UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIO N AGENC Y WASHINGTON , D.C

. 20460

The Honorable Susana Martinez Governor ofNew Mexico 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 400 Santa Fe , New Mexico 87501 Dear Governor Martinez: 

# DEC 1 

## 8 2 ul 4
THE ADMINISTRATOR

I am writing to summarize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ' s recent action to address fine particle pollution in your state. As required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA has determined which areas are meeting the national ambient air quality standards for fine particle pollution and which areas must take steps to reduce emissions that contribute to violations of the standard. On December 14, 2012 , the EPA strengthened the annual , health-based fine particle standard from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (11g/m 3) to 12.0 11g /m3

. Thousands of scientific studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles-approximately l/30th the size of a human hair

- with serious human health problems including premature death in people with heart and lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks , and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency room visits fo r respiratory and cardiovascular disease. I appreciate the inf or

mation you and your staffhave shared with the EPA throughout this process to assess fine particle pollution levels in communities across your state and the impact of emission sources that could be contributing to unhealthy air. After considering your recommendations , reviewing the most recent certified fine particle air quality data for your state and evaluating factors to assess contribution to nearby levels offine particle pollution, I hav e determined that no area within New Mexico violates the 2012 standard or contributes to a nearby violation of the standard. As a result, the EPA is desi gnati ng all of New Mexico " unclassifiable /attainment. " Because air quality monitoring for 2014 is nearly complete, if a state or tribe requests it, the EPA will evaluate the status of an area based on its annual fine particle monitoring data for 20 12-2014. If you would like the EPA to re-evaluate any areas within your state , please submit to the EPA, complete , quality-assured and certified air quality data for 2014 by February 27 , 2015

. The EPA shares responsibility with the states and tribes for managing particle pollution levels. Efforts by states and tribes to attain the 1997 and 2006 fine particle pollution standa rds are already working to reduce unhealthy levels offine particle pollution. In addition , current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards , including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels will assure steady reductions offine particle pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country.

Intern et Address (URL) • htlp :l/ www .epa.gov Recycled/Recyc l able • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled PaperTogether, we have made considerable progress to reduc e fine particle po ll ution . Nat i onwide, monitored levels of fine particle pollution fell 34 percent since 2000 when we first began nationwide monitoring for particles of this size. I am confiden t this progress will accelerate as together we continue to work towards our shared goal of clean air. For additional infonnation about these designations , please visit our w ebs ite at : www . epa . gov / pmdesigna t ions .

If you have questions o r concerns, ple ase contact me or yo ur staff may contact Mark Rupp , Deputy Associate Administrator for In t ergovernmental Relations, at rupp . mark @ epa . gov or at (202) 564-7178.