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

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## 'JUN 1 3 2011

The Honorable John A. Kitzhaber, MD Governor ofthe State ofOregon 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, Oregon 97301-4047

Dear Governor Kitzhaber:

Thank you for yourrecommendations on air quality designations for the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead throughout Washington. This letter is to notify you of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preliminary decision to designate all ofOregon as unclassifiable/attainment and to inform you ofour approach for completingthe designations for the revised lead standards. Reducing levels ofleadpollution is an important part ofthe EPA's commitment to a clean, healthy environment. Lead exposure can cause a range ofadverse health effects, most notably in children. Exposures to low levels oflead early in life havebeen linked to effects on IQ, learning, memory, and behavior.

On October 15, 2008, the EPA substantially strengthened thehealth-based or "primary" National Ambient Air Quality Standard bylowerin

# f it from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (llg/m3) a level set in 1978 to a level of0.15 Ilg/m

. This stronger standard provides increased protection against adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead in at-risk groups, including children. To provide increased protection against lead-related environmental and other welfare effects, the EPA revised the secondaryNational Ambient Air Quality Standardto be identical in all respects to the revised primary standard. The EPA also determined that the pre-existing ambient lead monitoring network was inadequate for determining whether many areas are meeting the revised lead standards and established new criteria for siting ambient lead monitors and new data collectionrequirements. Monitors meeting the new network sitingrequirements
were to begin operation January 1,2010.

Within two years ofpromulgatingnew orrevised National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to completethe initial process ofidentifying ordesignating areas that meet ordo not meet an air quality standard. Ifthe Administratorhas insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA has the authorityto extend the designationprocessbyup to one year. In light ofthe new monitoring network, the EPA is completingthe lead designations in two rounds. In the first round, published on**Nov~mber** 16,2010, the EPA designated as "nonattainment" 16 areas as violatingthe 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards based on data from the pre-2010 monitoring network. For all other areas, the EPA extended the deadline for designations byup to one year so that data from the newly deployed monitors canbe considered in making appropriate designation decisions. States were given an opportunityto update theirrecommendation letters for those remaining areas for our consideration in the secondround ofdesignations byDecember 15,2010. The EPA intends to complete the second round of lead designations byno laterthan October 14, 2011.

Consistent with the CleanAir Act, and after carefully considering Oregon's October 13,2009, recommendation letter and all the associated technical infonnation for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, includingthe mostrecent airqualitydata from 2008-2010, the EPA is proposingto adopt Washington's recommended designation and boundary.

We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implement the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me, or have your staffcontact Mr. Steve Body at (206) 553-0782 Sincerely,

Dennis 

### J. McLerran Regional Administrator

cc: Dick Pederson Director, Oregon Department ofEnvironmental Quality Andy Ginsburg Air Quality Administrator, Oregon Department ofEnvironmental Quality Gina McCarthy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, EPA Steve D. Page Director, Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards, EPA