UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

OFFICE OFTHE REGIONAL AOMINISTRATOR 

## DEC 0 9 2011

TheHonorableNeil Abercrombie State ofHawaii Executive Chambers, State Capitol Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Dear GovernorAbercrombie: Thank you for your recommendations dated January 30, 2009 'on air quality designations for the revised 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone throughout Hawaii. I appreciate the information Hawaii shared with the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency as we move forward to improve ozone air quality. Thepurpose ofthis letter is to notify you ofthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preliminary decisionto designate Hawaii as unclassifiable/attainment for the revised 2008 ozoneNAAQS, accordingto your recommendations, and to inform you ofour approach for completingthe designations for the revised ozone NAAQS. On March 12,2008,the EPA revised its NAAQS for ground-level ozone to provide increased protection ofpublic health and the environment. The EPA lowered the primary 8-hour ozone standard from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm to protect againsthealth effects associated with ozone exposure, including a range ofserious respiratory illnesses and increased premature death from heart or lung disease. The EPA revised the secondary 8-hourozone standard, making it identical to the primary standard, to protect against welfare effects, including impacts on sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems. History shows us thatbetterhealth and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closelywith the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the standards using a common sense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state and local governments. As part ofthis routineprocess, EPA is working with the states to identify areas in the countrythatmeetthe standards and those that need to take steps to reduce ozonepollution. Within one year after a new or revised airquality standard is established, the Clean Air Actrequires the Governor ofeach state to submitto the EPA a listofall areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2008 ozone standards, the EPA asked states to submittheir designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, byMarch 12,2009. In September 2009, the EPA announced it was reconsidering the 2008 ozone standards. The EPA latertook steps to delay the designation process for the 2008 ozone standards pending outcome ofthe reconsideration. However, in September 20 II,the Office ofManagement and Budget returned to EPA the draft final rule addressing the reconsideration ofthe 2008 standards. On September 22, 2011, the EPA restarted the implementation effort by issuing a memorandum to clarify for state and local agencies the

Printed 011 RecycledPaperstatus ofthe 2008 ozone standards and to outline plans for moving forward to implementthem. The EPA indicated that it would proceed with initial area designations for the 2008 standards, and planned to use the recommendations states made in 2009 as updated by the most current, certified air quality data from 2008­ 2010. While the EPA did not request that states submit updated designation recommendations, the EPA provided the opportunity for states to do so. As required bythe Clean Air Act, the EPA will designate an area as nonattainment ifit is violating the 2008 ozone standards or contributingto a violation ofthe standards in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous ozone standards, the EPA intends to designate an area as unclassifiable/attairunent ifthere are certified, quality-assured airquality monitoring data showing the area is meeting the ozone standards or there are no monitoring data for the area, and the EPA has not made a determination that the area is contributing to a violation in a nearby area. After considering Hawaii'sJanuary 30,2009 ozone designation recommendations and otherrelevant technical information, including 2008-2010 air quality data, the EPA intends to designate the entire state ofHawaii as unclassifiable/attainment. The EPA will also make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-daypublic comment period shortly in the 

### FederalRegister. Afterconsidering additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final ozone designations in the spring of2012. The EPA is committedto working with the states and tribes to share the responsibilityofreducing ozone air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, includingpollution reduction rules for powerplants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steadyprogress to reduce ozoneforming pollution and will protectpublic health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work togetherto implementthe 2008 ozone standards. Should you have any questions, please do nothesitate to contact me or AmyZimpfer, Associate Director, AirDivision, ofmy staffat 415-947-4146 orzimpfer.amy@epa.gov.

Jared Blumenfeld

cc: LorettaJ. Fuddy, Director, Hawaii Department ofHealth Gary Gill, DeputyDirector, Hawaii Department ofHealth Wilfred K. Nagamine, Manager, Clean Air Branch, Hawaii Department ofHealth Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Airand Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director, Office ofAir QualityPlarming and Standards