UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONAGENCY REGION 4 ATLANTAFEDERALCENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960 

## DEC 19 

### 2008

The Honorable Charlie Crist Governor of Florida The Executive Office ofthe Governor The Capitol Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001

Dear Governor Crist:

On March 12,2008,the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone to provide increased protection of public health and welfare from ozone pollution. Based on numerous epidemiological studies conducted during the past decade in which many health effects associated with ozone exposure have been demonstrated at and below the 1997 standard of 0.08 parts per million (ppm), the Agency lowered the primary ozone standardto 0.075ppm. 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 on vegetation and forested ecosystems.

Within one year following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, section 107(d)(l)(A)ofthe Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the Governorof each state to submit to EPA a list of all areas in the state, recommending designations for each as "attainment," "nonattainment," or "unclassifiable" with respect to the new or revised standard. Therefore,we ask that you provide EPA such designation recommendations with respect to the revised ozone NAAQS, including appropriate area boundaries, by March 12,2009. Establishing area designationsis a key step in the process ofproviding the health protections that the CAA mandates. Areas that are designated as not attaining the air quality standards must adopt plans to reduce ambient concentrations of ozone.
The enclosed memorandum provides guidance to state and local air pollution control agencies and tribes on the process for designating areas under the 2008 revised ozone standard. We plan to announce our intended designations as early as possible after receipt of your recommendations,but no later than 120 days prior to promulgating final designations. Following the announcement of intended designations, states and tribes will have the opportunity to comment on any modifications EPA proposes to their recommendations. 

### In accordancewith section 107(d)(l)(B) ofthe CAA, we intend to issue final designations by March 12,2010 (although that deadline may be extendedup to one additional year, ifEPA determines that insufficient information is available to establish designations by that date). Our designationswill be based on the most recent three years of certified, quality assured available monitoring data. Ozone nonattainment areas will be classified at the time ofdesignation. The EPA will establish its approach to classifying nonattainment areas under the 2008 revised ozone NAAQS through a separate notice-and-comment rulemaking.

Internet Address (URL) http://www.epa.gov Recycleb/Recyclable Printedwith Vegetable 08 Based Inks on Recyded Paper (Minimum30% Postconsumer)We look forward to working with you and your staffto develop area designations under the 2008 revised ozone NAAQS in a timely manner. If you have any questions,please contact
me at (404) 562-8357 or have a member of your staff contact Beverly Banister, Director, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, at (404) 562-9077.

Sincerely, 

# (-3%

J. I. Palmer, Jr. Regional Administrator

Enclosure

cc: Mike Sole, Secretary, 

### FDEP Joseph Kahn, Director, 

### FL DARM Peter A. Hessling, Director, PCDEM Daniel Banu, Director, BCDPEP Ebenezer Gujarlapudi, Chief, Jacksonville AWQD H. Patrick Wong, Chief, Miami AQMD Jerry Campbell, Director, EPCHC James 

### E. Stormer, Env. Administrator, PBCPHD