UNITEDSTATESENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONAGENCYREGION5KarenR.DiverChairwomanAUG1 92014FondduLacBand1720BigLakeRoadCloquet,Minnesota55720DearChairwomanDiver:77WESTJACKSONBOULEVARDCHICAGO,IL60604-3590REPLYTOTHEATTENTIONOF:ThankyouforyourrecommendationdatedDecember,2013,ofairqualitydesignationsforthe2012revisedprimaryannualfineparticle(PMz.s)NationalAmbientAirQualityStandard(NAAQS)onbehalfoftheFondduLacBand.IappreciatetheinformationtheFondduLacBandsharedwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyaswemoveforwardtoimprovePM2.sairquality.ThisletteristonotifyyouofEPA'spreliminarydecisiontodesignatetheFondduLacBandareaofindiancountryasunclassifiable/attairm1entforthe2012revisedprimaryannualPM2.sstandardandtoinformyouofourapproachforcompletingthedesignations.Althoughyourinvolvementisnotrequired,wewouldliketoinviteyoutoparticipateinthedesignationsprocessandtoofferyouconsultation.OnDecember14,2012,EPApromulgatedarevisedprimaryannualPM2sNAAQS(78FR3086,January15,2013).Inthataction,EPArevisedtheprimaryannualPM2.sstandard,strengtheningitfrom15.0microgramspercubicmeter(flg/m3)to12.0flg/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM2.sstandardat35Jlg/m3;retainedtheexisting24-hourPM10(coarseparticle)standardat150j..tg/m3;andretainedthecurrentsuiteofsecondaryPMstandards.EPArevisedtheprimaryannualPM2.sstandardbasedonanintegratedassessmentofanextensivebodyofnewscientificevidence,whichsubstantiallystrengthensourbodyofknowledgeregardingPM2.s-relatedhealtheffects.TherevisedprimaryannualPM2.sstandardwillprovideincreasedprotectionforchildren,olderadults,personswithpre-existingheartandlungdisease,andotherat-riskpopulationsagainstanarrayofPM2.s-relatedadversehealtheffects,includingprematuremortality,increasedhospitaladmissionsandemergencydepartmentvisits,anddevelopmentandexacerbationofchronicrespiratorydisease.Historyshowsusthatbetterhealthandcleanerairgohand-in-handwitheconomicgrowth.Workingcloselywiththestatesandtribes,EPAisimplementingthestandardsusingacommonsenseapproachthatimprovesairqualityandminimizestheburdenonstate,local,andtribalgovernments.Aspartofthisroutineprocess,EPAisworkingwiththestatesandtribestoidentifyareasinthecountrythatmeetthestandardsandthosethatneedtotakestepstoreducePM2.sairpollution.Withinoneyearofpromulgatinganeworrevisedairqualitystandard,theCleanAirActrequirestheGovernorofeachstatetosubmittoEPAalistofallareasinthestate,Recycled/Recyclable•PrintedwithVegetableOilBasedInkson100%RecycledPaper(100%Post-Consumer)withrecommendationsforwhethereachareameetsthestandard.Althoughtribesarenotrequiredtosubmitrecommendations,EPAencouragestribestoparticipateinthedesignationsprocess,andprovidesthemwithanopportunitytosubmitrecommendationsiftheychoosetodoso.Participatingtribesarerequestedtofollowthesamescheduleasstates,ifpossible.Statesandtribeswereaskedtosubmittheirdesignationrecomll).endations,includingappropriateareaboundaries,byDecember13,2013.EPAreceivedarecommendationfromtheFondduLacBandinDecember,2013,andweintendtopromulgateanappropriatedesignationforyourareaofindiancountry.Thisisnotthefinalstepinthedesignationprocess,andyoustillhavetimetoprovideairqualityinformationtoEPAandrequestconsultation.Moreinformationregardingthisdesignationisincludedbelow.AsrequiredbytheCleanAirAct,EPApromulgatesdesignationsforallareasacrossthecountry.EPAdesignatesanareaas"nonattainment"ifitisviolatingtheNAAQSorifitiscontributingtoaviolationoftheNAAQSinanearbyarea.ConsistentwithdesignationsforpreviousPM2.sstandards,EPAintendstouseadesignationcategoryof"unclassifiable/attainment"forareasthataremonitoringattainmentordonothavemonitors,butforwhichEPAhasreasontobelievearelikelyattainmentandarenotcontributingtonearbyviolations.Additionally,EPAintendstodesignateas"unclassifiable"thoseareaswhereEPAeithercannotdeterminebasedonavailableinformationwhethertheareaismeetingtheNAAQS,orhasnotdeterminedwhethertheareacontributestoanearbyviolation.Atthistime,EPAisproceedingwithintendedinitialareadesignationsusingquality-assured,certifiedairqualitymonitoringdatafrom20IIto2013.EPAhasrevieweddesignationsrecommendationmadebytheFondduLacBandonDecemberII,2013,andotherrelevanttechnicalinformation,including2011-2013airqualitydata,EPAagreeswiththeFondduLacBandrecommendedareadesignationandintendstodesignateyourareaofIndiancountryasunclassifiable/attainmentalongwiththesurroundingstatearea.PleasenotifyusbySeptember29,2014ifyouareinterestedinconsultingwithusregardingthedesignationsprocess.Whenrequested,consultationwillbeconductedinaccordancewithEPAPolicyonConsultationandCoordinationwithIndianTribes(www.epa.gov/tribal/consultationlconsult-policy.htm).EPAwillmakeitspreliminarydesignationdecisionsandsupportingdocumentationavailabletothegeneralpublicforreviewandcomment.Wewillbeannouncinga30-daypubliccommentperiodshortlyintheFederalRegister.Afterconsideringadditionalinformationwereceive,EPAplanstopromulgatefinalannualPM2.sdesignationsinDecemberof2014.EPAiscommittedtoworkingwiththestatesandtribestosharetheresponsibilityofreducingPM2.5airpollution.Currentandupcomingfederalstandardsandsafeguards-includingpollutionreductionrulesforpowerplants,vehicles,andfuels-willassuresteadyprogresstoreducePM25-formingpollutionandwillprotectpublichealthincommunitiesacrossthecountry.Welookforwardtoworkingtogetherwithyouandyourstafftoimplementthe2012annualPM2.sstandard.

If your

tribe

is interested

in consultation

o

r participating

in further

discus

s ions

or meetings

with

the EPA officials

about

the

d es ignations

process

, p

l ease

do not hesitate

to contact me

or your

staff

may contact

Ronna Beckmann

or Eileen Deamer

, the Region

5 Intergovernmental

Liaisons,

at (312)

886

- 3000. Sincerely, Susan Hedman Regional Administrator cc:

Wayne

Dupui

s Environmenta

l Program

Manager Fond duLac

Band Alexander

Jackson Air Program Coordinator Fond duLac

Band J olm Line

Stine Commissioner Minnesota

Pollution

Co ntrol Agency David Thornton Assistant Commissioner Minnesota

Pollution

Control

Agency