Karen R. Diver 

Chairwoman 

Fond duLac Band 

1720 Big Lake Road 

Cloquet, Minnesota 55720 

Dear Chairwoman Diver: 

Thank you for your recommendation dated December, 2013, of air quality designations for the 

2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PMz.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard 

(NAAQS) on behalf of the Fond duLac Band. I appreciate the information the Fond duLac 

Band shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letter is to notify you of EPA's preliminary decision to designate the 

Fond duLac Band area ofindian country as unclassifiable/attairm1ent for the 2012 revised 

primary annual PM2.s standard 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, EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, 

January 15, 2013). In that action, EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening 

it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (flg/m3) to 12.0 flg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour 

PM2.s standard at 35 Jlg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM 10 (coarse particle) standard at 150 

j..tg/m3; and retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. EPA revised the primary 

annual PM2.s standard based on an integrated assessment of an extensive body of new 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 of PM2.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, EPA is implementing the standards using a 

commonsense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and 

tribal governments. As part of this routine process, 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 EPA a list of all areas in the state, 

Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper (1 00% Post-Consumer) 
EPA received a recommendation from the Fond duLac Band in December, 2013, and we intend 

to promulgate an appropriate designation for your area ofindian country. This is not the final 

step in the designation process, and you still have time to provide air quality information to EPA 

and request consultation. More information regarding this designation is included below. 

As required by the Clean Air Act, EPA promulgates designations for all areas across the country. 

EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating the NAAQS or if it is contributing to 

a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2.s 

standards, EPA intends to use a designation category of "unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that 

are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors, but for which EPA has reason to believe are 

likely attainment and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, EPA intends to 

designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where 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 this time, EPA is proceeding with intended initial area 

designations using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data from 20 II to 2013. 

EPA has reviewed designations recommendation made by the Fond duLac Band on December 

II, 2013, and other relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air quality data, EPA 

agrees with the Fond duLac Band recommended area designation and intends to designate your 

area of Indian country as unclassifiable/attainment along with the surrounding state area. Please 

notify us by September 29, 2014 if you are interested in consulting with us regarding the 

designations process. When requested, consultation will be conducted in accordance with EPA 

Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes 

(www.epa.gov/tribal/consultationlconsult-policy.htm). EPA will make its preliminary 

designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public comment period shortly in the Federal 

Register. After considering additional information we receive, EPA plans to promulgate final 

annual PM2.s designations in December of 2014. 

EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing 

PM2.5 air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards - including pollution 

reduction rules for power plants, vehicles, and fuels - will assure steady progress to reduce 

PM2 5-forming 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 2012 annual PM2.s 
Susan Hedman 

Regional Administrator 

cc: Wayne Dupuis 

Environmental Program Manager 

Fond duLac Band 

Alexander Jackson 

Air Program Coordinator 

Fond duLac Band 

J olm Line Stine 

Commissioner 

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 

David Thornton 

Assistant Commissioner 

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency