THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The Honorable Joseph Hamilton Chairman of Ramona Band of Cahuilla Indians 56310 Highway 371, Suite B Anza, California 92539 Dear Chairman Hamilton: WASHINGTON, D . C . 20460

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-qual ity standards for fine-particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations ofthe standard. The EPA on December 14 ,2012, strengt hened the annual, health-based fine-particle standard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter

**(~g/m**
**)** to 12.0

**~g/m**

**.** Thousands of scientifi c studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles - approximately 1130th the size ofa human hair - with serious health problems including premature death in people with heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency-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 contributing to unhealthy air. After reviewing the most recent certified fineparticle air-quality data for the state of California and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels offine particle pollution, I have determined that some areas in California do not meet the 2012 annual fine particle standard or they contribute to a nearby violation of the standa rd. The EPA is designating those areas "nonattainment. " Some of these areas also include areas of Indian country, including the reservation of the Ramona Band of Cahuilla Indians. Nonattainment areas will be required to take action to reduce fine-particle pollution and meet the standard no later than 2021. As required by the Clean Air Act, those actions may include stricter controls on industrial facilities and additional planning requirements for transportation-related sources. While tribes are not required to take actions, the EPA will work with tribes to develop plans as necessary or appropriate to ensure tribal areas meet the standard no later than 202 1. Because ai r-quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete, the EPA, at a tribe's request, will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual [me-particle-monitoring da ta for 2012-14. Ifyou would like the EPA to re -evaluate any areas within your reservation, please submit complete, quality-assured and certitied ai r-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-pollution levels. Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 fine-particle-pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels offine-particle pollution. In add ition, current and upcoming

This paper is printed with vegetable-oil-based inks and is 100·percent postconsumer recycled material . chlorine-free-processed and recyclable .federal standards and safeguards , including p o llu t ion-reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels will ensure s teady reduction s of fine- p article pollution and will protect public h ealt h in communities across the na t i o n . Together we have made considerable progress in reducing fine-particle pollu tio n . Nationw ide monitored levels of fine-particle pollut ion have f alle n 34 percent since 2000 when we first began such monitoring for particl es of this s ize. 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 / pmdesignat ion s.