UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 6 1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 1200 DALLAS TX75202-2733 

### DEC 9 - 2011 The Honorable Susana Martinez Governor ofNew Mexico State Capitol, Room 400 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Dear Governor Martinez:
Thankyou for yourrecommendations dated February 5, 2009, and October 17,2011, on airquality designations for the revised 2008 National AmbientAir Quality Standards for ozone throughout New Mexico. Iappreciate the information New Mexico shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as we move forward to improve ozone airquality. This letteris to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminary response to New Mexico's recommendations and to inform you ofour approach for completing the designations for the revised ozone standards.
On March 12,2008, the EPA revised its national ambient air quality standards for ground-level ozone to provide increased protection ofpublic health and the environment. The EPA lowered the primary 8- hourozone standard from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm to protect againsthealth effects associated with ozone exposure, including arange ofserious respiratory illnesses and increased premature death from heart or lung disease. The EPA revised the secondary 8-hourozone standard, making it identical to the primary standard, to protect against welfare effects, including impacts on sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems. 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 common sense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state and local governments. As part ofthis routine process, the EPA is working with the states to identitY areas in the country that meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce ozone pollution. Within one year after a new or revised air quality standard is established, the Clean AirAct requires the governor ofeach state to submit to the EPA a list ofall areas in the state, with recommendations for whether each area meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2008 ozone standards, the EPA asked states to submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate areaboundaries, by March 12,2009. In September2009, the EPA announced it was reconsidering the 2008 ozone standards. The EPA latertook steps to delaythe designation process for the 2008 ozone standards pending outcome ofthe reconsideration. However, in September20II, the Office ofManagement and Budgetreturned to the EPA the draftfinal rule addressing the reconsideration ofthe 2008 ozone standards. On September22, 20II, the EPA restarted the implementation effortbyissuing amemorandumto claritY for state and local agencies the status ofthe 2008 ozone standards and to outline plans for moving forward to implementthem. The EPA indicated that it would proceed with initial area designations for the 2008 standards, and planned to use the recommendations states made in 2009 as updated bythe most current, certified air quality data from 2008-20IO. While the EPA did notrequest that states submit updated designation recommendations, the EPA provided the opportunity for states to do so. Thankyou for the October 17, 20II, updated designation recommendation from New Mexico based on the assessment of2008-20I0 air quality data.

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.govlregion6 Recycled/Recyclable. Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper, Process Chlorine FreeAs required by the Clean AirAct, the EPA wilJ designate an area as nonattainment ifit is violating the 2008 ozone standards or contributing to a violation ofthe standards in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous ozone standards, the EPA intends to designate an area as unclassifiable/attainment ifthere are certified, quality-assured air quality monitoring data showing the area is meeting the ozone standards orthere are no monitoring data for the area, and the EPA has not made adetermination that the area is contributingto a violation in anearby area. Afterconsidering New Mexico's February 2009 and October2011 ozone designation recommendations and otherrelevant technical information, including 2008-20I0 air quality data, the EPA intends to designate the entire state ofNew Mexico as unclassifiable/attainment.
IfNew Mexico has additional information that you would like the EPA to consider, please submit it to us by February 29, 2012. The EPA will also 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 FederalRegister. After considering additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final ozone designations in spring of2012.
The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing ozone airpollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules forpowerplants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steady progress to reduce ozone-forming pollution and will protectpublic health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we worktogetherto implement the 2008 ozone standards. Should you have any questions, please do nothesitate to contactme at (214) 665-2100, orhave your staffcontactMr. Guy Donaldson ofmy staffat (214) 665-7242.

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Enclosure

cc: Mr. F. David Martin, Secretary New Mexico Environment Department
Mr. ButchTongate, Director, Environmental Protection Division
Mr. Richard Goodyear, Acting Bureau Chief, Air Quality Bureau
Ms. Mary Lou Leonard, Environmental Health DepartmentDirector, City ofAlbuquerque