UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 10 

Herman Dillon, Sr. 

Chairman, Puyallup Tribal Council 

3009 East Portland A venue 

Tacoma, Washington 98404 

Dear Chairman Dillon: 

1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 

Seattle, WA 98101-3140 

JUN 12 2012 

OFFICE OF 

AIR, WASTE AND TOXICS 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) is offering an opportunity for consultation and 

coordination on the EPA's plan to propose a clean data determination for the Tacoma, Pierce County 

nonattainment area (also known as the Wapato Hills-Puyallup River Valley PM25 nonattainment area). I 

invite you or your designated representative(s) to participate in this consultation and coordination 

process. 

On December 14, 2009 (74 FR 58688), EPA designated the Tacoma, Pierce County nonattainment area, 

including all restricted and trust lands within the Puyallup Reservation, for the 2006 24-hour PM2 5 

National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). While the state is responsible for meeting Clean Air 

Act planning requirements for non-trust lands within the boundary of the Puyallup Reservation, the EPA 

and the Puyallup Tribe have responsibility for air quality planning and implementing measures to 

improve air quality for restricted and trust lands within the boundary of the Puyallup Reservation. 

The EPA is now planning to propose that the nonattainment area meets the 24-hour PM2.

5 NAAQS 

based upon 2009-20 II ambient air monitoring data. If this determination is made final, under the 

provisions of the EPA's PM2.5 implementation rule ( 40 CFR 51.1 004( c)), the requirement for the state to 

submit an attainment demonstration and other associated planning requirements for non-trust lands 

related to attainment of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard would be suspended for so long as the area continues 

to meet this N AAQS. If the EPA subsequently determines that the area is in violation of the 2006 24-

hour PM25 NAAQS, the basis for the suspension of the specific requirements, set forth at 40 CFR 

51.1004(c), would no longer exist and the area would thereafter have to address the pertinent 

requirements. 

Please note the proposed clean data determination that the air quality data shows attainment of the 2006 

24-hour PM2.

5 NAAQS is not equivalent to the redesignation of the area to attainment. This proposed 

action, if finalized, will not constitute a redesignation to attainment under section I 07( cl)(3) of the CAA, 

because we would not yet have an approved maintenance plan for the nonattainment area as required 

under section 175A of the CAA, nor a determination that the area has met the other requirements for 

redesignation. The designation status of the area would remain nonattainment for the 2006 PM2.5 

NAAQS until such time as the EPA determines that the area meets the CAA requirements for 

redesignation to attainment. 

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This consultation and coordination process will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Policy on 

Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (www.epa.gov/triballconsultation/consultpolicy.htm). Please notify Jeff Hunt by July 16 if you are interested in a consultation meeting about this 

upcoming EPA decision. If you have any questions please contact me at 206-553-l g47 or have your 

stall contact either Debra Suzuki, State and Tribal Air Programs Unit Manager, at 206-553-0985 or Jeff 

Hunt, PM25 staff lead, at 206-553-0256. • 

I look forward to hearing ti·om you on this important matter. 

Sincerely, --. _______ .--::;> 

chard Albright, Director 

Office of Air, Waste, and Toxics 

cc: Bill Sullivan, Puyallup Tribe, Natural Resources Director (via e-mail) 

Mary Basballe, Puyallup Tribe, Air Quality Staff (via e-mail) 

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