# Air Resources Board

Mary D. Nichols, Chairman Linda

### S. Adams 1001 1 Street P 0 Box 2815 Arnold Schwarzenegger

Secretaty for Sacramento, Cal~forn~a 95812 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 15Air Districts where smoke caused levels to exceed those historicallyseen 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 beflagged and thus excluded from consideration by U.S. EPA when making decisions relatedtothe 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 ofsimple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website: http://www.arb.caqov. 

### California Environmental Protection Agency

Printed on Recycled PaperMr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D. August 28, 2009 Page 2

We are therefore formally requesting you concl-lrthat these exceedances are PM2.5 and PMIO natural events and send us confirmation by letter. Ifyou have any questions regardingthe 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 95928-7184

Mr. Lakhmir Grewal Air Pollution Control Officer Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District Government Center 891 Mountain Ranch Road SanAndreas, 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. DaveValler 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 Lakeport, 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

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### P.O. Box 2509 Grass Valley, California 95945-2509Mr. 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