UNITEDSTATESENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONAGENCYREGION5AUG1 92014HaroldFrankChairman77WESTJACKSONBOULEVARDCHICAGO,IL60604-3590REPLYTOTHEATTENTIONOF:ForestCountyPotawatomiCommunityP.O.Box340Crandon,Wisconsin54520DearChairmanFrank:ThankyouforyourrecommendationsdatedDecember9,2013,ofairqualitydesignationsforthe2012revisedprimaryannualfinepatticle(PM2s)NationalAmbientAirQualityStandard(NAAQS)onbehalfoftheForestCountyPotawatomiCommunity.Iappreciatetheinf01mationtheForestCountyPotawatomiCommunitysharedwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyaswemoveforwardtoimprovePM2.sairquality.ThisletteristonotifyyouofEPA'spreliminarydecisiontodesignatetheForestCountyPotawatomiCommunityareaofindiancountryasunclassifiable/attainmentforthe2012revisedprimaryannualPM2.sstandardandtoinformyouofourapproachforcompletingthedesignations.Althoughyourinvolvementisnotrequired,wewouldliketoinviteyoutoparticipateinthedesignationsprocessandtoofferyouconsultation.OnDecember14,2012,EPApromulgatedarevisedprimaryannualPM2.sNAAQS(78FR3086,January15,2013).Inthataction,EPArevisedtheprimaryammalPM2.sstandard,strengtheningitfrom15.0microgramspercubicmeter(11g/m3)to12.011g/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM2.sstandardat3511g/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM1o(coarseparticle)standardat15011g/m3;andretainedthecunentsuiteofsecondaryPMstandards.EPArevisedtheprimaryannualPM2.sstandardbasedonanintegratedassessmentofanextensivebodyofnewscientificevidence,whichsubstantiallystrengthensourbodyofknowledgeregardingPM2.s-relatedhealtheffects.TherevisedprimaryammalPM2.sstandardwillprovideincreasedprotectionforchildren,olderadults,personswithpre-existingheartandlungdisease,andotherat-riskpopulationsagainstananayofPM2.s-relatedadversehealtheffects,includingprematuremortality,increasedhospitaladmissionsandemergencydepartmentvisits,anddevelopmentandexacerbationofchronicrespiratorydisease.Historyshowsusthatbetterhealthandcleanerairgohand-in-handwitheconomicgrowth.Workingcloselywiththestatesandtribes,EPAisimplementingthestandardsusingacommonsenseapproachthatimprovesairqualityandminimizestheburdenonstate,local,andtribalgovermnents.Aspartofthisroutineprocess,EPAisworkingwiththestatesandtribestoidentifYareasinthecountrythatmeetthestandardsandthosethatneedtotakestepstoreducePM2.sairpollution.Withinoneyearofpromulgatinganeworrevisedairqualitystandard,theCleanAirActrequirestheGovernorofeachstatetosubmittoEPAalistofallareasinthestate,Recycled/Recyclable•PrintedwithVegetableOilBasedInkson100%RecycledPaper(100%Post-Consumer)withrecommendationsforwhethereachareameetsthestandard.Althoughtribesarenotrequiredtosubmitrecommendations,EPAencouragestribestoparticipateinthedesignationsprocess,andprovidesthemwithanopportunitytosubmitrecommendationsiftheychoosetodoso.Participatingtribesarerequestedtofollowthesamescheduleasstates,ifpossible.Statesandtribeswereaskedtosubmittheirdesignationrecommendations,includingappropriateareaboundaries,byDecember13,2013.EPAreceivedarecommendationfromtheForestCountyPotawatomiCommunityinDecember,2013,andweintendtopromulgateanappropriatedesignationforyourareaofindiancountry.Thisisnotthetina!stepinthedesignationprocess,andyoustillhavetimetoprovideairqualityinformationtoEPAandrequestconsultation.Moreinformationregardingthisdesignationisincludedbelow.AsrequiredbytheCleanAirAct,EPApromulgatesdesignationstorallareasacrossthecountry.EPAdesignatesanareaas"nonattainment"ifitisviolatingtheNAAQSorifitiscontributingtoaviolationoftheNAAQSinanearbyarea.ConsistentwithdesignationsforpreviousPM2.sstandards,EPAintendstouseadesignationcategoryof"unclassifiable/attainment"forareasthataremonitoringattainmentordonothavemonitors,butforwhichEPAhasreasontobelievearelikelyattainmentandarenotcontributingtonearbyviolations.Additionally,EPAintendstodesignateas"unclassifiable"thoseareaswhereEPAeithercam1otdeterminebasedonavailableinfonnationwhethertheareaismeetingtheNAAQS,orhasnotdeterminedwhethertheareacontributestoanearbyviolation.Atthistime,EPAisproceedingwithintendedinitialareadesignationsusingquality-assured,certifiedairqualitymonitoringdatafrom2011to2013.EPAhasreviewedthedesignationsrecommendationsmadebytheForestCountyPotawatomiCommunityonDecember9,2013,andotherrelevanttechnicalinformation,including2011-2013airqualitydata,EPAagreeswiththeForestConntyPotawatomiCommnnityrecommendedareadesignationandintendstodesignateyourareaofindiancountryasnnclassifiable/attainmentalongwiththesurroundingstatearea.PleasenotifyusbySeptember29,2014ifyouareinterestedinconsultingwithnsregardingthedesignationsprocess.Whenrequested,consultationwillbeconductedinaccordancewithEPAPolicyonConsultationandCoordinationwithIndianTribes(www.epa.gov/tribal/consultation/consult-policy.htm).EPAwillmakeitspreliminarydesignationdecisionsandsupportingdocumentationavailabletothegeneralpublicforreviewandcomment.Wewillbeannonncinga30-daypubliccommentperiodshortlyintheFederalRegister.Afterconsideringadditionalinformationwereceive,EPAplanstopromulgatefinalannualPM2.sdesignationsinDecemberof2014.EPAiscommittedtoworkingwiththestatesandtribestosharetheresponsibilityofreducingPM2.sairpollution.Currentandupcomingfederalstandardsandsafeguards-includingpollutionreductionrnlesforpowerplants,vehicles,andfuels-willassuresteadyprogresstoreducePM2s-formingpollutionandwillprotectpublichealthinconnnnnitiesacrossthecountry.Welookforwardtoworkingtogetherwithyonandyourstafftoimplementthe2012annualPM2.sstandard.IfyourtribeisinterestedinconsultationorparticipatinginfurtherdiscussionsormeetingswiththeEPAofficialsaboutthedesignationsprocess,pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeoryourstaffmaycontactRonnaBeckmannorEileenDeamer,theRegion5IntergovernmentalLiaisons,at(312)886-3000.Sincerely,SusanHedmanRegionalAdministratorcc:FrankShepardDeputyNaturalResources AdministratorForestCountyPotawatomiCommunityNataleneCummingsAirQualityProgramManagerForestCountyPotawatomiCommunityCathySteppSecretaryWisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResourcesPatStevensAdministTator,DivisionofAirandWasteWisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources