UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, Washington 98101-3140

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## JUN 13 2011

The Honorable Christine Gregoire Governor ofthe State ofWashington Post Office Box 40002 Olympia, Washington 98504-0002

Dear Governor Gregoire:

Thank you for your recommendations on air quality designations for therevised National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead throughout Washington. This letter is to notify you of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'spreliminary decision to designate all ofWashington
as unclassifiable/attainment and to inform you ofour approach for completing the designations for the revised lead standards. Reducing levels ofleadpollution is an important part ofthe EPA's commitment to a clean, healthy environment. Lead exposure can cause a range ofadverse health effects, most notably in children. Exposures to low levels oflead earlyin lifehavebeen linked to effects on IQ, learning, memory, and behavior.

On October 15,2008, the EPA substantially strengthened the health-based or "primary" National Ambient Air Quality Standardbylowerin

# f it from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (llg/m3) - a level set in 1978

- to a level of0.15 Ilg/m

. This stronger standard provides increased protection against adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead in at-risk groups, including children. To provide increased protection against lead-related environmental and other welfare effects, the EPA revised the secondaryNational Ambient Air Quality Standard to be identical in all respects to the revised primary standard. The EPA also determined that thepre-existing ambient lead monitoring network was inadequate for determining whether many areas are meeting the revised lead standards and established new criteria for siting ambient lead monitors and new data collection requirements. Monitors meeting the new network sitingrequirements
were to begin operation January 1, 2010.

Within two years ofpromulgating new orrevised National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the Clean AirAct requires the EPA to complete the initial process ofidentifying or designating areas that meet ordo not meet an air quality standard. Ifthe Administratorhas insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA has the authority to extend the designation process byup to
one year. In light ofthe new monitoring network, the EPA is completing the lead designations in two rounds. In the first round, published onNovember 16, 2010, the EPA designated as "nonattainment" 16 areas as violating the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards based ondata from thepre-2010 monitoring network. For all other areas, the EPA extended the deadline for designations byup to one year so that data from the newly deployed monitors canbe considered in making appropriate designation decisions. States were given an opportunityto update theirrecommendation letters for those remaining areas for ourconsideration in the secondround ofdesignations byDecember 15, 2010. The EPA intends to completethe second round of lead designationsbyno laterthan October 14, 2011.

Consistent with the CleanAir Act, and after carefully considering Washington's October 16, 2009, recommendation letter and all the associated technical information for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, including the most recent air quality data from 2008­ 2010, the EPA is proposing to adopt Washington's recommended designation and boundary.

We look forwardto a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work togetherto implementthe 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Should you have any questions, please do nothesitate to call me, orhave your staffcontact Mr. Steve Body at (206) 553-0782

# q~,~ Dennis 

### J. McLerran Regional Administrator

cc: Ted Sturdevant Director, Washington State Department ofEcology Stu Clark AirProgram Director, Washington State Department ofEcology Gina McCarthy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, EPA Steve D. Page Director, Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards, EPA