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PAO\ UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 1 1 CONGRESS STREET , SUITE 1100 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02114- 2023

SEP 1 7 2009

Honorable Victoria Higgans 

### , Chief Aroostook Band of Micmacs 8 N orthem Road Presque Isle 

### , ME 04769

Dear Chief Higgans: I am writing you today to inform you about the process for designating areas under the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead, and how your Tribe may 

### provide input during the lead NAAQS designation process. In order to ensure that public health and welfare are protected , EP A revised the lead NAAQS on October 15 , 2008 (73 FR 66964; November 12 

### , 2008). The primary lead standard was lowered from the 1. 5 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m ) quarterly average level set in 1978 , to a three-month rolling average level of 0. ug/m . 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 , EP A revised the secondary standard to be identical in all respects to the revised primary standard. When EP A promulgates a new or revised NAAQS , we then designate all geographic 

### areas within the United States as attainment, unclassifiable , or nonattainment under section 107 

### of the Clean Air Act (Act). Designating an area under the Act is accomplished through a formal 

### rulemaking process outlined in Section 1 07( d) 

### of the Act. If an area does not meet the national standard for the revised lead standard , or contributes to a nearby area that does not meet the standard 

### , it wil be designated as nonattainment. Under section 107(d)(1)(B) of the Act, EPA issues final designations within two years of finalizing a NAAQS; however, EP A has the discretion to extend the deadline up to one year if there is insufficient information to make designations. As part of the rule establishing the new lead NAAQS , EP A created new monitoring requirements that call for the establishment of new lead monitors that wil begin 

### collecting data for areas in New England by 2011. EP A intends to complete initial designations under the new lead NAAQS by no later than Octo bet 15 2010 

### , for areas where suffcient data are available. Remaining areas , using information from the expanded lead monitoring network wil be designated by no later than October 15, 2011. Under section 107 of the Act, a State may recommend a designation of attainment nonattainment, or unclassifiable for areas surrounding or adjacent to an area of Indian country 

### based on the available lead monitoring data. While the language of section 107 specifically addresses States , interested Tribes may also perform this function (but are not required to do so) by applying for " treatment- in-a-similar-manner-as-a-state " (T AS) eligibility for this 

### purpose pursuant to section 301(d) of the Act and EPA' s regulations at 40 C. R. Part 49. 

### In addition

Toll Free -1- 888- 372-7341 Intemet Address (URL) - http://www. epa. gov/regio Recycled/Recyclable. Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% postconsumer)CAA section 301 (d)( 4) gives EP A discretionary authority, in cases where it determines that



### treatment of Tribes as identical to States is " inappropriate or administratively infeasible " to 

### provide for direct administration by regulation to achieve the appropriate purpose. To help ensure that EP A obtains relevant data for its designation decisions , EP A invites all Tribes whether or not the Tribe has obtained T 

### AS eligibility for these purposes - to provide relevant information (including designation recommendations) to EP A regarding appropriate designations for your areas. 

### Weare including an enclosure to this letter which provides guidance to Tribes and to State and local air pollution control agencies on the timeline and process for designating areas under the revised lead standard. Interested Tribes should submit relevant information , including any recommendations for area designations and boundaries with supporting documentation, to EPA by October 15 

### , 2009. For areas not expected to be designated by October 2010 , States and Tribes wil have the opportunity to update their recommendation letters as they pertain to these remaining areas by October 15 , 2010. Establishing area designations is a key step in the process of providing the health 

### protection that the Act is intended to provide. If you are interested in learning more about the process of making designation recommendations or would like to consult with EP 

### A offcials about specific aspects of this guidance or the designations process , please contact Ida McDonnell at 617- 918- 1653 or Bob McConnell at 617- 918- 1046. Sincerely,

MIX Ira W. Leighton Acting Regional Administrator
Enclosure

cc: Fred Corey, Environmental Director