UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

The Honorable Terry E. Branstad 

Govemor of Iowa 

1 007 East Grand Ave. 

Des Moines, Iowa 50319 

Dear Govemor Branstad: 

REGION 7 

11201 RENNER BOULEVARD 

LENEXA, KS 66219 

AUG 1 9 2014 

OFFICE OF 

THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

Thank you for your recommendation dated April 30, 2014, of air quality designations for the 2012 

revised primary ammal fine particle National Ambient Air Quality Standard throughout Iowa. I 

appreciate the infonnation Iowa shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move 

forward to improve PMz.s air quality. This letter is to notify you of the EPA's preliminary response to 

Iowa's recommendation and to infonn you of our approach for completing the initial area designations 

for the 2012 revised primary annual PMz.s standard. 

On December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary mmual PMz.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, 

January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PMz.s standard, strengthening it 

from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (flg/m3

) to 12.0 flg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PMz.s 

standard at 35 flg/m3

; retained the existing 24-hour PMto (coarse particle) standard at 150 flg/m3

, and 

retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary mmual PMz.s 

standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body of new scientific evidence, which 

substantially strengthens our body of knowledge regarding PMz.s-related health effects. The revised 

primary mmual PMz.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 ofPMz.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 

closely with 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 govermnents. As 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 PMz.s air pollution. Within one year of 

promulgating a new or revised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Govemor of each 

state to submit to the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with a designation recommendation for each 

area. As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PMz.s standard, Govemors were to submit their 

designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by December 13, 2013. 
As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the 

country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS 

or if it is contlibuting to a violation of the 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 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 "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA cannot detem1ine based on available 

infonnation whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPA has not detennined that the area 

contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area 

designations using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013. 

We have considered the ammal PM2.s designation recommendations submitted by Iowa on April 30, 

2014, and have reviewed the relevant technical infonnation, including 2011-2013 air quality data. These 

data do not indicate any violation ofthe 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS in Iowa or contribution to any 

nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state of Iowa as 

unclassifiable/attainment. 

The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the 

general public for review and comment. We will be mmouncing a 30-day public cmmnent period shortly 

in the Federal Register. 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 of reducing PM2.s 

air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollution reduction 

mles for power plants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2s-forming 

pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to a 

continued dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the 2012 ammal PM2.s 

standard. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, or have your staff contact 

Becky Weber of my staff at 913-551-7487 or weber.rebecca@epa.gov. 

Sincerely, 

r 

Karl Brooks 

cc: Chuck Gipp, Director, Iowa Department ofNatural Resources 

Judith Bender, Chairperson, Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa 

Chris Spencer, Director, Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa Natural 

Resource Department