December 20, 2007

Ms. Kay Prince

US Environmental Protection Agency

Region 4

61 Forsyth St. S.W.

Atlanta, GA 30303-8960

Dear Ms. Prince:

During the past several years, staff at the Western Piedmont Council of
Governments (WPCOG) has worked diligently with local governments and
other stakeholders on air quality issues in the Unifour Area related to
the formation of ground level ozone pollution and more recently PM 2.5
pollution. As part of the Early Action Compact (EAC) process, the
Unifour Air Quality Committee (UAQC) was formed. It is made up of
elected officials from the local members of the effected area and the
group oversees actions taken relevant to air quality. Since the UAQC’s
inception I have served as chair, and continued to serve as chair. 

Along with other stakeholders, the group was instrumental in the
identification and implementation of the local control measures and in
the promotion of outreach and educational initiatives to improve both
air quality and air quality awareness throughout the region. On behalf
of the UAQC I certify that all agreed upon local control measures as
outlined in the EAC have been enacted.

We look forward to working with the USEPA and the NC Division of Air
Quality to address air quality issues in the Greater Hickory Metro Area.
 Thank you for all the support you provide in helping to make this
process successful.  

Sincerely,

Kitty Barnes, Chair UAQC

cc:  Doug Taylor, Executive Director WPCOG

      John Tippett, Planning Director WPCOG

      Tony Gallegos, Water Quality Administrator WPCOG

