UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105·3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

### SEP 0 4 2009

The Honorable

### Jan Brewer Governor ofArizona 1700 West Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 Dear Governor Brewer: I am wliting you todayto provide you with guidanceon the process for designating areas under the 2008 revised National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead. In order to ensure that public health and welfare were protected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the lead NAAQS on October 15,2008 (73 FR 66964; November 12,2008). The new primary lead standard was lowered from the 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter(ug/m3) level set in 1978, to a level of0.15 ug/mJ

. This new standard isbased on the most recent scientific studies and provides increased protection against adverse health etfects associated with exposure to lead. To provide increased protection against lead-related welfare effects, EPA revised the secondary standard to be identical in all respects to the revised primary standard. The next step in implementing the revised lead NAAQS is for states to recommend to EPA an airqualitydesignation for their state. The process for designations, following promulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS, is contained in Section I07(d)(I) ofthe Clean Air Act (Act). This section ofthe Act provides a process for each Governorto recommend attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable designations, with appropriate boundaries, to the EPA and requires that these recommendations be submitted to EPA within one year ofa promulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS. Therefore, we ask that your state provide designation recommendations for all areasby October 15,2009. Under section 107(d)(1) ofthe Act, EPA may make modifications to the recommended designations and boundaries as it deems necessary. EPA will notify the states, by no laterthan 120 dayspriorto promulgating the designations, ofourresponseto states' recommendations. This will providean opportunity for states to comment on any modification that EPA proposes to their recommendations. We are including an enclosure to this letter, which provides guidance to state and local air pollution control agencies and tribes on the timeline and process for designatingareas under the revised lead standard. We plan to announceour intended designations as earlyas possible, but no later than 120 days priorto promulgating initial designations.

Printed on Recycled PaperUndersection I07(d)(l)(B) ofthe Act, EPA is required to issue final designations within two years offinalizing a NAAQS; however, EPA has the discretion to extend the deadline up to one year ifthere is insufficientinformation to make designations. EPA intends to complete initial designations by no later than October]5,2010, where data is sufficient from the existing monitoring network orwhere no additional data is expected to be available for a state. Remaining areas, using information from the expanded lead monitoring network, will be designated by no later than October 15,2011. States and tribes will have an opportunity to update their recommendations for these remaining areas by October 15, 2010. Establishing area designations is a key step in the process ofproviding the health protection that the Act is intended to provide. Areas that are designated as not attaining the lead NAAQS will be required to adopt plans to reduce ambient concentrations oflead. We will keep your state informed ofany additional guidance and other supportactivities. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at415-947-8702 or Colleen McKaughan ofmy staffat 520-498-0118. Sincerely,

# /::1~ ActingRegional Administrator Enclosure

cc: Benjamin H. Grumbles, Director ArizonaDepartmentofEnvironmental Quality Nancy Wrona, Director, Air Quality Division Arizona Department ofEnvironmental Quality Lawrence Odie, Director Maricopa County Air Quality Department Don Gabrielson, Director Pinal County Air Quality Control District Ursula Kramer, Director Pima County Department ofEnvironmental Quality