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'- ( PR01"-v UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 1 1 CONGRESS STREET , SUITE 1100 BOSTON , MASSACHUSETTS 02114- 2023

December 30 , 2008

Honorable Donald Carcieri Governor of Rhode Island State House Providence , RI 02903 Dear Governor Carcieri:

On March 12 2008 , the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone to provide increased protection of public health and welfare from ozone pollution. The new primary ozone standard was lowered from 08 parts per million (ppm) to 0. 075 ppm based on numerous epidemiological studies conducted during the past decade in which many of the health effects associated with ozone exposure have been demonstrated at and below the level of the 0. 08 ppm standard, which was promulgated in 

### 1997. These include a range of serious respiratory effects and increased premature mortality. EP A also strengthened the secondary 8-

### hour ozone standard , making it identical to the revised primary standard, to protect against welfare effects such as impacts on vegetation and forested ecosystems. Within one year of promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS 

### , section 107(d)(1)(A) of the Clean Air Act requires the Governor of each state to submit to EP A a list of all areas in the state , recommending designations for each as " attainment 

### " "

nonattainment " or "unclassifiable 

### with respect to the new or revised standard. Therefore , we ask that you provide your designation recommendations , including appropriate area boundaries , to EP A by March 12 , 2009 with 

### respect to the revised ozone NAAQS. Establishing area designations is a key step in the process 

### of providing the health protections that the Clean Air Act mandates. Areas that are designated as not attaining the air quality standards will be required to adopt plans to reduce ambient concentrations of ozone. The enclosed memorandum provides guidance on the process for designating areas under 

### the 2008 revised ozone standard. We plan to announce our intended designations as early as ppssible after receipt of your recommendations , but no later than 120 days prior to promulgating 

### final designations. Following the announcement of intended designations , states and tribes will have the opportunity to comment on any modifications EP A proposes to their recommendations. In accordance with section 107 (d)( 1 )(B) of the Clean Air Act, we intend to issue final designations by March 12 2010 (although that deadline may be extended up to one additional year if EP A determines that insufficient information is available to establish designations by that date). Our designations will be based on the most recent 3 years of certified, quality assured 

### monitoring data available. Ozone nonattainment areas wil be classified at the 

### time of

Toll Free 01- 888- 372- 7341 Internet Address (URL) 0 http://www. epa. gov/region1 Recycled/Recyclable. Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)designation. The approach EP 

### A wil use to classify nonattainment areas under the 2008 revised

ozone NAAQS wil be established 

### through a separate notice-and-comment l1lemaking.
We look forward to working with you and your staff to develop area designations under 

### the 2008 revised ozone standards in a timely manner. If you have any questions , please do not 

### hesitate to contact me. Your air quality staff may wish to contact Richard Burkhart Environmental Scientist at 617- 918- 1664. Sincerely, 

# W. 

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# Robert W. Varney --- Regional Administrator

Enclosure cc: Michael W. Sullivan , RI DEM Doug McVay, RI DEM Barbara Morin , RI DEM