,EO ST. 17 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX PRO 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 951 05-3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## MAY 22 2814 Robert Martin Chairperson Morongo Band 

### ofCahuillaMission Indians 12700 PurnarraRoad Banning. Calitbrnia 92220 I)ear ChairpersonMartin: The purpose ofthis letter is to provide you with information concerning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designations process forthe 2012 primary annual PM 2

. 5 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). YourTribe may find it importantto engage with us in the process of assigning designations for Indian country. Although yourinvolvementis notrequired, we would like to invite you to participate in the designations process and to offeryou consultation. We wantto ensure transparent and effective communication in developing area designations forthe revised PM 2

. 5 NAAQS. Area recommendations for the PM 25 NAAQS were due to EPA on December 13, 2013; however, EPA is prepared to accept designation recommendations via letterfrom tribal leaders until June 13, 2014. On December 13, 2012, EPArevised the PM 2

. 5 NAAQS to increaseprotection ofpublic health from fine particle pollution. 

### The annual PM 2

. 5 standardwas strengthened from 15 ug/m 3 to 12 ug/m 3

. Establishing initial area designations is akey step in the process ofproviding the health andlorwelfare protection intendedbythe Clean AirAct (CAA). Within two years ofpromulgation ofanew orrevisedNAAQS, EPA must list and designate all areas in the country as either: Attainment

- areas thatmeet the standard; Nonattainment

- areas that either do notmeetthe standard, or are contributing to anearby area that does notmeetthe standard; or Unclassifiable

- areas where there is insufficient informationto make a determination as to attainment. These designations are based on current air quality information, recommendations from state governors 

### and tribal leaders, and otherrelevant information as discussed in the April 2013 designations guidance, InitialAreaDesignations forthe 2012 RevisedPrirnaiyAnnualFine ParticleNationalAmbientAir Quality Standard. The guidance is available on the EPA’s PM Designations website at tI1p//W\\ LI] 1 LZO 

### pmdcsi.natioiis’’OI2standards/docs/apiil20I 3uuauanu. 

### pdl Additional information about developing tribal air quality designations is available in the September2013 document, Developing Designation Recommendations fOrAreas of Indian Country, which is available here: 

### We are sending youthis letterbecause we believe that yourTribe’s area 

### ofIndian countrymaybe 

### in nonattainment forthe 2012 PM 2

. 5 NAAQS and 

### you maywantto engage withus through the consultation Printed on Reeve/ed Paperprocess. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations for your Tribe’s area and invite and encourage you to participate. Please notify us by June 13, 2014 if you are interested in consulting with us regarding a recommended designation. When requested, consultation will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Policy on Cons ultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (www.epa. ov/iriba1/consu1tation’eonsult—poI icy.htm). We plan to formally announce our intended designations for all areas by August 14, 2014. At that time we will send another letter to you with our intended designation and offer an additional opportunity to consult with us on the proposed designation status of your Tribe’s area of Indian country. In accordance with section 1 07(d)( 1 )(B) of the CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the PM, 5 NAAQS no later than December 12, 2014. Our designations will be based on the most recent three calendar years of certified, quality-assured monitoring data available, and any other relevant information. As the designation process moves forward, we will keep you informed, of any additional guidance or other support activities. We look forward to working with you to develop area designations under the PM 2 . 5 NAAQS in a timely manner. If your Tribe is interested in consultation or has questions about the designations process, please do not hesitate to contact me or Kerry Drake, Associate Director, Air Division, of my staff, at 415-947-4157 or drake.kerry(aepu.iov. Sincerely, Enclosure cc: James Payne. Environmental Director

### 2012 PM 2 • 5 

### NAAQS Tribal Designations Schedule Action Date Recommendations forthe PM 25 NAAQS due December 13, 2013 to EPA (original deadline). Advance consultation opportunity offeredto Late May 2014 (uponreceipt ofletter) tribal leaders. Deadlineto request advancetribal consultation. June 13, 2014 Optional tribal recommendations forthe PM 2

. 5 June 13, 2014 NAAQS due to EPA (extended deadline). Advance tribal consultation takes place. June

- 

### July, 2014 EPA announces intended designations, August 14, 2014 additional consultation opportunity offeredto tribal leaders. Additional consultationtakes place. September

- 

### October, 2014 EPA issues final PM 75 designations. December 12, 2014