UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 6 1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 1200 DALLAS TX 75202-2733



### ,JUN 1 4 

### 2011

The Honorable Mike Beebe Governor ofArkansas State Capitol, Suite 250 Little Rock, Arkansas 7220I

Dear GovernorBeebe:
Thankyou for yourrecommendations on air quality designations for the revisedNational Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead throughout Arkansas. This letteris to notify you ofthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) preliminarydecision to designate all of Arkansas as unclassifiable/attainment and to inform you ofour approach for completing the designations for the revised lead standards. Reducing levels oflead pollution is an importantpart ofthe EPA's commitment to aclean, healthy environment. Lead exposure can cause a range of adverse health effects, most notably in children. Exposures to low levels oflead early in life have been linked to effects on IQ, learning, memory and behavior.

On October IS, 2008, the EPA substantially strengthened the health-based or "primary" National Ambient Air Quality Standardby lowerin¥ it from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (fig/mJ)

- a level set in 1978

- to a level of0.15 fig/m

. This stronger standard provides increased protection against adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead in at-risk groups, including children. To provide increased protection against lead-related environmental and otherwelfare effects, the EPA revised the secondaryNational Ambient Air Quality Standardto be identical in all respects to the revised primary standard. The EPA also determined that the pre-existing ambient lead monitoring networkwas inadequate for determining whether many areas are meeting the revised lead standards and established new criteria for siting ambient lead monitors and new data collection requirements. Monitors meeting the new network siting requirements
were to begin operation January 1,2010.
Within two years ofpromulgating new orrevised National AmbientAir Quality Standards, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to complete the initial process ofidentifying ordesignating areas that meet ordo not meet an air quality standard. Ifthe Administratorhas insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA has the authorityto extend the designation process byup to one year. In light ofthe new monitoring network, the EPA is completing the lead designations in two rounds. In the first round, published on November 16, 2010, the EPA designated as "nonattainment" 16 areas as violating the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards based on data from the pre-20I0 monitoring network. For all other areas, the EPA extended the deadline for designations byup to one year so that data from the newly deployed monitors can be considered in making appropriate designation decisions. States were given an opportunityto update theirrecommendation letters for those remaining areas for our consideration in the second round ofdesignations by DecemberIS, 20IO. The EPA intends to complete the secondround of lead designations by no laterthan October 14, 2011.

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov/region6 Recycled/Recyclable. Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper, Process Chlorine FreeConsistent with the Clean Air Act, and after carefullyconsidering Arkansas' September29, 2009, recommendation letter and all the associated technical information for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, including the mostrecent air quality data from 2008- 2010, the EPA is proposing to designate Arkansas as unclassifiable/attainment. The EPA uses this designation for initial designations to identify areas that have data indicating attainment, or where there is no evidence ofaviolation.

The EPA's preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation will be made available to the general public for review. We will be accepting comments through August 15, 2011. We will review any informationwe receive from the State ofArkansas and the general public bythis date, and we plan to promulgate the secondround offinal designations by October 14, 20II.

We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work together to implement the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me, orhave your staffcontactMr. Guy Donaldson ofmy staffat (214) 665-7242.

cc: Ms. TeresaMarks, Director Arkansas Department ofEnvironmental Quality