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ESTADO LIBRE ASOClADO DE 

PUERTO RICO 

JUNTA DE CALl DAD AMBIENTAL 

December 16, 2013 

MRS JUDITH A ENCK 

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

USEPA - REGION II 

290 BROADWAY 25TH FLOOR 

NEW YORK NY 10007-1866 

RE: Puerto Rico Area Initial Designation for the 2012 Revised Primary Annual Fme Particulate (PM2.s) National 

Ambient Air Quality Standard 

Dear Mrs. Enck: 

The Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (PREQB) as representative agency of the commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico is submitting the initial recommendations of Puerto Rico as attainment for the 2012 revised primary annual 

fine particulate (pm25) national ambient air quality standard. The designations recommendation is submitted 

according with Section 107(d) (1) (A) of the Clean Air Act. 

On December 14, 2012 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened the nation's air quality standard 

for the particle pollution to improve public health protection by revising the primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) 

standard to 12 micrograms per cubic meter (pg/m3

) and retaining the 24-hour fine particle standard of 35 pg/m3

. 

Although PM2.

5 air sampling network is designed and meets the criteria of location by area, PREQB classified all 

areas as unclassified for not complying with the data completeness criteria (a minimum completeness of 75 percent 

per quarter for each year period). PREQB evaluated the air monitoring data for the most recent years, and 

determined that all monitors in the PM2.

5 monitoring network in Puerto Rico have at least one quarter below 50 

percent data capture. Puerto Rico will need additional years, thereafter, to collect air quality data in order to 

determine compliance with the revised NAAQS. PREQB hope to complete the designation as soon as the minimum 

data period required approximately in the year 2015 ends. 

Please feel free to contact me at (787) 767-8181 if you have any questions regarding these recommendations, or call 

our staff contact Mrs. Luda Fernandez Fontan, Chief, Data Validation and Air Dispersion Model Division, at (787) 

767-8181 extension 3254. 

Ediflclo de Ascncias Ambltntales Cruz A. Matos 

C.rrclera J:stalai88J8, Sector el Cinco, Rio Piedras, PR 00926 

PO Box 11488, Santurct, PR 00910 

Tel. 787-767·8181, Fax 787-767-4861 www.jca.gooiemo.pr 

60 :6 W~ 92 JJO EIOZ 

.,., 

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COMMONWEALTH OF PuERTO RICO 

OFFICE OF THE GoVERNOR 

PuERTO RICO ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD 

PuERTO RICO AREA INITIAL DESIGNATION FOR THE 2012 REVISED PRIMARY 

ANNUAL FINE PARTICULATE (PM2.s) NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY 

STANDARD 

AIR QUALITY AREA 

NOVEMBER, 2013 
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COMMONWEALTH OF 

PUERTO RICO 

Environmental Quality Board 

PR Designations for the 2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

TABLE OF CONI'ENTS 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND .............................................................. 1 

AIR QUALITY DATA MONITORING AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES ........ ! 

FINAL RECOMMENDATION ............................................................................................. .5 

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COMMONWEALTH OF 

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Environmental Quality Board 

PR Designations for the 2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 1 

Figure 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 2 

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COMMONWEALTH OF 

PUERTO RICO 

Environmental Quality Board 

PR Designations for the.2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 3 

Table 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 3 

Table 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 4 

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COMMONWEALTH OF 

PUERTO RICO 

Environmental Quality Board 

PR Designations for the 2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

Executive Summary and Background 

The purpose of this document is to submit the Puerto Rico Area Initial Designation for the 

2012 Revised Primary Ammal Fine Particulate (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards (NAAQS). This document presents the data handling conventions and 

computations that PREQB used to detemline if the NAAQS for PM2.5 was met, specifically 

the primary and secondary atmual and 24-hour PM2.s concentrations measured in the ambient 

air by a Federal Reference Method (FRM). The data used in this evaluation was collected 

from the years 2010 through 2012; however, for most of the stations, data capture was 

insufficient to obtain the necessary three (3) years of data, as most of the stations were in 

temporary shutdown. Therefore, PREQB requests that the Core-Based Statistical Areas 

(CBSAs) be reclassified to "Unclassified" since the CBSAs did not meet the data capture 

criterion. PREQB plans to obtain the necessary data to meet this criterion by 2015. 

