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Mr. Terry Hertel 

### UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTA L PROTE CTION AGENCY REGION 6 1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 1200 DALLAS, TX 75202-2733

Monitoring Program Manager New Mexico En vironment Department Ai r Quality Bureau 1301 Siler Road , Bldg B Santa Fe, NM 87507 Dear Mr. Hertel: Thank you for your submittal of New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) 5 Year Ambient Air Monitoring Network Assessment as required by 40 CFR 5 8 .1 0. Region 6, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated your Assignment. Based on our review, EPA is approving NMED's Assessment. We wish to note that NMED's Assessment was one of the best assessments submitted to the EPA. NMED provided a five year projection of their monitoring network expectations, as well as u sed the best available analysis tools and adapted them to NMED's unique monitoring network needs, providing a comprehensive assessment. For future planning, please note that source-based sulfur dioxide (S02) monitoring is no longer required per the revised monitoring rule promulga ted June 22, 201 0. However, state and applicable local agencies are strongly encouraged 

### to monitor above the minimum requirements for population exposure or near sources in areas that are not conducive to modeling. Also , the updates to the 2010 Census and 2008 Nati onal Emissions Inventory (NEI) may adjust S02 monitoring requirements. EPA appreciates NMED's partnership on the continued work and planni ng for their carbon monoxide (CO) , nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM 

### t oand PM2.5 ) monitoring networks , and looks forward to continuing to work with NME D on the implementation of their ozone (0 3) network and the new 0 3 National Ambient Ai r Quality Standards (NAAQS) and 0 3 monitoring rules, which should both be released in 2011. After the rules are released, EPA will work with the NMED on implementing the new 0 3 monitoring requirements, especially in the Paso del Norte area and anticipated rural site with the U.S. Forest Service in Rio Arriba County. We also look forward to working with NMED on the implementation of the upcoming air monitoring requirements for lead
. Future network assessments can successfully build upon this 201 0 netwo rk assessment by providing a 5 year plan that includes all desired components for N MED' s ambient monitoring network while also allowing the flexibility to be scaled to accommodate any potential changes to monitoring requirements.

Intern et Add ress (U A L)
- http :// www.epa .g ov/earth1 r6/ Recyc led/ Re cyc l able
- Printed with Ve g etabl e Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minim um 30% Postconsumer}

### Letter to Mr. Terry Herte l Page2

EPA appreciates NMED's partnership in conducting ambient air monito rin g. We look forward to working with you to continuously improve the quality of ambient air in New Mexico. If you have any questions or comments regarding this network assessment, please contact me at 214-665-2230 or have your staff contact Regina Krystyn, of my s taff, at (214) 665-7128.

cc: Anna Richards Operations Section Chief New Mexico Environment Department 

### Sincerely, 

# 1tJ 

# >14: _fo r Maria 

### L. Martinez Chief, Air Quality Analysis S ection