THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The Honorable Phyliss 

### J. Anderson ChiefofMississippi Band of Choctaw Indians P.O. Box 6010 Choctaw Branch Choctaw, Mississippi 39350 Dear Chief Anderson: WASHI N GTON , D . C . 20460 

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I would li ke to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent action to address fineparticle pollution on your reservation. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient-air-quality standards for fine-particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations of the standard. The EPA on December 14, 2012, strengthened the annual, health-based fine-particle standard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J..t.g/m3) to 12.0 J..t.g/m3

. Thousands of scientific studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles - approximately I/30th the size of a human hair - with serious health problem s including premature death in people w ith heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency-room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the information you and your staff have shared with the EPA throughout this process to assess fine-particle-pollution levels in communities across your reservation and the impact of emission sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air. After considering your recommendations, reviewing the most recent certified fine-particle air-quality data for your reservation and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels of fine-particle pollution, I have determined that no area within the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation vio la tes the 2012 standard or contributes to a nearby violation of the standard. As a result, the EPA is designating all of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation "unclassifiable/attainment." Because air-quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete, the EPA, at a tribe's request, will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fine -particle-monitoring data for 20 12- 14. If you would like the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your reservation, please submit complete, quality-assured and certified air-quality data for 2014 to the EPA by February 27,2015. I recognize that the EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle-pollution levels . Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1 997 and 2006 fine-particle - pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels of fine-particle pollution. In addition , current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution-reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fue ls will ensure steady reductions of fine-particle pollution and will protect public health in communities across the nation.

Th i s paper is printed w ith vegetab le-o il -based inks and i s 100-percent postco n sumer recycled material . chlor i ne -free - processed and recyclable .Together we have made considerab le progress in reducing fine-particle pollution. Nat ion wide monitored levels of fine-particle pollution have fallen 34 percent since 2000 when we first began such monitoring for particles of this s i ze. I am confident this progress will continue as we work toward our shared goa l of clean air.

For additional information about these designation s, please visit www.epa.gov/pmdesignations. Sincere ly , **)**