Linda S. Adams

Secretary for 

Environmental Protection

 

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. 

For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website: http://www.arb.ca.gov.

California Environmental Protection Agency

Printed on Recycled Paper

Air Resources Board

Mary D. Nichols, Chairman

1001 I Street • P.O. Box 2815 

Sacramento, California 95812 • www.arb.ca.gov Arnold Schwarzenegger

 Governor

August 28, 2009

Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D.

Air Quality Analysis Office Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 9

75 Hawthorne Street, AIR-7

San Francisco, California 94105

Dear Dr. Lakin:

During the summer of 2008, an unusually intensive outbreak of lightning strikes from a 

series of dry thunderstorms ignited an unprecedented summer fire season. Extensive 

impacts occurred across Northern and Central California, with smoke and haze lingering 

over the region for much of the summer. Numerous monitoring sites, comprising both 

Federal Reference Method and Federal Equivalent Method monitors, recorded elevated 

particulate matter (PM) concentration levels, with many days above the National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards for both PM2.5 and PM10. The California Air Resources 

Board is requesting exclusion of data from 33 monitoring sites in 15 Air Districts where 

smoke caused levels to exceed those historically seen during the summer particulate 

season. Documentation on these wildfire smoke events and their impact on air quality 

are enclosed.

On March 22, 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 

adopted the Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events rule that allows data to 

be flagged and thus excluded from consideration by U.S. EPA when making decisions 

related to the attainment status of an area. This rule, which became effective on May 

22, 2007, requires that States submit documentation to support flagging to the 

appropriate U.S. EPA Regional Office.
Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D.

August 28, 2009

Page 2

We are therefore formally requesting you concur that these exceedances are PM2.5 

and PM10 natural events and send us confirmation by letter. If you have any questions 

regarding the enclosed documentation please contact Ms. Sylvia Zulawnick, Manager, 

Particulate Matter Analysis Section, at (916) 324-7163 or via email at 

szulawni@arb.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

/s/

Karen Magliano, Chief

Air Quality Data Branch

Planning and Technical Support Division

Enclosures (3)

cc: (With (1) enclosure)

Mr. Jack Broadbent

Air Pollution Control Officer

Bay Area Air Quality Management District

939 Ellis Street

San Francisco, California 94109-7799

Mr. W. James Wagoner

Air Pollution Control Officer

Butte County Air Quality Management District

2525 Dominic Drive, Suite J

Chico, California 95928-7184

Mr. Lakhmir Grewal

Air Pollution Control Officer

Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District

Government Center

891 Mountain Ranch Road

San Andreas, California 95249-9709

Mr. Harry Krug

Air Pollution Control Officer

Colusa County Air Pollution Control District

100 Sunrise Boulevard, Suite F

Colusa, California 95932-3246
Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D.

August 28, 2009

Page 3

Mr. Dave Valler

Air Pollution Control Officer

Feather River Air Quality Management District

1007 Live Oak Boulevard, Suite B-3

Yuba City, California 95991

Mr. Mark Black

Air Pollution Control Officer

Glenn County Air Pollution Control District

P.O. Box 351 (720 North Colusa Street)

Willows, California 95988-0351

Mr. Doug Gearhart

Air Pollution Control Officer

Lake County Air Quality Management District

885 Lakeport Boulevard

Lakeport, California 95453-5405

Mr. Christopher D. Brown

Air Pollution Control Officer

Mendocino County Air Quality Management District

306 East Gobbi Street

Ukiah, California 95482-5511

Mr. Rick Martin, Jr.

Air Pollution Control Officer

North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District

2300 Myrtle Avenue

Eureka, California 95501-3327

Ms. Gretchen Bennitt

Air Pollution Control Officer

Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District

200 Litton Drive, Suite 320

P.O. Box 2509

Grass Valley, California 95945-2509
Mr. Matthew Lakin, Ph.D.

August 28, 2009

Page 4

Mr. Tom Christofk

Air Pollution Control Officer

Placer County Air Pollution Control District

3091 County Center Drive, Suite 240

Auburn, California 95603

Mr. Larry Greene

Air Pollution Control Officer

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

777 12th Street, Third Floor

Sacramento, California 95814-1908 

Mr. Seyed Sadredin

Air Pollution Control Officer

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

1990 East Gettysburg

Fresno, California 93726

Mr. Russ Mull

Air Pollution Control Officer

Shasta County Air Quality Management District

1855 Placer Street, Suite 101

Redding, California 96001-1759

Mr. Patrick Griffin

Air Pollution Control Officer

Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District

525 South Foothill Drive

Yreka, California 96097-3036

Mr. Mat Ehrhardt

Air Pollution Control Officer

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District

1947 Galileo Court, Suite 103

Davis, California 95616-4882 

Ms. Sylvia Zulawnick, Manager

Particulate Matter Analysis Section

Planning and Technical Support Division











REVISED RESOLUTION 2012-12

BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

BUTTE COUNTY AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Resolution 2012-12...................................)

