THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The Honorable Leanne Walker-Grant Chairperson ofTable Mountain Rancheria P.O. Box 410 Friant , California 93626 Dear Chai rper son Walker-Grant: WASHINGTON , D
. C
. 20460 

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I would like to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent action to address fineparticle pollution on your reservation. As required by the Clean 

### Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient-air-quality standards for fine-particle pollution and w hich areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations of the standard. The EPA on December 14 ,20 12 , strengthened the annual, health-b ased fine-particle standard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic m e t e r (J-Lg/m 3) to 12.0 J-Lg/m 3

. Thousands of scientific s tudi es have linked exposure to these tiny particle s - approximately 1/30th th e size of a human hair- with se rious health problems inc luding premature death in people with heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency-room v isits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the inf ormation yo u and your staff have shared with the EPA throughout this process to assess fine-particle-pollution levels in communities across your reservation and the impact of emission sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air. After reviewing the most recent certified fineparticle air-quality data for the state of California and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels of fine particle pollution, I have determined that some areas in California do not meet the 2012 annual f ine particl e standard or they contribute to a n earby violation of the standard. The EPA is designating those areas "nonattainment. " Some of these areas also include areas oflndian country , including the reservation of the Table Mountain Rancheria. Nonattainment areas will be required to take action to reduce fine-particle pollution and meet the standard no later than 2021. As required by the Clean Air Act, those actions may include stricter control s on industrial facilities and additional planning requirements for transportation-related sources. While tribes are not required to take actions, the EPA will work with tribes to develop plans as necessary or appropriate to ensure tribal areas meet the standard no later than 202 1. Because air- quality monitoring for 2014 is n ear ly comp lete , the EPA , at a tribe's request, will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fine-particle-monitoring data for 20 12- 14. If you would lik e the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your reservation , please submit comp lete , quality-assured and certified air-quality data for 2014 to the EPA by February 27 , 2015. I recognize that the EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle

-pollution levels. Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 fme

-particle-pollution standards are a lready working to reduce unhealthy levels of fine-particle po ll ution. In addition , current and upcoming

This paper is printed with vegetable-oil -based inks and is 100-percent postconsumer recycled material. chlorine - free-processed and recyclable
.federal stan dard s and safeguards, including pollution-reduction rule s for power plants , veh icl es and fuel s will ens ur e steady reductions of fine - particle pollution and w ill protect public health in communities across the nation. Together we have mad e considerab l e prog r ess in r e du c ing fine-part i cle pollu t i o n. Nationwide monit ored l evels of fin e -particle polluti o n have fa llen 34 percent since 2000 when we fir st began such monit ori n g for particles of th i s size. I am confiden t this pr ogress will co ntinue as we work toward our shared goal of clean air.

For additional information about these d es i gnations, please visit www . epa.gov / pmdesignations. · e r ely, t:;;;j)