UNITEDSTATESENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONAGENCYREGION4ATLANTA FEDERALCENTER61FORSYTHSTREETATLANTA,GEORGIA 30303-8960SEP-32010TheHonorable SonnyPerdueTheOfficeofthe GovernorStateofGeorgia203StateCapitolAtlanta, Georgia 30334Dear Governor Perdue:OnJuly6,2010,the GeorgiaDepartmentofNatural Resources(GADNR), through theEnvironmentalProtectionDivision (EPD), provided theU.S.EnvironmentalProtection Agency's(EPA's)Region4 Officewiththestateimplementation plan(SIP) revisions regardingtheattainmentdemonstration requirementsforthe 1997ParticulateMatter lessthan2.5micrometers(PM2.5)national ambientairqualitystandards(NAAQS)fortheAtlanta, Georgia nonattainmentarea(hereafterreferredtoasthe AtlantaArea).Specifically,EPD providedrevisionstoaddresstheattainment demonstration, reasonablyavailable controlmeasures (RACM andreasonablyavailablecontrol technology(RACT)),reasonable furtherprogress(RFP)andcontingencymeasures requirements.Wehave reviewedGeorgia's July6,2010,submission,andaremakingthedetermination thatthis submissionmeetstherequirementsforcompleteness foundinSection1lO(k)(l)oftheCleanAir Act(CAA).Effective April5,2005,EPAdesignated the Atlanta Areaasnonattainmentforthe1997PM2.5NAAQS.Asaresultofthis nonattainment designation by April5,2008,GeorgiawasrequiredtoprovideEPAwithaplanforhowthe Atlanta Areawouldmeet thenonattainmentrequirements(i.e.,attainment demonstration,RACMMCT,RF'Pandcontingency measures)tocomeintocompliance withtheNAAQSbyitsattainment date.On November27,2009,EPAissueda findingoffailuretosubmit the necessarySIPrevisiontoaddress the aforementioned nonattainment requirementsforthe 1997PM2.5NAAQSforthe AtlantaArea.See74Fed.Reg.62251.EPA'sfinding triggered an18-month sanctionclockwhichrequiresanynewor modifiedsource inthe nonattainment areatoobtain emissionreduction offsets that exceeditsemissionincreases ona2:1basis.Ifthedeficiencywasnotcorrectedsixmonthslater,then highwaysanctionswouldbeimposed.Tocorrect thisdeficiency,Georgiawasrequiredtoprovide asubmission(i.e.,toaddressallofthenonattainment requirements) thatEPAcould deem completepursuantto Section110(k)(l)oftheCAAand the "CriteriaforDetermining the CompletenessofPlan Submissions,"asdescribedin40CFRPart 51,AppendixV.InternetAddress(URL)http://www.epa.govRecycled/Recyclable.PrintedwithVegetable01BasedInksonRecydedPaper(Minimum30%Poslconsumer)EPA hasreviewedthe July6,2010,submission that comprisesGeorgia'sattainmentdemonstration,RACTIRACMandRFPplans,andcontingency measuresfor theAtlanta Areaandhas determined that thesubmissionmeetsthe completenessdeterminationrequirements.Today'scompletenessdetermination for theattainment demonstration terminatesthesanctionsclocks;thus, sanctionswillnot takeeffectinthisArea asa resultofthe findingoffailure tosubmit previously madeonNovember27,2009.EPAwill publish a noticein theFederalRegister announcing our completenessdetermination forGeorgia'sJuly 6,2010, submissionforthe1997PM2.5nonattainmentrequirementsfor theAtlanta Area,andtheterminationofthesanctions clocksfor theAtlanta Areaintheverynear future.EPAiscurrentlyreviewingtheapprovabilityofGeorgia's July6,2010,1997PM2.5submissionfor theAtlantaArea andwillmakeitsfinal determination onapprovability through rulemakingin theFederal Register.Shouldyouhaveany questions regarding this matter, pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeat(404)562-8357,orhavea memberofyour staffcontactCarolL.Kemker,Acting Director,Air,PesticidesandToxics Management Divisionat (404)562-9077.Sincerely,Bia&A.StanleyMeiburgActing Regional Administratorcc:Mr.ChrisClark,Commissioner, GADNRMr.F. Allen Barnes,Director,GA EPDMr. JamesA.(Jac)Capp,ChiefGA EPD, AirProtectionBranchMr.Jimmy Johnston,Program ManagerGA EPD, Planning andSupportProgramMr.James Kelly,UnitManagerGAEPD,Planningand Regulatory DevelopmentUnit