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PROPOSED STÄTE IMI'LOMENTA,TION PLAN (SIP) IIEVISIONSFOR NATIONAL AMIIIENT .4.IIì QUALITY STANDAIIDS

(NAAQS) FOR FINE I'AIITICTJLATE MATTIIR (1997 ANNUALAND 2006 DAILY l'Mz.s)

DATE November 19- 2012

This l:learing Officer's Reporl recommends adoption of two proposed revisions to

Delaware's State Implernentation Plan (SIP). The DepaÍmelÌt administers 1he SIP under

delegated federal authority from the United Slates Environmental Proteotion Agency

(EPA) and the fedelal Clean Air Act (CAA).

Delaware's SIP reporls 1o EPA on the regulatory progress toward n.reeting the

federal air quality standards. The proposed SIP revisions seek to change IìPAdesignation of the air quality for New Castle Counly from "nonattairunent" to"attainment" for compliance with EPA's Nalional Ambient Air Quality Standards(NAAQS) for fine patliculate nìatler (PMz,), as measured daily and annually.

'Ihc proposed SIP revisions reflect the successful efforts laken aftel EPA's

determinations that Ncw Castle County's air quality, as part of the I']hiladelphia regionalail quality area that includes Pennsylvania and New Jersey counties, dicl not meet thcdaily and amrual PM 2 5 NAAQS. The Depafment took several regulatoty actions toreduce fine particular emissions, palticularly from nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide thalare especially harmlul air emissions that cause PM pollution. 'I'he air quality monitoring

has demonstratcd that New Caslle County's air quality for PM z.s has itnproved and now

meets 1lìe annual and daily NAAQS, and tlÌe Depat'tnent has also demonslrated that its

elTorls should ensure continued compliance through 2025. The attached reports, asplepared by experts in the Division of'Air Quality's Air Quality Management Section,

support liPA's recognition that New Castle County's designation should be changed from

"nouattainment" to "attainment" for the 1997 Annual and 2006 Daily PM 2 5 NAAQS.

The Departnent properly provided public notice of the proposed SIP revisions

and held a public lrearing on October 23,2012. EPA submitted comments that theDepartment reflccted in the SIP tevisions, whioh wele inlroduced at the public healing by

the f)ivision of Air Quality's David Fees. Managing Engineer of the Airshed Planning

and lnventory Group, who along with llon Amilikian, Planning Gtoup Manager. and

Jack Sipple Environmental Scientist attended the public healing. No member of thepublic attended or submitted comrnents except for ìlPA. I find that the attached proposed
Regisler on October' l, 2012, and placed on the DNREC website on September

19,2012.

Exhibit 2: l)ocument titled, Delawore Redesignotion Requesl and

Maintenance Plan Under the 2006 Daily PM2.5 Nationdl Ambient Air Quality

Standard - Slale Int¡:lemenlalion Plan For lhe New Castle County Portion t¡f thePhiladelphia-Illilntinglon, PA-NJ-DE Nonaltainment Areü.for l'-ine Parlicle s

(dated October 23,2012). 'lhis docurnent is the SIP as proposed in the DIII{egister on Octobcr 1,2012, and placed on the DNREC website on September

19,2012.

Exhibil 3i Docut.uent titled, l)elautare Redesignalion Requesl and

Maintenance Plan (Inder the 1997 Annual PMz5 Natk¡ru Anthient Air Qualitlt

St.andard - State Im1:lementalion Plctn For lhe New Custle County Portirtn of'lhe

Phitadeþhia-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE Nonüttainnlent Area.for Fine Parlicles

(dated October' 23,2012). This documenl incorpotates urinor changes to Exhibit

#1 as a result of qomments from the USEPA Region 3 office.Exhibit 4: Docunlent titled, Delaware lledesi.gnation Recluesl andMaintenance Plan Under the 2006 Daily PM2.5 Nalional Ambient Air Quality

Standard - Stale Implementalkn Plan ltor lhe Neu, Castle County Portion oJ the

Phitodeþhia-14/ihningktn, PA-N,I-DE Nondtldinment Area for l¡ine Pctrlicles

(dated October 23,2012). This docuurent incorpotates mitlor changes to Exhibit

#2 as a result of comments from the USEPA Region 3 office.Exhibit 5: Notice which appeared in the Delaware Registel of Regulations,Vol. 16, Issue 4, Monday, October l,2012 (pp 460-461) which inchrded thepr"rblication of the SIP(s) and notioe of today's public hearing. The Regisler ofRegulations also included the proposed SIP documeuts, identified in Exhibits 1

and 2.

Exhibit 6: The alfidavit and public healing notice as it appeared in the

Septen.rber 19,2012 Delaware Stale News that advertiscd today's public hearing

Exhibit 7: The affidavit and publio heating notice as it appeared in the

September 19, 2012 News Journal thal advertised today's public hearing.

Exhibit 8: Delaware Slatewide Calendar of Ilvents and Meetings noticeavailable on-line announcirrg today's public hearing on the proposed annual anddaily PMz s Maintenance Plans that is being held tonight.
The Departmeut did ttol receive any other conrnlenls. I hnd that the documents

included in the record support adoplion as a revision to the "statewide air resourcesrnanagement plan." Accordingly, a dralt Order is attached hereto to adopt the proposedrevised Slì) as a final revised SIP in order that i1 rnay bc sent to ËPA for its review.