### UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The Honorable Terry E. Branstad Govemor ofIowa 1007 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Dear Govemor Branstad: REGION 7 11201 RENNER BOULEVARD LENEXA, KS 66219



## AUG 1 92014

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Thank you for your recommendation dated April 30, 2014, ofair 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 ofthe EPA'spreliminaryresponse to Iowa'srecommendation and to infonn you ofour approach for completingthe initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PMz.s standard.

On December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated arevised primary mmual PMz.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised theprimary annual PMz.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms percubic meter (flg/m3) to 12.0 flg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PMz.s standard at 35 flg/m3 ; retained the existing 24-hourPMto (coarse particle) standard at 150 flg/m3

, and retained the current suite ofsecondaryPM standards. The EPA revised the primary mmual PMz.s standardbased on an integrated assessment ofan extensivebodyofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens ourbody ofknowledge regarding PMz.s-related health effects. The revised primary mmual PMz.s standard will provide increasedprotection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existingheart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array ofPMz.s-related adverse health effects, includingprematuremortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation ofchronic respiratory disease.
History shows us that betterhealth 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 theburdenon state, local, and tribal govermnents. As part of this routineprocess, the EPA is working withthe states and tribes to identify areas in the country that meetthe standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PMz.s airpollution. Within one year of promulgating a new orrevised air quality standard, the Clean AirAct requires the Govemor ofeach state to submit to the EPA a list ofall 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 areaboundaries, byDecember 13, 2013.As required bythe Clean Air Act, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" ifit is violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS
orifit is contlibuting to a violation ofthe 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 whetherthe area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPAhas not detennined that the area contributes to a nearbyviolation. 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 submittedby 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 ofIowa as unclassifiable/attainment.

The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. Wewill be mmouncing a 30-day public cmmnentperiod shortly in the 

### FederalRegister. 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 ofreducing PM2.s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- includingpollution reduction mles for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steadyprogress to reduce PM2s-forming pollution and will protectpublichealth in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implement the 2012 ammal PM2.s standard. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, orhave your staffcontact BeckyWeber ofmy staffat 913-551-7487 or weber.rebecca@epa.gov.
Sincerely, 

# r

Karl Brooks

cc: Chuck Gipp, Director, IowaDepartment ofNatural Resources Judith Bender, Chairperson, Sac and FoxTribe ofthe Mississippi in Iowa Chris Spencer, Director, Sac and Fox Tribe ofthe Mississippi in Iowa Natural Resource Department