Adopt PM2.5 Emissions Inventory ...................)

Direct Staff to Submit to CARB and EPA..........)

WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated the 2006 National Ambient Air 

Quality Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller (PM2.5) determining a 

standard of 35 micrometers per cubic meter of ambient air is necessary in order to protect public health (71 

FR 61144 published October 17, 2006, effective December 18, 2006);

AND WHEREAS, on November 13, 2009 EPA promulgated air quality designations for all areas in the U.S. 

for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, designating the Chico/Butte County Planning Area as nonattainment based on 

2005-2007 monitoring data (74 FR 58688);

AND WHEREAS, the Chico/Butte County Planning Area attained the PM2.5 NAAQS in 2010, and continues 

to meet the NAAQS in 2011 based on a preliminary analysis;

AND WHEREAS, a Clean Data Request was submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to 

EPA for the area on June 2, 2011;

AND WHEREAS, EPA’s Clean Data Policy suspends most of the planning requirements for a 

nonattainment area subsequently meeting the standard after designation;

AND WHEREAS, submittal of an emissions inventory is required for an area meeting EPA’s Clean Data 

Policy;

AND WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section 40000 declares that local and regional

authorities have the primary responsibility for control of air pollution from all sources, other than motor 

vehicles;

AND WHEREAS, the Butte County Air Quality Management District published a notice of availability of the 

emissions inventory on August 17, 2012 to request public comments for consideration at the September 27, 

2012 public hearing;

AND WHEREAS, the Butte County Air Quality Management District Staff conducted a public workshop on 

September 6, 2012 to receive comments, and the Governing Board conducted a public hearing on 

September 27, 2012 to receive comments and to consider adoption of the emissions inventory;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Butte County Air Quality Management District Governing Board

hereby adopts the 2011 PM2.5 Emissions Inventory as provided in the report 2012 PM2.5 Emission Inventory 

Submittal to the State Implementation Plan for the Chico, CA/Butte County (partial) Planning Area released 

on August 17, 2012;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Butte County Air Quality Management District Governing Board

directs staff to request CARB forward Table 5-1 and Appendix D of the report 2012 PM2.5 Emission 

Inventory Submittal to the State Implementation Plan for the Chico, CA/Butte County (partial) Planning Area 

released on August 17, 2012 to EPA for inclusion in the California State Implementation Plan;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Butte County Air Quality Management District Governing Board 

directs staff to forward all public comments received related to the emissions inventory and responses to 

CARB for submittal to EPA.

On Motion of ______________, Seconded by _____________, the foregoing resolution is hereby PASSED 

AND ADOPTED BY THE Air Quality Management District Governing Board of Directors on this 27th day of

September, 2012 by the following:

AYES:

NOES: 

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

_______________________________________

W. James Wagoner, Air Pollution Control Officer

Butte County Air Quality Management District

I hereby attest that this is a true and correct copy of the action taken by the Butte 

County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors on September 27, 2012.

ATTEST: ______________________________________

Robyn Sousa, Clerk of the Governing Board


T:\Planning\Air Quality Planning\Attainment Plans\Attainment Plan - PM2.5\PM 2.5 SIP\EI SIP Submittal9-12\Public Notice of 2012 PM2.5 Emission 

Inventory Submittal Wrkshp & Hearing 2012 draft.doc

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Governing Board of the Butte County Air Quality Management District (District) will hold a Public 

Hearing on September 27, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the City of Gridley Council Chambers, 685 Kentucky St., 

Gridley, California, to consider the 2012 PM2.5 Emission Inventory Submittal to the State Implementation 

Plan for the Chico, CA/Butte County (partial) Planning Area. Monitoring data demonstrates the area has 

attained the PM2.5 standard; however, in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act requirements, the 

District must adopt and submit the emissions inventory for the nonattainment area.

District staff will hold a public workshop on September 6, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at the District office (address 

below) to review the 2012 PM2.5 Emission Inventory Submittal document and address question regarding 

the emissions inventory and the air quality planning process.

The 2012 PM2.5 Emission Inventory Submittal may be reviewed at the District office at the address below 

or on the District website: www.bcaqmd.org. For additional information please contact Jim Wagoner at 

(530) 332-9400, ext. 112. Written comments on the annual report should be submitted by September 20, 

2012 to: Board Clerk, Butte County Air Quality Management District, 629 Entler Avenue, Suite 15, 

Chico, CA 95928.

Dated: August 17, 2012

W. JAMES WAGONER

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER