EPA Region 4 

Atlanta Federal Center 

61 Forsyth Street S.W. 

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8909 

Re: South Carolina Air Quality Implementation Plan, 2012 Particulate Matter (PM) 

NAAQS Infrastructure Certification- Final SIP Submittal 

Dear Ms. Toney: 

On December 14, 2012, the EPA finalized a revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (78 FR 3086, published January 15, 20 13). With this rule, the 

EPA strengthened the annual primary fine particulate matter (PM2 s) standard by lowering the 

level from 15.0 to 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J.Lg/m\ Sections IIO(a)(l) and (2) of the 

Clean Air Act (CAA) require all states to submit plans to provide for the implementation, 

maintenance, and enforcement ofthe NAAQS. Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) further require states 

to address basic State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements, including but not limited to the 

following elements: emissions limits and other control measures, ambient air quality monitoring, 

a program for the enforcement of control measures, adequate resources to implement the SIP, 

and public notification and government consultation. Section IIO(a)(l) requires states to submit 

SIPs within three (3) years after promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, or December 14, 

2015, in this case. 

On October 23,2015, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (Department) 

published a public notice in the South Carolina State Register notifying the public of the 

proposed 2012 PM NAAQS infrastructure SIP certification, and providing the public the 

opportunity to request a public hearing on the proposed 2012 PM NAAQS infrastructure SIP 

certification (Attachment C). The Department received no comments regarding this notice. 

Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.102, no request for a public hearing was received by the close of the 30-

day public comment period (November 23, 2015), and as a result, the hearing was cancelled. 

As outlined in Attachment A to this letter, the Department is certifying to the EPA that it has 

addressed the infrastructure elements required by Section 110(a)(l) and (2) ofthe CAA 

pertaining to the attainment of the 2012 PM NAAQS in South Carolina. We are providing the 

SIP Submittal Completeness Criteria Checklist as Attachment B; the October 23, 2015, South 

Carolina State Register Notice of Intent to Revise the SIP/Notice of Public Hearing as 

S 0 U T II C A R 0 L 1 N A D E P A R T M E N T 0 F II E A L T II A N D E N V I R 0 N M E N '1 A L C 0 N T R 0 L 

2600 Bull Strret • Colnmbia,SC29201 • Phonc:(803) 898-3432 • www.scdhcc.go\' 
Sincerely, M~Interim ~Q~ Director of Environmental Affairs 

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 

ec: R. Scott Davis, Chief, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, EPA Region 4 

Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Regulatory Development Section, EPA Region 4 

Brad Akers, Regulatory Development Section, EPA Region 4 

Rhonda B. Thompson, Interim Chief, Bureau of Air Quality, SCDHEC 

Robert J. Brown, Director, Division of Air Assessment and Regulation, BAQ, 

SCDHEC 

Maeve Mason, Manager, Regulation and SIP Management Section, BAQ, SCDHEC 

Enclosures: 

Attachment A- South Carolina Certification Clean Air Act Section 11 O(a)(l) and (2), PM 

Requirements 

Attachment B - SIP Submittal Completeness Criteria Checklist 

Attachment C - Solllh Carolina State Register Notice of Intent to Revise the SIP/Notice of Public 

Hearing 

Attachment D - South Carolina Pollution Control Act (SC Code Section 48-1-10 et seq.)