File Code:	2580-2

Date:	July 23, 2010

James P. Brooks

Director

Bureau of Air Quality

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

17 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333



Dear Mr Brooks:

On May 27, 2010, the State of Maine submitted a draft State
Implementation Plan (SIP) describing your proposal to improve regional
haze impacts at mandatory Class I areas across your region.  We
appreciate the opportunity to work closely with your state through the
initial evaluation, development, and, now, subsequent review of this
plan.  Cooperative efforts such as these ensure that, together, we will
continue to make progress toward the Clean Air Act’s goal of natural
visibility conditions at our Class I wilderness areas and parks.  

This letter acknowledges that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Forest Service has received and conducted a substantive review of your
proposed Regional Haze SIP.  Please note, however, that only the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can make a final determination
about the document's completeness, and therefore, only the EPA has the
ability to approve the document.  The Forest Service's participation in
Maine’s administrative process does not waive any legal defenses or
sovereignty rights it may have under the laws of the United States,
including the Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations.  

 

From the perspective of a Federal Land Manager, I have enclosed the
Department of Interior’s comments and I concur with their response.  I
look forward to your response required by 40 CFR 51.308(i)(3).  For
further information, please contact air quality specialist Ralph Perron
at (802) 222-1444.

Again, we appreciate the opportunity to work closely with the State of
Maine.  The Forest Service compliments you on your hard work and
dedication to significant improvement in our nation's air quality values
and visibility. 

Sincerely,



/s/ Thomas G. Wagner

THOMAS G. WAGNER

Forest Supervisor



Enclosure

cc:  Jeff Crawford

Tom Downs

Ralph Perron

Scott Copeland

Thomas R Doane

Charles E Sams

Bret A Anderson   

	United States

Department of

Agriculture	Forest

Service	White Mountain 

National Forest

	71 White Mountain Drive

Campton, NH 03223

Comm: (603) 536-6100

TTY: (603) 536-3665



