State Capitol Room 400 

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 

Dear Governor Martinez: 

Thank you for your recommendations dated December 6, 2013, on air quality designations for the 2012 

revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) 

throughout New Mexico, including Bernalillo County. I appreciate the information New Mexico shared 

with the U.S. Envirorimental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This 

letter is to notify you of the EPA's preliminary response to New Mexico's recommendations and to 

inform you of our approach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary 

annual PM2.s standard. 

On December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, 

January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary aimual PM2.s standard, strengthening it 

from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter ().Lg/m3) to 12.0 ).Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.s 

standard at 35 ).Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM1o (coarse particle) standard at 150 ).Lg/m3; and 

retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s 

standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body of new scientific evidence, which 

substantially strengthens our body of knowledge regarding PM2.s-related health effects. The revised 

primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increased protection for children, older adults, persons with 

pre-existing heart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array of PM2.s-related 

adverse health effects, including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency 

department visits, and development and exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease. 

History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working 

closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the standards using a common sense 

approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. As 

part of this routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the country 

that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s air pollution. Within one year of 

promulgating a new or revised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Governor of each 

state to submit to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area 

meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PM2.s standard, Governors were to 

submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by December 13 , 

2013. 

As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA then designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating 

the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS or if it is contributing to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. 

Consistent with designations for previous PM2.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation 

This paper is printed with vegetable-oil-based inks and Is 1 CO-percent postconsumer recycled material, 

chlorine-free-processed and recyclable. 
including Bernalillo County, on December 6, 2013 and have reviewed the relevant. technical information 

including 201 1-2013 air quality data. These data do not indicate any violation of the 2012 annual PM2.s 

NAAQS in New Mexico, including Bernalillo County, or contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, 

the EPA intends to modify New Mexico's recommendation of attainment and designate all areas of the 

state as unclassifiable/attainment. 

The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the 

general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly 

in the Federal Register. After considering the additional information we receive, the EPA plans to 

promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014. 

The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing PM2.s 

air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction 

rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steady progress to reduce PM2.s forming pollution 

and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued 

dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the 2012 annual PM2.s standard. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at (214) 665-2100, or have your staff contact 

Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief of the Air Planning Section, at (214)-665-7242. 

cc: Please see page 3 
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Ms. 

_Mary Lou Leonard 

Director, Environmental Health Department, City of Albuquerque 

Ms. Janet G. McCabe 

Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Mr. Stephen D. Page 

Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency