10 St 12 . UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX C> pRo 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 951 05-3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
Robert Marquez Chairperson Cold Springs Raneheria Post Office Box 209 Tolihouse, California 93667 Dear Chairperson Marquez: 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 withus in the process of assigning designations forIndian country. Although yourinvolvement is notrequired, we would like to nite you to participate in the designations process and to offeryou consultation. We wantto ensure transparent and effective communication n developing area designations fortherevised PM 2

. 5 NAAQS. Area recommendations forthe PM’s NAAQS were due to EPA on December 13. 2013; however, EPA is prepared to accept designationrecommendations via letter from tribal leaders unlil June 13, 2014. On December 13. 2012, EPA revised the PM 2

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

. standard was strengthenedfrom 1 5 ug/m to 12 ug/m Establishing initial area designations is akey step in the process ofprovidingthe health and/orwelfare protection intended by the Clean AirAct (CAA). Within two years ofpromulgation ofa new orrevisedNAAQS. EPA must list and designate all areas in the country as either: Attainment

- areas that meet. the standard; Nonattainment

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

- areas where there is insufficient information to make a determination as to attainment. rhese 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. InitialArea Designations frthe 2()12 RevisedPrimaryAnnualFine Particle 1’/arionalAmbientAir Oualth Standard. The guidance is available on the EPA’s PM Designations website at liii] \\ \\ V LO I .!o\ J)fl1dL 1 aflit1Ofl 2Ul2stai 1 u ud doLs ipiii.201 auid inct.. pdl Additional information about developing tribal airquality designations is available in the September 2013 document. DevelopingDesignation RecommendationsforAreas ofIndian Country, which is available here: vs Lfl 1 UO\ n iiihjlipdIsI )_‘lopin... IDLslu.n ItlonRL,..olnm ii 1 luon1oilndi tnt ounti\JJI We are sending you this letterbecause we believe thatyourTribe’s area ofIndian country maybe in nonattainmentforthe 2012 PM 2

. 5 NAAQS and you may wantto engage with us through the consultation Pri iited on Reeve/ed Popeiprocess. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations fhr 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 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (sv.epag 1 /trihai/itmsuiiationiecmsu1t_poliey.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)( I )(B) of the CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the PM 6 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 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 staft at 415-947-4157 or drake.kcrry,epa. go’. Sincerely, 1 Y Jared Blumenf I Enclosure cc: Terry Williams, 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 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