Air Resources Board 

Mary D. Nichols, Chairman 

Linda S. Adams 1001 1 Street P 0 Box 281 5 Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Secretaty for Sacramento, Cal~forn~a 9581 2 www arb ca gov Govemor 

Environmental Protection 

August 28,2009 

Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D. 

Air Quality Analysis Office Manager 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Region 9 

75 Hawthorne Street, AIR-7 

San Francisco, California 94105 

--&pl*t t' Dear Dr. L I . 

During the summer of 2008, an unusually intensive outbreak of lightning strikes from a 

series of dry thunderstorms ignited an unprecedented summer fire season. Extensive 

irr~pacts occurred across Northern and Central California, with smoke and haze lingering 

over the region for much of the summer. Numerous monitoring sites, comprising both 

Federal Reference Method and Federal Equivalent Method monitors, recorded elevated 

particulate matter (PM) concentration levels, with many days above the National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards for both PM2.5 and PM10. The California Air Resources 

Board is requesting exclusion of data from 33 monitoring sites in 15 Air Districts where 

smoke caused levels to exceed those historically seen during the summer particulate 

season. Documentation on these wildfire smoke events and their impact on air quality 

are enclosed. 

On March 22, 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 

adopted the Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events rule that allows data to 

be flagged and thus excluded from consideration by U.S. EPA when making decisions 

related to the attainment status of an area. This rule, which became effective on May 

22, 2007, requires that States submit documentation to support flagging to the 

appropriate U.S. EPA Regional Office. 

RECEIVED 

SEP 0 8 2009 

AIR DI'\/lSION 

U.S. EFA, FiEGlON 9 

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. 

For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website: http://www.arb.ca qov. 

California Environmental Protection Agency 

Printed on Recycled Paper 
Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D. 

August 28, 2009 

Page 2 

We are therefore formally requesting you concl-lr that these exceedances are PM2.5 

and PMIO natural events and send us confirmation by letter. If you have any questions 

regarding the enclosed documentation please contact Ms. Sylvia Zulawnick, Manager, 

Particulate Matter Analysis Section, at (916) 324-7163 or via email at 

szulawni@arb.ca.gov. 

Karen agliano, 

Air Quality Data Branch 

Planning and Technical Support Division 

Enclosures (3) 

cc: (With (I ) enclosure) 

Mr. Jack Broadbent 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Bay Area Air Quality Management District 

939 Ellis Street 

San Francisco, California 941 09-7799 

Mr. W. James Wagoner 

Air Pollution Control Oficer 

Butte County Air Quality Management District 

2525 Dominic Drive, Suite J 

Chico, California 95928-71 84 

Mr. Lakhmir Grewal 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District 

Government Center 

891 Mountain Ranch Road 

San Andreas, California 95249-9709 

Mr. Harry Krug 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Colusa County Air Pollution Control District 

100 Sunrise Boulevard, Suite F 

Colusa, California 95932-3246 
Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D. 

August 28,2009 

Page 3 

Mr. Dave Valler 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Feather River Air Quality Management District 

1007 Live Oak Boulevard, Suite B-3 

Yuba City, California 95991 

Mr. Mark Black 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Glenn County Air Pollution Control District 

P.O. Box 351 (720 North Colusa Street) 

Willows. California 95988-0351 

Mr. Doug Gearhart 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Lake County Air Quality Management District 

885 Lakeport Boulevard 

La keport, California 954.53-5405 

Mr. Christopher D. Brown 

Air Pollution Control Oficer 

Mendocino County Air Quality Management District 

306 East Gobbi Street 

Ukiah, California 95482-551 1 

Mr. Rick Martin, Jr. 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District 

2300 Myrtle Avenue 

Eureka, California 95501-3327 

Ms. Gretchen Bennitt 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District 

200 Litton Drive, Suite 320 

' P.O. Box 2509 

Grass Valley, California 95945-2509 
Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D. 

August 28,2009 

Page 4 

Mr. Tom Christofk 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Placer County Air Pollution Control District 

3091 County Center Drive, Suite 240 

Auburn, California 95603 

Mr. Larry Greene 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District 

777 12th Street, Third Floor 

Sacramento, California 95814-1908 

Mr. Seyed Sadredin 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District 

1990 East Gettysburg 

Fresno, California 93726 

Mr. Russ Mull 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Shasta County Air Quality Management District 

1855 Placer Street, Suite 101 

Redding, California 96001 -1 759 

Mr. Patrick Griffin 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District 

525 South Foothill Drive 

Y reka, California 96097-3036 

Mr. Mat Ehrhardt 

Air Pollution Control Officer 

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District 

1947 Galileo Court, Suite 103 

Davis, California 9561 6-4882 

Ms. Sylvia Zulawnick, Manager 

Particulate Matter Analysis Section 

Planning and Technical Support Division