UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 8

Ref: 8P-AR

The Honorable Jack Dalrymple Governor ofNorthDakota State Capitol Bismarck, North Dakota 58505

Dear Governor Dalrymple: 1595Wynkoop Street DENVER, CO 80202-1129 Phone 800-227-8917 http://www.epa.gov/region08


### AUG 1 9 2014

Thank you for yourrecommendations dated October 29, 2013 ofair quality designations for the 2012 revised primary annual fine particle (PM2.s) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) throughout North Dakota. I appreciate the informationNorth Dakota shared withthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality. This letteris to notify you ofthe EPA's preliminaryresponse to North Dakota's recommendations 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 EPApromulgated 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 percubic meter (J..Lg/m3) to 12.0 J..Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hourPM2.s standard at 35 J..Lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour

### PMw (coarse particle) standard at 150 J..Lg/m3; and retained the current suite ofsecondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard based on an integrated assessment ofan extensive body ofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens our body ofknowledge 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-riskpopulations against an array ofPM2.s-related adverse health effects, includingpremature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation ofchronic respiratory disease.

History shows us that better health and cleaner air go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Working closely withthe 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 countrythat
meetthe standards and those that need to take steps to reduce PM2.s airpollution. Within one year of promulgating a new orrevised air quality standard, the Clean AirAct (CAA) requires the governor of each state to submit to the EPA a list ofall 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 areaboundaries, by December 13, 2013.As required bythe CAA, the EPA thenpromulgates designations for all areas across the country. The EPA designates an area as "nonattainment" ifit is violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS orifit is contributingto a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistentwith designations for previous PM2.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of"unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment ordo not have monitors, but for whichthe EPA has reason to believe are likely attainment and are not contributingto nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable"those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on available information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPAhas not determined that the area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations using quality-assured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013.

We have considered the annual PM2.s designation recommendations submittedbyNorth Dakotaon October 29, 2013, and have reviewed the relevant technical information, including 2011-2013 air quality data. These data do not indicate any violation ofthe 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS inNorth Dakota

or contributionto any nearby area. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire state ofNorth Dakota 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-daypublic commentperiod shortly in the FederalRegister. After consideringthe additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014.

The EPA is committedto working withthe states and tribes to share the responsibility ofreducing PM2.s airpollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollutionreduction rules for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels

- will ensure steady progress to reduce PM2.s-forming pollution and will protectpublic health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue withyou and your staffas we worktogether to implementthe 2012 annual PM2.s standard. Shouldyou have any questions, please do nothesitate to contact me, or have your staffcontact Crystal Ostigaard ofmy staffat (303) 312-6602 or ostigaard.crystal@epa.gov.

Shaun L. Regional Administrator

cc: L. David Glatt, Chief, EHS Terry O'Clair, Director, Air Quality

Janet G. McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Stephen D. Page, Director, Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards