UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98101-3140

OFFICE OF AIR, WASTE AND TOXICS 

### NOV 092009 Ms. Barbara Trost Air and Water Quality Division Alaska DepartmentofEnvironmental Conservation 555 Cordova Street Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2617 DearMs. Trost: We have evaluated the 2009 Alaska Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan, which describes the Alaska monitoring network for 2009-2010. Thefollowing proposed changes to the monitoring network, which are consistent with 40 CFRPart 58.14, are approved. 1. The State and the municipal air quality staffare proposing two locations for monitoring ozone in the Anchorage area, one within downtown Anchorage, and one in Eagle River to represent a maximum impact site, downwind ofthe main sources. Equipment hasbeen purchased, and site installation and operation is to begin at the start ofthe 2010 ozone season. 2. ADEC has requested that the Anchorage Garden site PM2.5 monitorbe reclassified from SLAMS to SPM status because it has measured low PM2.5 values relative to theNAAQS. Becausethe design values for all PM2.5 monitors in Anchorage are below 85% ofthe NAAQS, a PM2.5 SLAMS monitor is not required in Anchoragebasedon 40 CFR Part 58, Appendix D. We therefore approve the redesignation ofthis monitorto SPM. 3. The Fairbanks North StarBorough currently operates two CO monitoring sites in Fairbanks, at the Old Post office and at Hunter School. The Boroughrequests permission to discontinue monitoring at the Hunter School site because Fairbanks has not recorded an exceedance of the CONAAQS in almost a decade, and the Hunter School CO monitoris well correlated withthe Old Post Office CO monitor. We approve the discontinuation ofthe Hunter School CO monitor. 4. The Kenai Peninsula Site is part ofthe CIRIAMS network designed to assess regional particulate levels andbetterprotect public health. A new CIRIAMS site will be located in Soldotna, behind the Kenai Peninsula Borough Building. Site installation will begin this summer. Similarto otherCIRIAMS sites, it will house continuous PM 1 0 andPM2.5 samplers. 5. The RedDogMine, a zinc and lead minein the North West Arctic Borough, emits greater than 1tonlyr oflead, and requires a source-orientedPb monitorbased onEPA's new Lead Monitoring Rule. The State will determine which ofthe nearby communities, Kivalina or Noatak, is best suited for the monitoring site. Sampling will begin at the selected site by January 1,2010.

OPrlntedonRecYCledpSP!'The following monitors are designated "core" monitors because they are either: 1) required by40CFR Part 58, Appendix D; 2) have a design value near orabove the new PM2.5 24-hour standard of35ug/m3, or; 3) they are essential monitoring parameters at NCore sites: 1. PM2.5 FRMs (or Approved Regional Method): a) Fairbanks (primary and secondary) b) Juneau c) Butte 2. PM2.5 speciation and precursor gas monitoring at the proposedFairbanks NCore site. "Core" monitors are those monitors in the network that must be operated with available PM2.5 monitoring funds. The "non-core" PM2.5 monitors in the State's network can be operated at ADEC'sdiscretion with any remaining federal funds or State funds. Ifyou have any questions about our approval ofthe Alaska monitoring network, please contact Keith Rose at (206) 553-1949.Sincerely,

Mahbubul Islam, Manager State and Tribal Air Program Unit

cc: Chris Hall, OEA Keith Rose, OAWT

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