State Capitol, Suite 250 

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 

Dear Governor Beebe: 

Thank you for your recommendations dated December 5, 2013, on air quality designations for the 2012 

revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) 

throughout Arkansas. I appreciate the information Arkansas shared with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letter is to notify you of the 

EPA's preliminary response recommendations from the state of Arkansas and to inform you of our 

approach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PM2.s 

standard. 

On December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2.sNAAQS (78 FR 3086, 

January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening it 

from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J..Lg/m3) to 12.0 J..Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PMz.s 

standard at 35 J..Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM10 (coarse particle) standard at 150 j.tg/m3; and 

retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PMz.s 

standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body of new scientific evidence, which 

substantially strengthens our body of knowledge regarding PMz.s-related health effects. The revised 

primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increased protection for children, older adults, persons with 

pre-existing heart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array of PM2.s-related 

adverse health effects, including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency 

department visits, and development and exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease. 

History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working 

closely with the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the standards using a common sense 

approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. As 

part of this routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the country 

that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s air pollution. Within one year of 

promulgating a new or revised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Governor of each 

state to submit to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area 

meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PM2.s standard, Governors were to 

submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by December 13, 

2013. 

As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA then designates an area as "nonattainment" is violating 

the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS or if it is contributing to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. 

Consistent with designations for previous PMz.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation 

This paper is printed with vegetable-oil-based inks and is 100-percent postconsumer recycled material, 

chlorine-free-processed and recyclable 
December 5, 2013 and have reviewed the relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air 

quality data. These data do not indicate any violation of the 201 2 annual PM2.s NAAQS in Arkansas or 

contribution to any nearby areas. Accordingly, the EPA intends to modify the recommendation from 

Ark~as of attainment or unclassifiable for all counties in the state and designate all areas of the state as 

unclassifiable/attainment. The Technical Support Document, which provides additional detail regarding 

the status of data for Crittenden County (part of the Memphis, Tennessee Core Based Statistical Area 

(CBSA)) and the rationale to support the EPA's unclassifiable/attainment preliminary designation for 

that county is enclosed and is available on the EPA's website at 

http://www .epa.gov/pmdesignations/20 12standards/state.htm. 

The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the 

general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly 

in the Federal Register. After considering the additional information we receive, the EPA plans to 

promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014. 

The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing PM2.s 

air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction 

rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steady progress to reduce PM2.s forming pollution 

and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued 

dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the 2012 annual PM2.s standard. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at (214) 665-2100, or have your staff contact 

Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief of the Air Planning Section, at (214) 665-7242. 

Sincerely, 

Enclosure 

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Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency