UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4 ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303·8960 The Honorable Rick Scott Governor ofFlorida The Executive Office ofthe Governor The Capitol 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001 Dear Governor Scott: 

# AUG 1 9 

# 2014

Thank you for the letter dated December 13,2013, from Brian J. Accardo, at that time the Director, Division ofAirResource Management. Florida Department ofEnvironmental Management. The reference provided yourrecommendations ofair quality designations for the 2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) throughout Florida. I appreciate the information Florida shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary response to Florida's recommendation and to inform you ofour approach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PM2.s standard. On December 14,2012,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 

### PM2.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J.1g/m 3) to 12.0 J.1g/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hour 

### PM2

.s standard at 35 J.1g/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hourPM10(coarse particle) standard at 150 J.1g/m 3 ; and retained the current suite ofsecondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard based on an integrated assessment ofan extensive body ofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens ourbody 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-related adverse 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 standards using a commonsense approach that improves airquality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. As part ofthis routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the country that meetthe standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s air pollution. Within one year ofpromulgating a neworrevised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the Governor ofeach state to submit to the EPA a list ofall areas inthe state, with a designation

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov AecyclediRecyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)recommendation for each area. As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PM2

.s standard, Governors were to submittheirdesignation recommendations, including appropriate areaboundaries, by December 13,2013. As required by the CAA, the EPA then promul gates designations for all areas across the country
. The EPA designates anarea as "nonattainment" ifitis violating the 2012 annual PM2

.s NAAQS or ifit is contributing to a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2.S standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of"unclassifiabte/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment or do nothave monitors, but for which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attaining the NAAQS and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on available information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS orwhere the EPA 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 airquality monitoring data for most areas from 2011 to 2013

. The EPA has considered the annual PM2.s designationrecommendations submitted byFlorida on December 13, 2013, and hasreviewed the relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air quality data. This datadoes not indicate any violation ofthe 2012 annual PM2

.s NAAQS in Florida or contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire State ofFlorida as unclassifiable/attainment. The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public 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 to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014. The EPA is committedto working with the states and tribesto share the responsibility of reducing PM2

.s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards

- including pollution reduction rules for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels will

- ensure steadyprogress to reduce PM2

.sforming pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implementthe 2012 annual PM2.s standard

. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (404) 562-8357, or Beverly H. Banister, Director, Air Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, at (404) 562-9077, or have your staffcontact Scott Davis, Chief, AirPlanning Branch, at (404) 562-9127. Sincerely,

# ~!£:.:~ Regional Administrator

cc: Paula Cobb, Director, Division ofAir Resource Management Janet G

. McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director, Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards