THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The Honorabl e Karen R. Diver Chairwoman of Fond du Lac Band

of Lake Superior Chippewa 1720 Big Lake Road Cloquet, Minnesota 55720 Dear Chairwoman Diver: WASHINGTON , D
. C
. 20460 

## DEC 

## 1 8 2014

I would like to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent action to address fineparticle pollution on your reservation. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient-air-quality standards for fine-particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to vio lations of the standard . The EPA on December 14, 2012, strengthened the annual, health-based [me-particle standard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (11g/m3) to 12.0 11 g/m3

. Thousands of sc ientific studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles
- approximately 1130th the size of a human hair
- with serious health problems including premature death in people with heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks and increased hospital admis s ions and doctor and e mergency-room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the information you and your staff have shared with the EPA throughout this process to assess fine-particle-pollution levels in communities across your reservation and the impact of emission sources that could be con tributing to unhealthy air. After considering yo ur recommendations, reviewing the most recent certified fine-particle air-quality data for your r eservation and evaluating factor s to assess contribution to nearby levels of fine -particle pollution, I have determined that no area within the Fond duLac Band ofLake Superior Chippewa reservation violates the 2012 standard or contributes to a nearby violation of the standard. As a result, the EPA is designating all of the Fond duLac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation " unclassifiable/attainment." Because air-quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly co mplete, the EPA, at a tribe 's request, will evalu ate the status of an area based on its annual fine-particle-monitoring data for 2012-14. If you would like the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your reservation, please submit complete, quality-assured and certified air-quality data for 2014 to the EPA by February 27,2015. I recognize that the EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle-po llution levels . Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1997 a nd 2006 fine-particle-pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels of fine-particle pollution. In addition, current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards , including pollution-reduction rules for power plants , vehicles and fuels will ensure steady reductions of fine-particle pollution and w ill protect public health in communities across the nation.

This paper is printed with vegetable-oil-based inks and is 100-percent postconsumer recycled material , chlorine-free-processed and recyclable
.Together we have made considerable progress in reducing fine-particle pollution. Nationwide monitored levels of fine-particle pollution have fallen 34 percent since 2000 when we first began such monitoring for particles of this size . I am confident this progress will continue as we work toward our shared goal of clean air.

For additional information about these designations , please visit www.epa.gov/pmdesignations.