UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION4

The Honorable Buford Rolin Chairman Poarch Band ofCreek Indians 58111ack Springs Rd. Atmore, Alabama 36502 Dear Chairman Rolin: ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
-8960 

## MAY 2 9 2014

The purpose ofthis letter is to provide you with additional information concerning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's designations process for the 2012 primary annual PM2.s national ambient airquality standard (NAAQS)
. Your tribe may wish to engage with us in the 

### process of assigning designations for Indian country. Although your involvement is not required, we would like to invite you to participate inthe designations process and to offer you consultation. Area recommendations for the PM2.s NAAQS were due to the EPA on December 13, 2013; however, the EPA is prepared to accept designation recommendations from tribal leaders until June 13,2014. In the event additional consultation is needed we will remain available throughout completion ofthe designations process. Wewant to ensure early, transparent and effective communication in developing area designations for the revised annual PMl.s standard. On December 13, 2012, the EPA revised the primary annual NAAQS for PMl.s to provide increased protection ofpublichealth from fine particle pollution. The new annual PM2.s standard was strengthened from 15 uwm3 to 12 uglm 3 : Establishing initial area designations is a key step in the process of providing the health and/or welfare protection intended by the Clean AirAct (CAA). Within two years ofpromulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS, the EPA must list and designate all areas 

### inthe country as one ofthe following:

• Attainment

- areas that meet the standard; • Nonattainment- areas that either do not meet the standard or are contributing to a nearby area that does not meet the standard; or • Unclassifiable- areas where there is insufficient information to make a determination as to attainment. In accordance with section 107{dX1)(B) ofthe CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the primary annual PMl.sNAAQS no later 

### than December 12, 2014. Ourdesignations will be based on the most recent three calendar years ofcertified, quality-assured monitoring data available, recommendations from state governors and tribal leaders, and any other relevant information as discussed in the April 2013 designations guidance onInitialAreaDesignations for the 2012 Revised PrimaryAnnualFine ParticleNationalAmbientAir Quality Standard. The guidance is currently available on the EPA's PM Designations website at
lntemet Address (URL) • http-//www

.epa.gov Recyled/Recyctable • Printed with Vegetable 0 Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Mintmum JO'Kt Postconsumer)http://www

.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2012standards/docslapril2013guidance.pdf. Additional infonnation about developing tribal air quality designations is available inthe September 2013 document Developing Designation Recommendations forAreas of Indian Country, which is available here: http://www.epa.gov/air/triballpdfs/DevelopingaDesignationRecommendationforlndianCountry.pdf. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations for your tribe's area. Please notify us byJune 13, 2014, ifyou are interested in consulting with us regarding a recommended designation. When requested, consultation will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (www
.epa.gov/triballconsultationlconsult-policy.htm). We plan to formally announce our intended designations for all areas byAugust 14, 2014. At that time we will send another letterto you with ourintended designation and offer an additional opportunity to consult with us on any modifications the EPA proposes to the designation status ofyour tribe's area of Indian country
. Asthe designations process moves forward, we will keep you infonned ofany additional guidance or other support activities. We look forward to working with you to develop area designations under the revised annual PMl.sNAAQS in a timely manner. If your tribe is interested in consultation orhas questions about the designations process, please do not hesitate to contact me or Beverly H

. Banister, Director, AirPesticides and Toxics Management Division at (404) 562-9077, orhave your staffcontact Scott Davis, Chief, AirPlanning Branch at (404) 562-9127. Sincerely,

# /td:;/!F::~ Regional Administrator

cc: Ralph, McCullers, Environmental Director