UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4

The Honorable Rick Scott Governor, State ofFlorida The Capitol 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001 Dear Governor Scott: ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960 

### FEB - 6 2013

Thank you for your staff's recommendations dated June 13, 2011, and updated on November 28, 2011, on air quality designations for the State ofFlorida for the 2010 revision to the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide (S02). Reducing levels ofS02 pollution is an important part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's commitment to a clean, healthy environment. 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 S02concentrations 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 Administrator has 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 so2standard within two years and extended the designations deadline to June 3, 2013. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with designating as nonattainment most areas in locations where existing monitoring 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, the 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 closely with you and ourotherpartners at the state, tribal and local levels to ensure health-protective, commonsense implementation ofthe 1-hour S02 standard. Consistent with the Clean AirAct, after carefully considering Florida's recommendations and all ofthe associated technical information for the 2010 S02 standard, including the most recent air quality 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 wtth Vegetable**0~** Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)NonattaUunentAJea Hillsborough County, FL Nassau County, FL County Hillsborough County (p) Nassau County (p) (p) indicates portion ofcounty The EPA will continue to work with state officials regarding the appropriate boundaries for the areas in Florida. IfFloridahas additional information that you would like the EPA to consider, please submit it to us by AprilS, 2013. We also will bepublishing a notice in the Federal Register announcing a 30-day period for the public to provide input onEPA'spreliminary designation decisions regardingthe areas that wewould designate as nonattaUunent based onmonitoring data. We intend to promulgate these designations for areas with monitored violations ofthe 2010 S02standard byJune 2013. We are not yet prepared to propose designations action or seekpublic 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. Foradditional informationregarding initial designations onthe S02 standard, please visit ourwebsite at www.epa.gov/so2designationS. Should you have anyquestions, please do nothesitate to call me at 404-562-8357 or Beverly Banister ofmy staffat 404-562-9326.

Enclosure

cc: Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. Secretary, FloridaDepartment of

Environmental Protection (FDEP) Brian Accardo Sincerely,

# ~~..~**,.. 9"'7f**  Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming Regional Administrator

Director, Division ofAirResources Management, FDEP PeterHessling Administrator, Pinnellas CountyAir Quality Division Daniela Banu Director, Broward County Air Quality Division Vincent A. Seibold Director, City ofJacksonville Air and Water Quality DivisionH. PatrickWong Director, Miami-Dade County Air Quality Management Division Jerry Campbell Director, Hillsborough County AirManagement Division JoeDittell Director, Orange County Environmental Protection Division
James E. Stormer Administrator, Palm Beach County Public Health Department Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director, Office ofAir QualityPlanning and Standards