Air Quality Data Monitoring and Jurisdictional Boundaries 

The PREQB maintains a comprehensive network of PM2.5 air quality monitors located 

throughout Puerto Rico with its primary objective being to determine compliance with the 

PM2.s NAAQS. The PREQB submits network reviews to the EPA Region 2 annually, 

demonstrating that air monitoring operations meet or surpass all applicable federal 

requirements. State air monitoring data is submitted to EPA's data repository called the Air 

Quality System (AQS). Figure 1 is a map illustrating thelocations of PREQB's FRM PM2.s 

monitors as of the end of 2013. PREQB continues to operate these ten (10) FRM PM2.

5 sites. 

Figure 1 

PREQB's Federal Reference Method (FRM) PM Monitors . . 2.5 

~U...A'nOfoc canNA 'Ttl ae11 

................ A .. a• ................ A~ .. . 

Y•uc• 105 .8US - S.nt• l ... b•l 23 3 8Q 

.... S.n .J~o~an. C.D'o1•810uay~abo 2 . 44!18 ,&0• ::: ~ Coarno 7t .e:2'.7 

S.n 04l'MW.I"'/C.Oo Ro~ 13'7 ..?02 - .Jayu ya 10 62• 

~~"o ce 24D, t70 -Adp.~ t•to te .4 6 SI 

May-.vu•2' 105 .007 r:::J lltu•doD 3.2 ?1e Ot..~a)l •m• ... . 0•6 

..... PdQ 10,000 

AQ"a.di.WI .. b .. •tS...-. Sebe .. .-.n 304 .4J.33 

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COMMONWEALTH OF 

PUERTO RICO PR Designations for the 2012 PMz.s NAAQS 

Environmental Quality Board 

In accordance with and as defmed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Puerto 

Rico has three (3) Core-Based statistical areas (CBSAs): San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo, OnceYauco-Coamo and Mayaguez-San German-Cabo Rojo. A CBSA consists of the county or 

counties associated with at least one urbanized area/urban cluster with a population of at 

least 10,000, plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration. 

Figure 1 

Cumulative Estimates of Population Change in Puerto Rico 

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas 

POPULAllON Ea11MATE 2011 

Metropolitan ,., ... 

Yauco 

[±;] San Juan/C.OUasJGuaynabo 

fl!!a San Germei\IC.bo ROjo 

lmi!l Ponce 

-t.layaguez 

c:::J Guayama 

-Fajardo 

- Jlguadlla/1 sa bela/Sen Sllbutian 

The number of monitors at each CBSA are as follow: 

San Juan- Caguas -Fajardo: five (5) monitors; 

Ponce- Yauco- Coamo: two (2) monitors; 

105,1118 

2,488,598 

137,202 

240,170 

105,007 

ft.4,045 

70,000 

304,833 

Mayagiiez- San German- Cabo Rojo: one (1) monitor; and 

Mlc:rcpolltan Ara .. 

-Santa Isabel 

IT:] Coamo 

-Jeyuya 

-.1\qiunteo 

[:=J Utuado 

Unclassified: two (2) monitors; one (1) at Guayama and one (1) at Salinas. 

