UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WAS H ING TO N , D.C. 20460

The Honorable John Kitzhaber, M.D. Governor of Oregon 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, Oregon 97301-4047 Dear Governor Kitzhaber: 

# - DEC 1 8 2014

THE ADMINISTRATOR

I am writing to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ' s recent action to address fine particle pollution in your state. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient air quality standards for fine particle po llution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations of the standard. On Dece mber 14,2012, the EPA strengthened the annual, health-based fine particle s tandard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (J..tg/m3 ) to 12.0 J..!g/m 3

. Thousands of scientific studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles-approximately l/30th the size ofa human hair-with serious human health problems including premature death in people with 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 level s in communities across your state 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 state and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels of fine particle pollution, I have determined that no area within Oregon violates the 2012 standard or contributes to a nearby violation ofthe standard. As a re sult, the EPA is de signating all of Oregon "unclas sifiable/a ttainment. " Because air quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete, if a state or tribe reques ts it, the EPA will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fine particle monitoring data for 20 12-20 14. If you would like the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your state , please submi t to the EPA , complete, quality-assured and certified air quality data for 2014 by February 27, 2015

. The EPA shares responsibility with the state s and tribes for managing particle pollution levels. Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 fine particle pollution standards are already working to reduce unhealthy levels offine particle pollution. In addition, current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels will assure steady reductions of fine particle pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country.

Interne! Address (URL) • htlp://www

.epa
. gov Recycled/R ecyclable • Pri nted wil h Vegetable Oi l Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer. Process Chlori ne Free Recyc l ed PaperTogether, we have made considerable progress to reduce fine particle pollu tion. Nationwide, monitored levels of fine particle pollution fell 34 percent si nce 2000 when we first began nationwide monitoring for particles of this size. I am confident this progress will accelerate as together we continue to work towards our shared goa l of clean air. For additional information about these designations, please visit our website at: www.epa.gov / pmdesignations .

If you have questions or concerns, p l ease contact me or your staff may contact Mark Rupp , Depu ty Associate Administrator for Intergo vernmental Rela t ions , at rupp . mark@epa.gov or at (202) 564-7178. Si ncere ly,