UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98101-3140 

## AUG 1 9 2014
The Honorable Nathan Small Chairman, Fort Hall Business Council The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes P.O. Box 306 Fort Hall, Idaho 83203
Dear Chairman Small: OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

This letter is to notify you ofthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preliminary decision to designate the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' area oflndian country as unclassifiable/attainment for the 2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and to inform you of our approach for completing the designations. Although your involvement is not required, we would like to invite you to participate in the designations process and to offer you consultation.
On December 14,2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15 , 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2 .s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (j..tg/m3 ) to 12.0 j..tg/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.s standard at 35 j..tg /m3 ; retained the existing 24-hour PMto (coarse particle) standard at 150 j..tg/m3 ; and retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body ofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens our body of knowledge regarding PM2 .s -related health effects. The revised primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increased protection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existing heart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array ofPM2 .s-related adverse health effects, including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease. History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working clo sely with the states and tribes , the EPA is implementing the standards using a commonsense approach that improves air quality and minimiz es the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. A s part of this routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the country that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s air pollution. Within one year of promulgating a new or revised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Governor of each state to submit to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the standard. Although tribes are not required to submit recommendation s, the EPA encourage s tribes to participate in the designations process, and provides them with an opportunity to submit recommendations if they choose to do so. Participating tribes are requested to follow the same schedule as states, ifpossible. States and tribes were asked to submit their designation recommendations , including appropriate area boundaries , by December 13 , 2013.In a letter dated May 29, 2014, the EPA encouraged you to participate in the designations process, request consultation , and submit recommendations if you chose to do so. We did not recei ve a recommendation letter or consultation requ est from you. However, because the EPA is required to designate all areas of the country, we intend to promulgate an appropriate designation for your area of Indian country. This i s not the final step in the de signation process, and you still have time to provide air quality infonnation to the EPA and request consultation. More information regarding thi s designation is includ ed below

. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA promulgates de signations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating the NAAQS or ifit i s contributing to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearb y area. Consistent with designations for previous PM 2

.s standards , the EPA intends to use a designation category of"unclassifiable / attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors, but for which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attainment and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as
" unclass ifiable" tho se areas where the EPA either cannot determine based on available information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS, or has not determined whether the area contributes to a nearby violation. At thi s time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations u s ing qualityassured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013.
After considering relevant technical infonn ation, including 2011-2013 air quality data, the EPA intends to designate your area oflndian country as unclassifiable/attainment. These data do not indicate any v iol ation of the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS in the Shoshone Bannock Tribes' area ofIndian country or contribution to any nearby area. If you h ave additional information that the EPA should consider, we ask that you submit it to us by October 29, 2014.
Please noti fy u s by September 29,20 14 if yo u are interested in consulting with u s regarding the designations process. When requested, consultation will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Polic y on Consultation and Coordination with Ind ian Tribes (www.epa.gov/trib al /consultationlconsultpolicy .htm)

. The EPA will make its preliminary de signation deci sion s and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public cmmnent period shortly in the Federal R egister. After considering additional information we recei ve, the EPA plans to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014.
The EPA is committed to working with the state s and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing PM2. s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standard s and safeguards- including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles, and fuels- will assure steady progress to reduce PM2. s-fonning pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to working together with you and your staff to implement the 20 12 annual PM2.s standard.

### If your tribe i s interested in consultation or participating in further discussions or meetings with the EPA officials about the designations process , please do not hesitate to contact me or Justin Spenillo of my staff at 206-553-6125, spenillo.justin@epa

.gov.

cc: Arnold Appeney, Land Use Director Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Cleve Davis, Environmental Coordinator Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Penny Weymiller, Air Quality Manager Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Sincerely,

Dennis J. McLerran Regional Administrator

Janet G. McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator Office ofAir and Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards