### 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, ofair 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 ofthe EPA'spreliminary response to Nebraska's recommendation and to infonn you ofour approach for completing the initial
area designations for the 2012 revised primary annual PM2.s standard.

On December 14, 2012, the EPApromulgated a revised primary annual PM2.s NAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15, 20 13). In that action, the EPA revised theprimary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms percubicmeter (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 ofsecondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standardbased on an integrated assessment ofan extensivebodyofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens ourbodyofknowledge regarding PM2.s-related health effects. The revised primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increasedprotection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existingheart and lung disease, and other at-risk populations against an array ofPM2 s-related adverse health effects, includingprematuremortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exaceJ;"batioJ.1 ofchronicrespiratory disease.
History shows us that betterhealth 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 theburden on state, local, and tribal governments. As part ofthis routine process, the EPA is working with the states and tribes to identify areas in the countrythat meet the standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s airpollution. Within
one year ofpromulgating a new orrevised air quality standard, the Clean Air Act requires the Governor ofeach state to submit to the EPA a list ofall areas inthe state, with a designation recommendation for each area. As a first step in implementingthe 2012 annual PM2.s standard, Governors were to submittheir designation recommendations, including appropriate areaboundaries, byDecember 13, 2013.As required bythe Clean Air Act, the EPA then promulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" ifit is violating the 2012 ammal PMz.s NAAQS or ifit is contributing to a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PMz.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation categoryof "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 detenninebased on available infom1ation whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPAhas 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 byNebraska on November 6, 2013, and have reviewed the relevant technical infonnation, including 2011-2013 air quality data. These data do not indicate any violation ofthe 2012 annual PMz.s NAAQS inNebraska or contribution to anynearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state ofNebraska
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-daypublic commentperiod shmily in the

### FederalRegister. After considering the additional infom1ation wereceive, 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 ofreducing PMz.s air pollution. CuiTent and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- includingpollution reduction rules for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels- will ensure steadyprogress to reduce PMz.sfonning pollution and will protectpublichealth in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas 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 BeckyWeber ofmy staffat 913-551-7487 or weber.rebecca@epa.gov.
Sincerely,



# r~ Karl Brooks

cc: Brian Dunnigan, Director, Department ofNatural Resources CliffordWolfe Jr, Chairman, OmahaTribe ofNebraska John Blackhawk, Chainnan, Winnebago Tribe ofNebraska Joseph Painter, Director, Winnebago Tribe Enviromnental Protection Department RogerTrudell, Chairman, Santee Sioux Nation Alisha Bartling, DeputyDirector, Santee Sioux Nation Environmental Department Rebecca White, Chairperson, PoncaTribe ofNebraska Julia Sage, Enviromnental Manager, Ponca Tribe ofNebraska