UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

The Honorable Dave Heineman 

Governor ofNebraska 

P.O. Box 94848 

Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4848 

Dear Governor Heineman: 

REGION 7 

11201 RENNER BOULEVARD 

LENEXA, KS 66219 

AUG 1 9 2014 

OFFICE OF 

THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

Thank you for your recommendation dated November 6, 2013, of air quality designations for the 2012 

revised primary ammal fine pmiicle National Ambient Air Quality Standard throughout Nebraska. I 

appreciate the infonnation Nebraska 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 Nebraska's recommendation and to infonn 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, 20 13). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening it 

from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (f.Lg/m3

) to 12.0 f.Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PM2.s 

standard at 35 f.Lg/m3

; retained the existing 24-hour PM10 (coarse particle) standard at 150 f.Lg/m3; 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 of PM2 s-related 

adverse health effects, including premature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency 

department visits, and development and exaceJ;"batioJ.1 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 commonsense 

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 

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 the EPA a list of all areas in the state, with a designation 

recommendation for each area. 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 promulgates designations for all areas across the 

country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" if it is violating the 2012 ammal PMz.s 

NAAQS or if it is contributing to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with 

designations for previous PMz.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of 

"unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attaimnent or do not have monitors, but for 

which the EPA has reason to believe are likely attaimnent and are not contributing to nearby 

violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA 

cannot detennine based on available infom1ation whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where 

EPA has not detennined that the area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is 

proceeding with intended initial area designations using quality-assured, ce1iified air quality 

monitoring data from 2011 to 2013. 

We have considered the annual PMz.s designation recommendations submitted by Nebraska on 

November 6, 2013, and have reviewed the relevant technical infonnation, including 2011-2013 air 

quality data. These data do not indicate any violation of the 2012 annual PMz.s NAAQS inN ebraska or 

contribution to any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state of Nebraska 

as unclassifiable/attaimnent. 

The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and suppmiing documentation available to 

the general public for review and comment. We will be mmouncing a 30-day public comment period 

shmily in the Federal Register. After considering the additional infom1ation we receive, the EPA plans 

to promulgate final annual PMz.s designations in December of2014. 

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

PMz.s air pollution. CuiTent and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollution 

reduction rules for power plants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steady progress to reduce PMz.sfonning 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 PMz.s 

standard. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, or have your staff 

contact Becky Weber of my staff at 913-551-7487 or weber.rebecca@epa.gov. 

Sincerely, 

r~ Karl Brooks 

cc: Brian Dunnigan, Director, Department ofNatural Resources 

Clifford Wolfe Jr, Chairman, Omaha Tribe ofNebraska 

John Blackhawk, Chainnan, Winnebago Tribe ofNebraska 

Joseph Painter, Director, Winnebago Tribe Enviromnental Protection Department 

Roger Trudell, Chairman, Santee Sioux Nation 

Alisha Bartling, Deputy Director, Santee Sioux Nation Environmental Department 

Rebecca White, Chairperson, Ponca Tribe ofNebraska 

Julia Sage, Enviromnental Manager, Ponca Tribe ofNebraska