UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

The Honorable John Kasich Governor ofOhio Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-6117 Dear Governor Kasich: 

# IIC 1 

# a 2014

THE ADMINISTRATOR

I am writing to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 's recent action to address fine particle pollution in your state. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient air quality standards for fine particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations of the standard. On December 14,2012, the EPA strengthened the annual, health-based fine particle standard from 15 .0 micrograms per cubic meter (J..lg/m3) to 12.0 J..lglm3

. Thousands of scientific studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles-approximately l/30th the size of a human hair

- with serious human health problems including premature death in people with heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the information you and your staff have shared with the EPA throughout this process to assess fine particle pollution levels in communities across your state and the impact ofemission sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air. After considering your recommendations, reviewing the most recent certified fine particle air quality data for your state and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels offine particle pollution, I have determined that most areas in 

### your state meet the 2012 annual fine particle standard. As a result, the EPA is designating the majority ofthe state
" unclassifiable /attainment. " Also, some areas in your state either do not meet the 2012 annual fine particle standard or they contribute to a nearby violation ofthe standard. The EPA is designating those areas "nonattainment. " Nonattainment areas will be required to take action to reduce fine particle pollution and meet the standard no later than 2021. As required by the Clean Air Act, those actions may include stricter contro ls on industrial facilities and additional planning requirements for transporta tion-related sources. The enclosed table lists the areas, and counties within them , that the EPA is designating nonattainment.

Internet Address (URL) • http : //www

. epa .gov Recy cled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetab le Oil Based I nks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Ch lorine Free Recycled PaperBecause air quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete, i f a state or tri b e 'requests it , the EPA will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fi ne part i cle moni tor ing data for 2012-2014. If you

would li ke the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your state, please s ubm it to the EPA, complete, quality-assured and certified air quality data for 2014**b~ february**  27, 2015 . .. . T h e EPA shares responsibility with the s tates and trib es for managing particle po ll ution l evels . Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 tine particle pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels of fine particle pollution. In addition, current and upcoming federal sta ndards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules for power p l ants, vehicles and fuels will assure steady reductions of fine particle pollut i on and wi ll protect public heal th i n communities across the country. Together, we have made considerable progress to reduce fine particle pollution . Nat i onwide, monitored levels of fine particle po ll ution have fallen 34 percent since 2000 when we first began nationwide monitor i ng for p articles of this size. I am confident this progress will continue as we work together towards our s hared goal of clean air. For additional information about the se designations, please visit our website at: vvww.ep a .gov/ p mdes ig nat i ons .

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me or your staff may contact Mark Rupp, Deputy Assoc i ate Admin i strato r for Intergovernmental Relations, at mpp.mark(qi,epa . gov or at (202) 564 - 7178. S i ncerely, Enclosure

### Enclosure- Initial Nonattainment Area Designations for the 2012 Annual Fine Particle Standard, Ohio

State Area Name . 2014 EPADesignated Nonattainment Counties Stark, OH Canton-Massillon, OH Summit, OH Wayne, OH (p) Butler, OH OH Cincinna ti

-Hamilton, 0 H-KY Clermont, OH Hamilton, OH Warren, OH (p) Cleveland, OH Cuyahoga, OH Lorain, OH 

### (p) partial county