UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

REGION6

1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 1200

DALLASTX 75202-2733

DEC 9 - 2011

The Honorable Mary Fallin

Governor of Oklahoma

2300 North Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 212

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

Dear Governor Fallin:

Thank you for your recommendations dated October 11, 2011, on air quality designations for the

revised 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone throughout Oklahoma. I appreciate

the information Oklahoma shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as we

move forward to improve ozone air quality. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary

response to Oklahoma's recommendations and to inform you of our approach for completing the

designations for the revised ozone standards.

On March 12, 2008, the EPA revised its national ambient air quality standards for ground-level

ozone to provide increased protection of public health and the environment. The EPA lowered the

primary 8-hour ozone standard from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm to protect against

health effects associated with ozone exposure, including a range ofserious respiratory illnesses and

increased premature death from heart or lung disease. The EPA revised the secondary 8-hour ozone

standard, making it identical to the primary standard, to protect against welfare effects, including

impacts on sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems.

History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth.

Working closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the standards using a common

sense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state and local governments.

As part ofthis routine process, the EPA is working with the states to identify areas in the country

that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce ozone pollution. Within one year

after a new or revised air quality standard is established, the Clean Air Act requires the governor of

each state to submit to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for whether

each area meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2008 ozone standards, the EPA

asked states to submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by

March 12,2009. In September 2009, the EPA announced it was reconsidering the 2008 ozone

standards. The EPA later took steps to delay the designation process for the 2008 ozone standards

pending outcome ofthe reconsideration. However, in September 2011, the Office ofManagement and

Budget returned to the EPA the draft final rule addressing the reconsideration ofthe 2008 ozone

standards. On September 22, 2011, the EPA restarted the implementation effort by issuing a

memorandum to clarify for state and local agencies the status ofthe 2008 ozone standards and to outline

plans for moving forward to implement them. The EPA indicated that it would proceed with initial area

designations for the 2008 standards, and planned to use the recommendations states made in 2009 as

updated by the most current, certified air quality data from 2008-2010. While the EPA did not request

that states submit updated designation recommendations, the EPA provided the opportunity for states to

do so. Thank you for the October 11, 2011, updated designation recommendation from Oklahoma

based on the assessment of2008-2010 air quality data.

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov/region6

Recycled/Recyclable. Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper, Process Chlorine Free
As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA will designate an area as nonattainment ifit is violating

the 2008 ozone standards or contributing to a violation ofthe standards in a nearby area. Consistent

with designations for previous ozone standards, the EPA intends to designate an area as

unclassifiable/attainment ifthere are certified, quality-assured air quality monitoring data showing

the area is meeting the ozone standards or there are no monitoring data for the area, and the EPA

has not made a determination that the area is contributing to a violation in a nearby area.

After considering the October 20 II ozone designation recommendations from Oklahoma and other

relevant technical information, including 2008-20 I0 air quality data, the EPA intends to designate

the entire state of Oklahoma as unclassifiable/attainment.

If Oklahoma has additional information that you would like the EPA to consider, please submit it to

us by February 29,2012. The EPA will also make its preliminary designation decisions and

supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be

announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly in the Federal Register. After considering

additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final ozone designations in spring

of2012.

The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing

ozone air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution

reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steady progress to reduce

ozone-forming pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We

look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement

the 2008 ozone standards. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at

(214) 665-2100, or have your staff contact Mr. Guy Donaldson ofmy staff at (214) 665-7242.

Since

Enclosure

cc: Mr. Gary Scherrer,

Oklahoma Secretary ofthe Environment

Mr. Steven Thompson, Executive Director,

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality

Mr. Eddie Terrill, Director ofAir Quality,

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality