UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AEGION4 ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET**ATLANT~** GEORGIA 30303-8960**w~.** 

## 2 9 2o14 The Honorable Colley Billie Chairman Miccosukee Tnoe ofIndians ofFlorida PO Box 440021 Tamiami Station Miami, Florida 33144 Dear Chairman Billie: Thepurpose ofthis letter is to provide you with additional information concerning the U
.S. Environmental Protection Agency's designations process for the 2012 primary annual PMunational ambient airquality standard (NAAQS). Your tribe may wish to engage with us in the process of assigning designations for Indian country. Although yom involvement is not required, we would like to invite you to participate in the designations process and to offer you consultation. Area recommendations for the PM2.5NAAQS were due to the EPA on December 13, 2013; however, the EPA is prepared to accept designation recommendations ftom tribal leaders until June 13, 2014.1n the event additional consultation is needed we will remain available throughout completion ofthe designations process. We want to ensure early, transparent and effective communication in developing area designations for the revised annual 

### PM2
. .s standard. On December 13,2012, the EPA revised the primary annual NAAQS for PM2..s to provide increased protection ofpublic health from fine particle pollution. The new annual 

### PM2..5 standard was strengthened ftom 15 ug/m3 to 12 ug/m3• Establishing initial area designations is a key 

### step in the process of providing the health and/or welfare protection intended by the Clean AirAct (CAA)
. Within two years ofpromulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS, the EPA must list and designate all areas in the country as one ofthe following:

• Attainment

- areas that meet the standard; • Nonattainment- areas that either do not meet the standard or are contributing to a nearby area that does not meet the standard; or • Unclassifiable

- areas where there is insufficient information to make a determination as to attainment In accordance with section 107(d)(l)(B) ofthe CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the primary annual PMl
. .s NAAQS no later than December 12, 2014. Ourdesignations will be based on the most recent three calendar years ofcertified, quality-assured monitoring data available, recommendations from state governors and tribal leaders, and any other relevant information as discussed in the April2013 designations guidance on InitialAreaDesignations for the 2012Revised PrimaryAnnualFine Particle NationalAmbientAir Quality Standard. The guidance is currently available on the EPA's PM Designations website at

Internet Address (URL) • http://www

. epa. gov Recyled/Reeyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil 88$ed Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2012standardsldocs/april2013guidance. pdf. Additional information about developing tribal air quality designations is available in the September 2013 document 

### Developing Designation Recommendations forAreas of Indian Country, which is available here: http://www.epa.gov/air/tribal/pdfs/DevelopingaDesignationRecommcndationforlndianCountry.pdf. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations for your tribe's 

### area. Please notify us byJune 13, 2014, ifyou are interested in consulting with us regarding a recommended designation. When requested, consultation will be conducted in accordance with the

### EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (www
.epa.gov/tribal/consultationlconsult-policy.htm). We plan to formally announce our intended designations for all areas byAugust 14,2014. At 

### that time we will send another letter to you with ourintended designation and offer an additional opportunity to consult with us on any modifications the EPAproposes to the designation status ofyour tribe's area of Indian country. As the designations process moves fotward, we will keep you informed ofany additional guidance or other 

### support activities. We look fotward to working with you to develop area designations under the revised 

### annual PMuNAAQS in a timely

### manner. Ifyour tribe isinterested in consultation orhas questions about the designations process, please do not hesitate to contact me or Beverly H. Banister, Director, Air Pesticides and Toxics Management Division at (404) 562-9077, orhave your staffcontact Scott Davis, Chief, Air Planning Branch at (404) 562-9127. Sincerely,

# /Ujffr:(~

cc: Kevin Donaldson, Environmental Technician HeatherMcTeerToney Regional Administrator