United States Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator

Karen R. Diver, Chairwoman Fond duLac Band 1720 Big Lake Road Cloquet, Minnesota 55720 Dear ChairwomanDiver: RegionS 77 WestJackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60604-3590

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 armual Particulate Matter (PM2 s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Area recommendations for the PM2.5 NAAQS were due to EPA onDecember 13, 2013; at that time we received your designation recommendation ofattainment/unclassifiable. We want to ensure early, transparent and effective communication in developing area designations for the revised armual PM2.s standard. We will keep you informed as we fmalize designations for your tribe's area. 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 withthe EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (www.epa.gov/tribal/consultation/consult-policy.htm).
OnDecember 13, 2012, EPArevised the primary armual NAAQS for PM25 to provide increased protection ofpublic health from fine particle pollution. The new armual PM2.5 standard was strengthened from 15 ug/m3 to 12 ug/m3

. Establishing initial area designations is a key step 

### inthe process ofproviding the health and/or welfare protection intended by the CleanAir Act (CAA). Within two years ofpromulgation ofa new or revised NAAQS, EPA must list and designate all areas inthe country as either: Attainment-areas thatmeetthe 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. These designations are based on current air quality information, recommendations from tribal leaders and state governors, and other relevant information as discussed inthe April 2013 designations guidance onInitialArea Designations for the 2012 RevisedPrimaryAnnual Fine Particle NationalAmbientAir Quality Standard. The guidance is currently available onthe EPA's PM Designations website at http://www.epa.gov /pmdesignations/20 12standards/ docs/april20 13guidance.pdf. Additional information about developing tribal air quality designations is available in the September 2013 documentDeveloping

Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper (100% Post-Consumer)2 Designation Recommendations forAreas of Indian Country, which is available here: http://www.epa.gov/air/tribal!pdfs/DevelopingaDesignationRecommendationforindianCountry.pdf. We plan to formally announce our intended designations for all areas by August 14, 2014. Atthat time we will send another letter to you with our intended designation and offer an additional opportunity to consult with us on any modifications that EPA proposes to make to your tribe's recommendation. In accordance with section I07(d) (1)(B) ofthe CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the primary annual 

### PMz.s NAAQS no later than December 12,2014. Our designations will be based on the most recent three calendar years ofcertified, quality-assured monitoring data available, and any other relevant information. Ifyour tribe is interested in consultation or has questions about the designations process, please do not hesitate to contact me or Carolyn Persoon ofmy staffat (312) 353-8290 or persoon.carolyn@epa.gov. Sincerely,

Susan Hedman Regional Administrator

cc: Wayne Dupuis, Enviromnental Program Manager, Fond duLac Band Alexander Jackson, Air Program Coordinator, Fond duLac Band