June
29,
2004
Honorable
John
G.
Rowland
Governor
of
Connecticut
State
Capitol
Hartford,
Connecticut
06106
Dear
Governor
Rowland:

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
or
PM2.5
pollution.

On
February
10,
2004,
you
sent
us
your
recommendations
on
fine­
particle
air
quality
designations.
We
have
thoroughly
reviewed
your
recommendations
and
the
technical
information
you
have
submitted
to
support
your
recommendations.
We
appreciate
the
effort
your
State
has
made
to
develop
this
supporting
information.
Consistent
with
the
Clean
Air
Act,
this
letter
is
to
notify
you
that
based
on
the
information
contained
in
your
submittal,
EPA
agrees
with
your
recommended
designations
and
boundaries
for
most
counties,
but
intends
to
modify
your
recommended
designations
and
boundaries
for
some
counties,
as
described
in
the
enclosure
discussed
below.

Your
Environmental
Commissioner
will
receive
a
copy
of
this
letter
with
a
more
detailed
enclosure
containing
a
description
of
areas
where
EPA
intends
to
modify
your
State
recommendations,
and
the
basis
for
such
modification.
Should
you
have
additional
information
that
you
wish
to
be
considered
by
EPA
in
this
process,
we
request
that
you
provide
it
to
us
by
September
1.

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
and
those
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.
We
wish
to
ensure
that
there
is
no
backsliding
in
the
clean
air
status
for
fine
particles
that
your
state
has
achieved.
This
is
especially
important
as
your
economy
grows
in
the
future.
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.
2
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.

Should
your
staff
have
any
questions,
I
invite
them
to
contact
David
Conroy,
Acting
Chief
of
the
Air
Programs
Branch,
at
617­
918­
1661.
We
look
forward
to
a
continued
dialogue
with
you
as
we
work
together
to
implement
the
PM2.5
standards.

Sincerely,

Robert
W.
Varney
Regional
Administrator
cc:
Arthur
J.
Rocque,
Commissioner,
CT
DEP
Anne
Gobin,
CT
DEP
