UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4 ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960

The Honorable Steve Beshear Governor, Commonwealth ofKentucky State Capitol, Suite 100 700 Capital Avenue Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 Dear Governor Beshear: 

### FEB - 6 2013

Thank you for your staff's recommendations dated June 2, 2011, with updates on December 20, 2011, and January 15, 2013, on air quality designations for the Commonwealth ofKentucky for the 2010 revision to the primaryNational Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide (S02 ). Reducing levels**ofS~** pollution is an importantpart ofthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's commitment to a clean, healthyenvironment. Exposure to S02 can cause a range ofadverse health effects, including narrowing ofthe airways which can cause difficultybreathing and increased asthma symptoms. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary intentions regarding your recommended designations. On June 3, 2010, the EPA strengthened the health-based or "primary'' standard for S02by establishing a standard for 1-hour average S02 concentrations at a level of75 parts perbillion. The Clean AirAct requires the EPA to complete the initial designations process within two years ofpromulgating a new or revised standard. Ifthe Administratorhas insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA has the authority to extend the designation process byup to one year. On July 27,2012, the EPA announced that it had insufficient information to complete the designations for the 1-hour S02standard within two years and extended the designations deadline to June 3, 2013. Atthis time, the EPA is proceeding with designating as nonattainment most areas in locations where existingmonitoring data from 2009-2011 indicate violations ofthe 1-hour S02 standard. The EPA intends to address the designations for all other areas in separate future actions. With input from a diverse group ofstakeholders, EPA has developed a comprehensive implementation strategy for these future actions that focuses resources on identifying and addressing unhealthy levels ofS02

. The strategy is available at: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxide/implement.html. The EPA will continue to work closelywith you and ourotherpartners at the state, tribal and local levels to ensure healthprotective, commonsense implementation ofthe 1-hour S02 standard. Consistent with the Clean Air Act, after carefully considering Kentucky's recommendations and all of the associated technical information for the 2010 S02 standard, including the mostrecent airquality data from 2009-2011, the EPA intends to designate as nonattainment the following areas, including the following counties orportions ofcounties:

Internet Address (URL) • http://www

.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable • Printed wnh Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)Nonattainment Area Campbell County, KY-OH* Jefferson County, KY County Campbell County (p) Jefferson County (p) (p) indicates portion ofcounty The asterisk (*) indicates the boundary for this intended nonattainment area represents a modification to yourrecommendations. The enclosed Technical Support Document provides a detailed analysis that supports ourpreliminary nonattainment area decisions. The EPA will continue to work with state officials regarding the appropriate boundaries for the areas in Kentucky. IfKentuckyhas additional information that you would like the EPA to consider, please submit it to us byAprilS, 2013. We also will bepublishing a notice in the Federal Register announcing a 30-dayperiod for the public to provide input on EPA's preliminary designation decisions regarding the areas that we would designate as nonattainmentbased on monitoring data. We intend to promulgate these designations for areas with monitored violations ofthe 2010 S02 standardbyJune 2013. We are not yet prepared to propose designations action or seek public comment on other areas. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implement the 2010 primary S02 standard. For additional information regarding initial designations onthe S02 standard, please visit our website at www.epa.gov/so2designations. Should you have anyquestions, please do not hesitate to call me at 404-562-8357 orBeverly Banister ofmy staffat 404-562-9326.

Enclosure

cc: Leonard K. Peters Sincerely,

# ~~9-o' Gwendolyn

# '-l:.s Fleming Regional Administrator

Secretary, Energy and Environment Cabinet Bruce Scott Commissioner, Department for Environmental Protection John Lyons Director, Division ofAir Quality Lauren Anderson Director, Jefferson CountyAir Pollution Control District Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director, Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards