-ED ST. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 4 L PRO1 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA95105-3901

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## MAY 22 2014
Elizabeth Kipp Chairperson Big Sandy Rancheria Post 0111cc Box 337 Auberry, California 93602 Dear Chairperson Kipp: The purpose 01 this letter is to provide you with inlhrrnation concerning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designalions process forthe 2012 primary annual PM 2

. 5 national ambientair quality standard (NAAQS). YourTribe may find it importantto engage with us in theprocess of assigning designations for Indian country. Although yourinvolvementis notrequired, we would like to inite you to participate in the designations process andto offeryou consultation. We wantto ensure transparent and effective communication in developing area designations fortherevised PM 25 NAAQS. Area recommendations forthe PM2 NAAQS were due to EPA on December 13, 2013; however, EPA is prepared to accept designation recommendations via letterfrom tribal leaders until June 13, 2014. On December 13, 2012. EPA revised the PM 2

. 5 NAAQS to increase protection ofpublic health from fine particlepollution. The annual PM 25 siandard was strengthened from 15 ug/m to 12 ug/m 3

. Establishing Initial area designations is akey step in the process ofproviding the health and/orweiflire protection intended by the Clean AirAct (CAA). Withintwo years ofpromulgation ofa new orrevised NAAQS. 

### EPA must list and designate all areas in the country as either: Attainment

- areas thatmeetthe standard; Nonattainment

- areas that either do notmeetthe standard, or are contributing to a nearby area that does not meetthe standard; or Unclassifiable

- areas where there is insufficient information to make a determination as to attainment. These designations are based on culTent air quality information, recommendations from state governors and tribal leaders, and otherrelevant intbrrnation as discussedin the April 2013 designations guidance. /nija! Area Designations Jarthe 2012 Rei’iseclPrimaryAnnualFine Particle NationalAmbientAir :)iialTh Standard. The guidance is avilahle on the EPA’s PM Designations website at it_p 1IL1 natui

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### ‘201 ZstaiJaldsdoL ‘ ajim

### i120 tp1mujH Additional information about developing tribal airquality designations is available in the September2013 document, DevelopingDesignation Recommendations JorAreas of Indian Country, which is available here: nip v v \ L O\ ItloflkLcommLfld iiimini Indidlu um \J4 We are sending you this letterbecause we believe that yourTribe’s area ofIndian country maybe in nonattainment for the 2012 PM 2

. 5 NAAQS andyou may wantto engage with us through the consultation Pitiit,’d vii Recycled Paperprocess. We will keep you informed as we finalize designations for your Tribe’s area and invite and encourage you to participate. Please notify us by June 13, 2014 if you are interested in consulting with us regarding a recommended designation. When requested, consultation will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Polic’ on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (vww.epa.ov/tribal/consu1tation/consuft—policv.h1m). 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 the proposed designation status of your Tribe’s area of Indian country. In accordance with section 1 07(d)( 1 )(B) of the CAA, we are required to issue final designations for the PM 2 . 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 25 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 drakc.kerry(aepa.iov. Sincerely, Enclosure cc Jaime Collins, Environmental Programs Manager

### 2012 PM 2 • 5 

### NAAQS TribalDesignations 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. Deadlinetorequest advancetribal consultation. June 13, 2014 Optional tribal recommendations forthe PM 2

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

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

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