Post Office Box 12428 

Austin, Texas 78711 

Dear Governor Perry: 

Thank you for your recommendations dated November 26, 2013, on air quality designations for the 

2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) 

throughout Texas. I appreciate the information Texas 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 the EPA's 

preliminary response to the recommendations from the state of Texas and to inform you of our approach 

for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PM2.s standard. 

On December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, 

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

from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter to 12.0 f.lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.s 

standard at 35 retained the existing 24-hour PM1o (coarse particle) standard at 150 and 

retained the current suite of secondary PM standards. The 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 ofPM2.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, the EPA is implementing the standards using a common sense approach that improves air quality and minimizes the burden on state, local, and tribal governments. As 

part of this routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the cou.ntry 

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 the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with recommendations for wheth,er ec:tch area 

meets the standard. As a first step in implementing the 2012 annual PM2.s standard, Governors were to 

submit their designation recommendations, including appropriate area boundaries, by December 13, 

2013. 

As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA then designates an area as "nonattairunent" if it is violating 

the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS or if it is contributing to a violation of the 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 and for areas that do not 

This paper is printed with vegetable-oil-based inks and is 1 DO-percent postconsumer recycled material, 

chlorine-free-processed and recyclable. 
These data do not indicate any violation of the 20 12 annual PM2.s NAAQS in Texas or contribution to 

any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to modify the state of Texas recommendation of 

attainment for some areas of the state and unclassifiable/attainment for the remainder of the state and 

designate all areas of the state as unclassifiable/attainment. 

The 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 the additional information we receive, the EPA plans to 

promulgate fmal annual PM2.s designations in December of2014. 

The EPA is committed to working with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing PM2.s 

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 P~vh.s forming pollution 

and will protect public health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued 

dialogue with you and your staff as we work together to implement the 2012 annual PM2.s standard. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at (214) 665-2100, or have your staff contact 

Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief of the Air Planning Section, at (214)-665-7242. 

cc: Please see page 3 
Ms. Janet G. McCabe 

Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Mr. Stephen D. Page 

Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency