WSR 07-22-049

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY


[ Filed October 31, 2007, 3:53 p.m. ]


Public Hearing

Air Quality Program

Ecology Recommends Designations and a Nonattainment Area for the 2006 PM2.5 Standard



     The department of ecology (ecology) is holding a public hearing to receive comment on recommendations the state of Washington is considering submitting to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These recommendations are on designations and a nonattainment area for the federal twenty-four-hour standard for fine particulate matter.

     Background information: The EPA revised the air quality standard for fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5) in 2006. The reason for changing the standard was to better protect public health. EPA changed the standard from 65 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

     When EPA changes an air quality standard, states can make recommendations to EPA on whether areas in the state should be designated "attainment" (meeting the standard), "nonattainment" (not meeting the standard), or "unclassifiable" (there is not enough information to determine if the area meets the standard).

     Ecology's recommendations: After examining EPA's monitoring data, ecology proposes to make the following recommendations:

     Attainment:

Duwamish area of Seattle
Lake Forest Park
Marysville
Spokane
     Nonattainment:

*South Tacoma
     *The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) developed the proposed nonattainment area for Tacoma, which is within PSCAA's jurisdiction, on the basis of the nine factors in EPA guidance and with input from a variety of organizations. The proposed area is the entire area within the Pierce County comprehensive urban growth area (CUGA), except for:

Areas to the south and southwest (including Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base), and
The area to the east along and east of the Puyallup River-White River valleys (including Sumner, Auburn, Pacific, Bonney Lake, and Orting).
     *Unclassifiable:

Moose Lodge in Vancouver
S. 4th Avenue in Yakima
     *Unclassifiable areas had monitors that were discontinued but restarted in January 2007.

     Public hearing schedule: Ecology will hold a hearing to receive public comment on the draft PM2.5 recommendations and the proposed nonattainment area boundary on Wednesday, December 5, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., at the Pierce County Library and Administrative Center (PAC Building), 3005 112th Street E., Tacoma, WA 98446.

     You can view more information about the recommendations at the following locations:

Department of Ecology

Air Quality Program

300 Desmond Drive

Lacey, WA 98503

Department of Ecology

Central Regional Office

15 West Yakima Avenue

Yakima, WA 98902-3401

Department of Ecology

Northwest Regional Office

3190 160th Avenue S.E.

Bellevue, WA 98008-5452

Department of Ecology

Eastern Regional Office

4601 North Monroe Street

Spokane, WA 99205-1295

Department of Ecology

Vancouver Field Office

2108 Grand Boulevard

Vancouver, WA 98661-4622

Southwest Clean Air Agency

11815 N.E. 99th Street, Suite 1294

Vancouver, WA 98682

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency

1101 West College Avenue, Suite 403

Spokane, WA 99201

Pierce County Library

3005 112th Street East

Tacoma, WA 98446-2215

Yakima Library

102 North 3rd Street

Yakima, WA 98901

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105

Seattle, WA 98101-2038

Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority

6 South 2nd Street, Room 1016

Yakima, WA 98901

Marysville Library

6120 Grove Street

Marysville, WA 98270

Vancouver Library

1007 East Mill Plain Boulevard

Vancouver, WA 98663


     How to comment: You must provide your comments by 5:00 p.m. December 10, 2007. You can comment in person at the hearing, or mail, e-mail or fax your comments to Doug Schneider, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 4700, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, fax (360) 407-7534, e-mail dsch461@ecy.wa.gov.

     For more information: Contact Doug Schneider at the contact information provided above.

     If you need special accommodations, please call Tami Dahlgren of the air quality program at (360) 407-6800 by November 28. If you have a hearing loss, call 711 for Washington Relay Service. If you have a speech disability, call 877-833-6341.

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