UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX PflO 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 95105-3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## MAY 222014 Reggie Lewis Chairperson Picayune Rancheria 46575 Road 417 Coarsegold. California 93614 Dear Chairperson Lewis: The purpose of

### this 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. Althoughyour involvement is notrequired, 

### we would like to invite you to participate in the designations process andto offer

### you consultation. We wantto ensure transparent 

### and effective communication in developing area designations forthe revised PM 2

, 5 NAAQS. Arearecommendations forthe PM2S NAAQS were due to EPA on December 13, 2013; however, EPA is preparedto accept designation recommendations via letter from tribal leaders until June 13, 2014. On December 13, 2012, EPArevised the PM 2

, 5 NAAQS to increase protection 

### ofpublic health from tine particle pollution. The annual PM2 5 standard was strengthened from 15 ug/m 3 to 12 ug/m 3

. Establishing initial area designations is akey step in the process ofproviding the health and/orwelfare protection intended by the Clean AirAct (CAM. Within two years ofpromulgation ofanew 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 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 state governors and tribal leaders, and otherrelevant infbrmation as discussed in the April 2013 designations guidance InitialAreaDesignationsforthe 2012 RevisedPrimaryAnnualFineParticleNationalAmbientAir Quality Standard. The guidance is available 

### on the EPA’s PM Designations website at V X\\\ ,p )\ICfL’iLUitiiiS/ 2 () I st

### indai d’doc/ap1 i

### i2()I 3uidanLe pdl Additional information 

### about developing tribal airquality designations is available in the September2013 documentDeveloping 1)esignationRecommendationsfOrAreas of Indian Country, which is available here: htp//\’.p.gov/air’tribaI/pdfs/Deve!ojiuesinationRecommendationior1ndmnCqfliy.pçf. We are sending you this letterbecause 

### we believe thatyourTribe’s area ofIndian countrymaybe in nonattainment forthe 2012 PM 2

, 5 NAAQS andyou may wantto engage with

### us through the consultation Printed an Reeve/ed Paperprocess. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations thr 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 xvith the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian 7)ibes (w\\egxz!Lribal/eonsuftaiioniconsuh_policv.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 107(d)(1)(B) of the CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the PM 25 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 infbrrned 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 draLe.kerry(u:’epa.uo. Sincerely, luiCfel’ Enclosure cc: Acting 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. Deadline to 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