ST. 4 ,. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 4. REGION IX

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4 L 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 95105-3901 

## MAY 2 9 2OL REGIONALADMINISTRATOR

Luther Salgado. Sr. Chairman Cahuilla Band ofIndians Post Otlice Box 391760 Anza, California 92539 Dear Chairman Salgado: 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 itimportantto engage withus in the process of assigning designations for Indian country. Although your involvement is notrequired, we would like to invite you to participate in the designations process andto offeryou consultation. We wantto ensure transparent and effective communication in developing area designations forthe revised PM 2

. 5 NAAQS. Area recommendations forthe PM2 NAAQS were due to EPA on December 13, 2013: however, EPA is prepared to accept designation recommendations via letter from tribal leaders until .June 13, 2014. Un December 13, 2012, EPA revised the PM 2

, 5 NAAQS to increase protection ofpublic health from fine particle pollution. The annual PM 2

, 5 standardwas strengthenedfrom 15 ug/m 3 to 12 ug/m’. Establishing initial area designations is a key step in the process ofproviding the health and/or welfare protection intended by the Clean AirAct (CAA). Within 1.wo years ofpromulgation ofanew orrevised NAAQS. EPA must list and designate all areas in the country as either: Attainment

- areas thatmeetthe standard; Nonattainment

- areas that either do not meetthe standard, or are contributing to a nearby area that does not meetthe standard, or Unclassifiable

- areas where there is insufficient informationto make a determination as to attainment. These designations are based on current airquality information, recommendations from state governors and tribal leaders, and otherrelevant information as discussed in the April 2013 designations guidance, InitialAreaDesignations’ 

### /örthe 2012 RevisedPrimaryAnnual

### FineParticle NationalAinhientAir (jualiti,’ Standard. The guidance is available on the EPA’s PM Designations website at p__v q uox mdsii awn 2d 2 a mduds/doc 1Jii1201 3waid anL L pdI Additional information about developing tribal air quality designations is available in the September2013 document, DevelopingDesgnatioi7 Recommendations forAreas ofIndian Country, which is available here: \\ \\ \V.p:LcoV/aH%lrinal’fldIS’DedopiHcsiunaiionRecommndatiunidrindiunCoumrv.pdf We are sending you this letterbecause we believe thatyourTribe’s area ofIndian countrymaybe in nonattainment forthe 2012 PM 2

. 5 NAAQS and you may wantto engage with us through the consultation
Pr iited eu Recycled Puperprocess. 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 he conducted in accordance with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Thihes ( Lc1 Lft)\ 11 IOJ1 LOfl ut 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 107(d)(1)(B) of the CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the PM2 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 intormation, 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.Rerry(a’epa. L. Sincerely, JaredBlu nfeld Enclosure cc: Luther Salgado, Jr.. Environmental Director

### 2012 PM 2 • 5 

### NAAQS TribalDesignations Schedule
Action Date Recommendations forthe PM 25 NAAQS due December 13, 2013 to EPA (original deadline). Advance consultation opportunity offeredto LateMay 2014 (uponreceipt ofletter) tribal leaders. Deadlinetorequest advancetribal consultation. June 13, 2014 Optional tribal recommendations forthe PM 2

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

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

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