UNITEDSTATESENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONAGENCYREGION4ATLANTA FEDERALCENTER61FORSYTHSTREETATLANTA, GEORGIA30303-8960MAY272010The Honorable BeverlyPerdueGovernorofNorthCarolinaState Capitol20301 MailService CenterRaleigh,North Carolina27699-0301DearGovernorPerdue:On November12,2008,and April5,2009,theNorthCarolina Department ofEnvironment andNatural Resources(NCDENR) providedtheU.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency's(EPA's)Region4Officewith revisedstateimplementationplan submissions-regardingthe attainmentdemonstration requirementfor the1997 8-hourozonenational ambient.air qualitystandards(NAAQS)for the North Carolinaportionof thebi-stateCharlotte-GastoniaRockHill, North Carolina-SouthCarolinanonattainmentarea(hereafterreferred to as thebistateCharlotte Area).Wehavereviewedthese submissions and are making thedeterminationthat these submittals have mettherequirementsforcompletenessfound in Section110(k)(l)oftheCleanAir Act(CAA).EffectiveJune15,2004,EPAdesignatedthe bi-state Charlotte Areaasnonattainment forthe 1997 8-hourozoneNAAQS, with a moderate classification. As aresult of thisnonattainmentdesignation,byJune15,2007,North Carolina was requiredtoprovideEPAwith a planforhowits portionof thebi-stateCharlotteAreawouldmeettherequirementfor the area tocome intocompliance withtheNAAQSbyJune15,2007(i.e.,the attainment demonstration).OnJune15,2007,NCDENR providedEPAwiththerequiredattainment demonstrationbutsubsequentlywithdrew thissubmissiononDecember19,2008.OnMay8,2009,EPA issuedafinding of failuretosubmit the 19978-hour ozoneNAAQSattainmentdemonstration toNorth Carolina becauseofthewithdrawalofthe originalattainmentdemonstration for NorthCarolina's portionof thebi-stateCharlotteArea.74Fed.Reg.21550.This finding startedan18-month sanctionsclock for two for one new sourceoffsets;andsixmonths later, highway sanctions,if thedeficiencywasnotcorrected. To correctthisdeficiency,North Carolina wasrequiredtoprovide asubmission thatEPA could deemcomplete pursuantto Section1 1O(k)(l)of theCAA andthe"Criteriafor Determining theCompletenessofPlanSubmissions,"asdescribedin40 CFR Part 5 1,AppendixV.EPAhasreviewedtheNovember12,2008,and April5,2009,submissionsthat compriseNorthCarolina'sattainmentdemonstrationfor theNorthCarolina portionofthebi-stateCharlotte Areaand hasdeterminedthatthese submissions meetthe completenessdeterminationInternet Address(URL)http:llwww.epa.govRecycled/Recyclable.PrintedwithVegetableOilBasedInksonRecycledPaper(Minimum30%Postconsumer)requirements. Today'scompletenessdetermination forthe attainment demonstrationterminatesbothsanctionsclocks;thus,sanctions will nottake effectin this areaasaresultofthefindingoffailure to submitpreviously madeonMay8,2009.EPAwillpublishanoticeintheFederalRegisterannouncingour completenessdeterminationfor the attainmentdemonstrationandtheterminationof the sanctions clocks for the NorthCarolina portionofbi-state CharlotteAreaintheverynearhture.Aletter similar to thishasalsobeensent totheStateofSouthCarolina.EPAis currently reviewingtheapprovabilityof these submissions and willmakeitsfinaldeterminationon approvabilitythrough rulemakingin theFederalRegister.Shouldyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthismatter,pleasedonot hesitate tocontact meat(404) 562-8357orhavea memberofyourstaffcontactKennethR.Lapierre,Acting Director,Air,PesticidesandToxicsManagement Divisionat(404) 562-9077.Sincerely,PA.Stanley MeiburgActing RegionalAdministratorcc:Mr.Dee FreemanSecretaryofNCDENRMr. RobertW.KingDeputyCommissionerforEnvironmental Quality ControlSouthCarolinaDepartmentofHealth and Environmental Control(SCDHEC)Mr.B. Keith Overcash,P.E.Directorof NCDENR'sDivision ofAir QualityMrs. MyraReeceChiefof SCDHEC'sBureauofAirQualityMr.Don WillardDirectorof MecklenburgCounty Air Quality