Document ID: EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0391-0016
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2011-11-02T04:00Z

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1  ADVANCE \y 63 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY

REGION III

1650 Arch Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103-2029

										June 29, 2010

The Honorable Edward G. Rendell

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

225 Main Capital Building

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

									

Dear Governor Rendell:

On April 14, 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (PADEP) provided the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Region III Office with a revised state implementation plan (SIP)
submission regarding the attainment demonstration requirements for the
1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality
standards (NAAQS) for the Pennsylvania portion of the
Philadelphia-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware PM2.5
nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the Philadelphia area).  We
reviewed this submission and made the determination that it met the
requirements for completeness found in Section 110(k)(1) of the Clean
Air Act (CAA) on April 23, 2010.

The CAA requires states with areas that are designated nonattainment for
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, to develop a SIP describing how the state will
attain and maintain the PM2.5 NAAQS (attainment demonstration) within
three years of the effective date of the designation.  Effective April
5, 2005, EPA designated the Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia
area as nonattainment for PM2.5 NAAQS.  As a result of this
nonattainment designation, the Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia
area was required to provide EPA with an attainment demonstration by
April 5, 2008.  

On November 27, 2009 (74 FR 62251), EPA issued a finding of failure to
submit the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS attainment demonstration for the
Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia area.  This finding started an
18-month sanctions clock for a two for one new source offset, and six
months later, highway sanctions, if the deficiency was not corrected. 
To correct this deficiency, the Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia
area was required to provide a submission that EPA could deem complete
pursuant to Section 110(k)(1) of the CAA and the “Criteria for
Determining the Completeness of Plan Submissions,” as described in 40
CFR Part 51, Appendix V.

EPA has reviewed the April 14, 2010 submission that comprises
Pennsylvania’s attainment demonstration for the Pennsylvania portion
of the Philadelphia area.  On

April 23, 2010, EPA sent a letter to PADEP stating that EPA has
determined that this submission meets the completeness determination
requirements.  This completeness determination for the attainment
demonstration terminates the sanctions clock; thus, sanctions will not
take effect in this area as a result of the finding of failure to submit
previously made on November 27, 2009.  

EPA is currently reviewing the approvability of this submission and will
make its final determination through rulemaking in the Federal Register.
  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or have
your staff contact Mrs. Megan Mackey, EPA’s Pennsylvania Liaison, at
215-814-5534.  Any questions regarding Pennsylvania’s SIP submittal
can be directed to Ms. Diana Esher, Director, Air Protection Division,
at 215-814-2706.

	Sincerely, 

						/s/  William C. Early

						         

          Shawn M. Garvin

                          			          Regional Administrator 

cc:   	Honorable John Hanger, Secretary

	Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Ms. Joyce E. Epps, Director, Bureau of Air Quality

	Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection 

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