### UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The Honorable Sam Brownback Govemor ofKansas State Capitol 200 SW 101h Avenue Topeka, Kansas 66612-1590

Dear Govemor Brownback: REGION 7 11201 RENNER BOULEVARD LENEXA, KS 66219



## AUG 1-9 2014 OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Thankyou for your recommendation dated December 13, 2013, ofair quality designations for the 2012 revised primary ammal fine particleNational Ambient Air Quality Standard throughout Kansas. I appreciate the infonnation Kansas shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as wemove forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letter is to notify you ofthe EPA'spreliminaryresponse to Kansas's recommendation and to infonn you ofour approach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary ammal PM2.s standard.

On December 14, 2012, the EPApromulgated a revised primary annual PM2.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary rumual PM2.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (11g/m3) to 12.0 11g/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.s standard at 35 11g/m3; retained the existing 24-hourPM10 (coarse particle) standard at 150 11g/m3; and retained the current suite ofsecondaryPM standards. The EPArevised the primary annual PM2.s standardbased on an**integrat~d** assessment ofan extensive bodyofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens ourbody ofknowledge regarding PM2.s-related health effects. The revised primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increasedprotection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existingheart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array ofPM2.s-related adverse health effects, includingpremature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation ofchronic respiratory disease.

History shows us that betterhealth and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closelywith the states and tribes, the EPA is implementing the standards using a commonsense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and tribal govemments. As part of this routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the countrythat
meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s air pollution. Within one year of promulgating anew orrevised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Govemor ofeach
state to submit to the EPA a list ofall areas in the state, with a designation·recommendation for each

area. As a first step inimplementing the 2012 annual PM2.s standard, Govemors were to submittheir designation recommendations, including appropriate areaboundaries, byDecember 13, 2013.As required bythe Clean Air Act, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" ifit is violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS

or ifit is contributing to a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of"unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attaimnent or do not have monitors, but for which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attaim11ent and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends
to designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA cannot detenninebased on available infom1ation whetherthe area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPA has not detem1ined that the area contributes to a nearbyviolation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013.

Wehave considered the ammal PM2.s designation recommendations submitted byKansas on December 13, 2013, and have reviewed the relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air quality data. These data do not indicate any violation ofthe 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS in Kansas or contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state ofKansas as unclassifiable/attaimnent.

The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. Wewill be announcing a 30-daypublic comment period shmily in the 

### FederalRegister. After considering the additional infonnation 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 ofreducing PM2.s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollution reduction rules for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2.s-fonning pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implement the 2012 annual 

### PM2.s standard. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, orhave your staffcontact BeckyWeber ofmy staffat 913-551-7487 orweber.rebecca@epa.gov.

Sincerely,

# r~ Karl Brooks

cc: Robeti Moser, Secretary, Kansas Department ofHealth.and Enviromnent Steve Ortiz, Chairman, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Virgina LeClere, Manager, Division ofPlmming and Environmental Protection, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Bridgette Robidoux, Chairperson, Sac and Fox Nation ofMissouri in Kansas and Nebraska Rick Campbell, Director, Sac and Fox Nation ofMissouri in Kansas and Nebraska Enviromnental Department TimothyRhodd, Chairman, Iowa Tribe ofKansas and Nebraska Steve Cadue, Chairman, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas Viswatej Attili, Director, Kickapoo Tribe Enviromnental Office