\1 ST.q UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX PRO 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 95105-3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## MAY 22 2014
Robert H. Smith Chairman PalaBand ofMission Indians PMB 50, 35008 Pala TemeculaRoad Pala, California 92059 Dear Chairman Smith: The purpose ofthis letter is to provide you with information concerning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designations process forthe 2012 primary annual PM 2

. 5 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Your Tribe may find it importantto engage with us in the process of assigning designations for Indian country. Although yourinvolvementis notrequired. we would like to invite you to participate in the designations process andto offer you consultation. We wantto ensure transparent and effective communication in developing area designations forthe revised PM 2

. 5 NAAQS. On December 13. 2012, EPA revised the PM 2

. 5 NAAQS to increase protection ofpublic health from fine particle pollution. The annual PM 2

. 5 standardwas strengthened from 15 ug/m 3 to 12 ug/m 3

. Establishing initial area designations is akey step in the process ofproviding the health and/orwelfare protection intendedby the Clean AirAct (CAA). Within two years ofpromulgation ofanew orrevisedNAAQS, EPA must list and designate all areas in the country as either: Attainment

- areas that meetthe standard; Nonattainment

- areas that either do not meetthe standard, or are contributing to anearby area that does not meet the standard; or Unclassifiable

- areas where there is insufficient informationto make a determination as to attainment. These designations are based on current air quality information, recommendations from state governors and tribal leaders, and otherrelevant information as discussed in the April 2013 designations guidance InitialArea Designationsj’ör

### the 20/2 RevisedPrimaryAnnualFineParticle i’/ationalAmbientAir Quality Standard. The guidance is available on the EPA’s PM L)esignations website at t n ipail2Oi 3i dance pf Additional information about developing tribal air quality designations is available in the September2013 documentDeveloping Designation RecommendationsjarAreas ofIndian Country, which is available here: v ounirv.pdl. We are sending youthis letterbecause we received arecommendation ofattainment foryour area. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations foryourTribe’s area and invite and encourage you to participate. Please notifyus by June 13, 2014 ifyou are interested in consulting with us regarding a recommended designation. When requested, consultation will be conductedin accordance with the EPA Fritired on Recycled FaperPoici’ on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (w\.eigov/tribai!eonsu!alion/eonsuh roliev.htm We plan to formally announce our intended designations for all areas by August 14, 2014. At that time we will send another letter to you with our intended designation and offer an additional opportunity to consult with us on any modifications EPA proposes make to your Tribe’s recommendation. In accordance with section 107(d)(1)(B) of the CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the PM2 5 NAAQS no later than December 12, 2014. Our designations will be based on the most recent three calendar years of certified, quality-assured monitoring data available, and any other relevant information. As the designation process moves forward, we will keep you informed of any additional guidance or other support activities. We look forward to working with you to develop area designations under the PM 2 . 5 NAAQS in a timely manner. If your Tribe is interested in consultation or has questions about the designations process, please do not hesitate to contact me or Kerry Drake, Associate Director, Air Division, of my staff, at 415-947-4157 or drake.kerrv(a’epa.o. Sincerely, Enclosure cc: Shasta Gaughen, Pala EPA Director

### 2012 PM 2 • 5 

### NAAQS Tribal Designations Schedule
Action Date Recommendations forthe PM 25 NAAQS due December 13, 2013 to EPA (original deadline). Advance consultation opportunity offeredto LateMay 2014 (uponreceipt ofletter) tribal leaders. Deadlineto request advancetribal consultation. June 13, 2014 Optional tribal recommendations forthe PM 2

. 5 June 13, 2014 NAAQS due to EPA (extended deadline). Advance tribal consultation takes place. June

- 

### July, 2014 EPA announces intended designations, August 14, 2014 additional consultation opportunity offeredto tribal leaders. Additional consultationtakes place. September

- 

### October, 2014 EPA issues final PM 75 designations. December 12, 2014