2fPage 

23,389 

71 ,827 

16,524 

111,4511 

32,7715 
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COMMONWEALTH OF 

PUERTO RICO PR Designations for the 2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

Environmental Quality Board 

Table 1 

Puerto Rico 

Combined Statistical Area '. Population 1 

San Juan- Caguas- Fajardo 2,582,746 

Ponce - Yauco - Coamo 445,344 

Mayagiiez- San Gem1an- Cabo Rojo 243,792 

Table 2 

Puerto Rico 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas Population 

Aguadilla - Isabela - San Sebastian 306,292 

Fajardo 70,692 

Guayama 84,214 

Mayagiiez 106,330 

Ponce 243,147 

San Gem1an-Cabo Rojo 137,462 

San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo 2,478,905 

Yauco 107,333 

The San Juan- Caguas -Fajardo CBSA consists of forty- five (45) counties: Ceiba, Fajardo, 

Luquillo, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Arecibo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayan16n, Caguas, 

Canmy, Can6vanas, Carolina, Catafio, Cayey, Ciales, Cidra, Comerio, Corozal, Dorado, 

Florida, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Humacao, Juncos, Las Piedras, Loiza, Manati; Maunabo, 

Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Quebradillas, Rio Grande, San Juan, San Lorenzo, 

Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Yabucoa and Utuado. 

The Ponce- Yauco- Coamo CBSA consists of ten (10) counties: Juana Diaz, Ponce, Villalba, 

Guanica, Guayanilla, Pefiuelas, Yauco, Coamo, Salinas and Santa Isabel. 

The Mayaguez- San Gem1an- Cabo Rojo CBSA consists of six (6) counties: Hormigueros, 

Mayagiiez, Cabo Rojo, Lajas, Sabana Grande and San German. The Unclassified CBSAs 

consist of thirteen (13) counties: Aguada, Aguadilla, Afiasco, Isabela, Lares, Moca, Rinc6n, 

San Sebastian, Arroyo, Guayama, Patillas, Jayuya and Ad juntas. 

1 Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau (April 2012) 

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COMMONWEALTH OF 

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Environmental Quality Board 

Table 3 

PR Designations for the 2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

Stations locations and Objective by CBSA 

CBSA Station · Objective Scale 

San Juan - Caguas - Fajardo #22 Regional Transport Regional 

Fajardo Guaynabo #24 Population Exposure Neighborhood 

Sanjuan #30 Population Exposure Neighborhood 

Humacao #53 Population Exposure Neighborhood 

Bayan1on #63 Extreme Downwind Urban 

Ponce -Yauco - Ponce #56 Population Exposure Neighborhood 

Coam.o Guayanilla #57 Population Exposure Neighborhood 

Mayaguez- San Mayaguez #59 Source Oriented Neighborhood 

Germm-Cabo 

Rojo 

Unclassified Adjuntas #13 Upwind Background urban 

Guayama #15 Population Exposure Neighborhood 

Although each PM2.s air sampling network is designed and meets the criteria of location by 

area, PREQB classified all areas as unclassified for not complying with the data completeness 

criteria (a minimum completeness of 75 percent per quarter for each year period). All 

monitors in the PM2.s monitoring network in Puerto Rico have at least one quarter below 50 

percent data capture for the 2010-2012 monitoring period and, therefore, are not eligible for 

data substitution. Puerto Rico will need additional years, to collect air quality data in order 

to determine compliance with the revised NAAQS. 

The insufficient data collection and data loss was caused by several reasons, but the most 

important is the lack of funding to allow for maintenance and purchase of back-up 

equipment, spare parts, etc .. In order to comply with the final designation, PREQB will take 

measures to improve the PM2.s monitoring network to correct for insufficient data collection, 

and take steps to avoid a reoccurrence. PREQB has modified line items in the PM2.s budget 

that allows for the maintenance and operation of back-up equipment for 3 years and the 

purchase of spare parts and equipment. 

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COMMONWEALTH OF 

PUERTO RICO 

Environmental Quality Board 

PR Designations for the 2012 PM2.s NAAQS 

Final Recommendation 

PREQB reconunends that all areas of Puerto Rico be reclassified as "Unclassified" for 

insufficient data completeness, since they do not meet the requirement to be designated. 

PREQB plans to complete the designation as soon as the minimum required data is available 

to meet the data capture criterion, which will be by the year 2015. 

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