UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105·3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

### SEP 0 4 2009

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger GovernorofCalifornia State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: 1 am writing you today to provide you with guidance on theprocess for designating areas under the 2008 revised National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead. In orderto ensure that public health and welfare were protected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the lead NAAQS on October 15,2008 (73 FR 66964; November 12,2008). The new primary lead standard was lowered from the 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (ug!m3) level set in 1978, to a level of0.15 ug/m3

. This new standard is based on the most recent scientific studies and provides increased protection against adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead. To provide increased protection against lead-related welfare effects, EPA revised the secondary standard to be identical in all respects to the revised primary standard. The next step in implementing the revised lead NAAQS is for states to recommend to EPA an air quality designation for their state. The process for designations, following promulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS, is contained in Section 107(d)(l) ofthe Clean Air Act (Act). This section ofthe Actprovides a process for each Governor to recommend attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable designations, with appropriateboundaries, to the EPA and requires that these recommendations be submitted to EPA within one year ofa promulgation ofa new or revised NAAQS. Therefore, we ask that your state provide designation recommendations for all areas by October 15,2009. Under section 107(d)( I) ofthe Act, EPA maymake modifications to therecommended designations and boundaries as it deems necessary. EPA will notify the states, by no laterthan 120 days priorto promulgating the designations, ofourresponse to states' recommendations. This will provide an opportunityfor states to comment on any modification that EPA proposes to theirrecommendations. We are including an enclosure to this letter, whichprovides guidanceto state and local air pollution control agencies and tribes on the timeline and process for designating areas under the revised lead standard. Weplan to announce our intended designations as early as possible, but no laterthan 120 days priorto promulgating initial designations.

Printed on Recycled PaperUnder section 107(d)(I)(B) ofthe Act, EPA is required to issue final designations within two years offinalizing a NAAQS; however, EPA has the discretion to extend the deadline up to one year ifthere is insufficient information to make designations. EPA intends to complete initial designations byno later than October 15, 2010, where data is sufficient from the existing monitoring network orwhere no additional data is expected to be availablefor a state. Remaining areas, using information from the expanded lead monitoring network, will be designated by no later than October 15, 20II. States and tribes will have an opportunity to update their recommendations for these remaining areasby October 15,2010. Establishing area designations is a key step in the process ofproviding the health protection that the Act is intended to provide. Areasthat are designated as not attaining the lead NAAQS will be required to adopt plans to reduce ambient concentrations oflead. We will keep your state informed ofany additional guidance and othersupport activities. Should you have any questions regardingthis matter, pleasedo not hesitate to contact me at 415-947-8702 orColleen McKaughan ofmy staffat 520-498-0118. Sincerely,

# H~ Laura Yoshii Acting Regional Administrator Enclosure

cc: Mary Nichols, Chairman California Air Resources Board James Goldstene, Executive Officer California AirResources Board Lynn Terry, Deputy Executive Officer California AirResources Board Terry Dressler, President California Air Pollution Control Officers' Association Mel Zeldin, ExecutiveDirector CaliforniaAirPollution Control Officers' Association