The Honorable Sonny Perdue 

The Office of the Governor 

State of Georgia 

203 State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia 30334 

Dear Governor Perdue: 

On July 6,2010, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR), through the 

Environmental Protection Division (EPD), provided the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 

(EPA's) Region 4 Office with the state implementation plan (SIP) revisions regarding the 

attainment demonstration requirements for the 1997 Particulate Matter less than 2.5 micrometers 

(PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the Atlanta, Georgia nonattainment 

area (hereafter referred to as the Atlanta Area). Specifically, EPD provided revisions to address 

the attainment demonstration, reasonably available control measures (RACM and reasonably 

available control technology (RACT)), reasonable further progress (RFP) and contingency 

measures requirements. We have reviewed Georgia's July 6,2010, submission, and are making 

the determination that this submission meets the requirements for completeness found in Section 

1 lO(k)(l) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

Effective April 5,2005, EPA designated the Atlanta Area as nonattainment for the 1997 

PM2.5 NAAQS. As a result of this nonattainment designation by April 5,2008, Georgia was 

required to provide EPA with a plan for how the Atlanta Area would meet the nonattainment 

requirements (i.e., attainment demonstration, RACMMCT, RF'P and contingency measures) to 

come into compliance with the NAAQS by its attainment date. 

On November 27,2009, EPA issued a finding of failure to submit the necessary SIP 

revision to address the aforementioned nonattainment requirements for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS 

for the Atlanta Area. See 74 Fed. Reg. 6225 1. EPA's finding triggered an 18-month sanction 

clock which requires any new or modified source in the nonattainment area to obtain emission 

reduction offsets that exceed its emission increases on a 2: 1 basis. If the deficiency was not 

corrected six months later, then highway sanctions would be imposed. To correct this 

deficiency, Georgia was required to provide a submission (i.e., to address all of the 

nonattainment requirements) that EPA could deem complete pursuant to Section 110(k)(l) of the 

CAA and the "Criteria for Determining the Completeness of Plan Submissions," as described in 

40 CFR Part 5 1, Appendix V. 

Internet Address (URL) http://www.epa.gov 

Recycled/Recyclable .Printed with Vegetable 01 Based Inks on Recyded Paper (Minimum 30% Poslconsumer) 
the 1997 PM2.5 nonattainment requirements for the Atlanta Area, and the termination of the 

sanctions clocks for the Atlanta Area in the very near future. EPA is currently reviewing the 

approvability of Georgia's July 6,2010, 1997 PM2.5 submission for the Atlanta Area and will 

make its final determination on approvability through rulemaking in the Federal Register. 

Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me 

at (404) 562-8357, or have a member of your staff contact Carol L. Kemker, Acting Director, 

Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division at (404) 562-9077. 

Sincerely, 

A. Bia& Stanley Meiburg Acting Regional Administrator 

cc: Mr. Chris Clark, Commissioner, GA DNR 

Mr. F. Allen Barnes, Director, GA EPD 

Mr. James A. (Jac) Capp, Chief 

GA EPD, Air Protection Branch 

Mr. Jimmy Johnston, Program Manager 

GA EPD, Planning and Support Program 

Mr. James Kelly, Unit Manager 

GA EPD, Planning and Regulatory Development Unit