Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0061-0275
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2004-06-30T04:00Z

R­
19J
Honorable
Jim
Doyle
Governor
of
Wisconsin
Madison,
Wisconsin
53707
Dear
Governor
Doyle:

Fine­
particle
pollution
represents
one
of
the
most
significant
barriers
to
clean
air
facing
our
nation
today.
These
tiny
particles
 
about
1/
30th
the
diameter
of
a
human
hair
 
have
been
scientifically
linked
to
serious
human
health
problems.
Their
ability
to
be
suspended
in
air
for
long
periods
of
time
makes
them
a
public
health
threat
far
beyond
the
source
of
emissions.
An
important
part
of
our
nation's
commitment
to
clean,
healthy
air
deals
with
reducing
levels
of
this
fine
particle
(
PM2.5)
pollution.

On
June
2,
2003,
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
EPA)
requested
State
recommendations
for
designations
for
PM2.5
by
February
15,
2004.
We
further
solicited
recommendations
from
you
on
May
19,
2004.
However,
we
received
no
recommendations
from
Wisconsin.

Under
the
Clean
Air
Act
(
CAA),
EPA
is
required
to
promulgate
designations
for
new
or
revised
standards,
such
as
the
PM2.5
standard.
We
plan
to
promulgate
final
designations
by
November
2004.

The
CAA
defines
a
nonattainment
area
as
any
area
that
does
not
meet
(
or
that
contributes
to
ambient
air
quality
in
a
nearby
area
that
does
not
meet)
the
national
primary
or
secondary
ambient
air
quality
standard
for
the
pollutant.
EPA
guidance
indicates
that
Wisconsin
should
use
the
metropolitan
area
(
the
larger
of
the
Consolidated
Metropolitan
Statistical
Area
or
Metropolitan
Statistical
Area)
as
the
presumptive
boundary
for
PM2.5
nonattainment
areas.
The
guidance
provides
nine
factors
that
Wisconsin
should
consider
in
determining
whether
to
recommend
a
nonattainment
area
that
deviates
from
the
presumptive
boundaries.

Kenosha
County
is
part
of
the
Chicago­
Gary­
Kenosha
metropolitan
area,
which
contains
monitors
in
violation
of
the
PM2.5
standard.
2
Therefore,
Kenosha
County
is
presumptively
part
of
the
Chicago­
Gary­
Kenosha
PM2.5
nonattainment
area.
In
the
absence
of
an
alternative
recommendation
from
you,
and
justification
for
deviating
from
the
presumptive
nonattainment
area,
we
intend
to
designate
Kenosha
County
as
nonattainment
for
the
PM2.5
standard.
We
intend
to
designate
the
rest
of
the
State
as
attainment/
unclassified.

You
will
hear
from
us
again
in
November
when
EPA
takes
the
final
step
in
the
PM2.5
designation
process
and
determines
those
areas
that
are
in
attainment
(
or
unclassifiable)
and
those
areas
that
areas
that
are
nonattainment.
For
areas
in
attainment,
the
challenge
will
be
not
only
to
maintain,
but
also
to
continue
the
progress
you
have
made
toward
clean
air.
It
is
a
commitment
to
no
backsliding
in
your
State's
clean
air
status
for
fine
particles.
EPA
will
also
issue
a
proposed
fine
particle
implementation
rule
prior
to
final
designations,
which
will
allow
you
to
proceed
with
planning
to
achieve
clean
air.

The
Bush
Administration
is
addressing
fine
particle
pollution
with
a
comprehensive
national
clean
air
strategy.
This
strategy
includes
EPA's
recent
rule
to
reduce
pollution
from
nonroad
diesel
engines,
and
the
proposed
rule
to
reduce
pollution
from
power
plants
in
the
eastern
U.
S.
These
two
rules
are
important
components
of
EPA's
efforts
to
help
States
and
localities
meet
the
more
protective
national
fine­
particle
and
8­
hour
ozone
air
quality
standards.
Together
these
rules
will
help
all
areas
of
the
country
achieve
cleaner
air.

We
look
forward
to
a
continuing
dialogue
with
Wisconsin
as
we
work
to
finalize
the
designations
for
the
PM2.5
standard.
We
have
provided
information
to
the
Wisconsin
Department
of
Natural
Resources
which
you
may
find
useful
in
evaluating
whether
Kenosha
County
should
be
designated
nonattainment.
We
will
review
any
future
supporting
information
the
State
wishes
to
submit
for
our
consideration.
If
you
would
like
to
provide
additional
information
about
the
area
in
question,
please
provide
this
information
by
September
1,
2004.
If
you
have
any
questions,
please
do
not
hesitate
to
contact
me.

Very
truly
yours,

Bharat
Mathur,
Acting
Regional
Administrator
3
cc:
P.
Scott
Hassett,
Secretary
Wisconsin
Department
of
Natural
Resources
Renee
Cipriano,
Director
Illinois
Environmental
Protection
Agency
4
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