofEnvironmental Conservation

. Ms. Alice Edwards Acting Director, Division ofAir 

### Quality, ADEC**----------.~-.----.-~**