UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, Washington 98101·3140

OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

## JUN 13 2011

The Honorable Sean Parnell Governor ofthe State ofAlaska Post Office Box 110001 Juneau, Alaska 99811-0001

Dear Governor Parnell:

Thank you for yourrecommendations on air quality designations for the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead throughout Alaska. This letter is to notify you ofthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preliminarydecision to designate all ofAlaska as unclassifiable/attainment and to inform you ofour approach for completingthe designations for the revised lead standards. Reducing levels oflead pollution is an importantpart ofthe EPA's commitment to a clean, healthy environment. Lead exposure can cause a range ofadverse health effects, most notably in children. Exposures to low levels oflead early inlife havebeen linked to effects on IQ, learning, memory, and behavior.

On October 15, 2008, the EPA substantially strengthened the health-based or "primary"National Ambient Air Quality Standard bylowerin

# r it from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (J.tg/m3) - a level set in 1978

- to a level of0.15 J.tg/m

. This stronger standard provides increased protection against adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead in at-risk groups, including children. Toprovide increased protection against lead-related environmental and other welfare effects, the EPArevised the secondaryNational Ambient Air Quality Standard to be identical in all respects to therevised primary standard. The EPA also determined that the pre-existing ambient lead monitoring network was inadequate for determining whethermany areas are meeting the revised lead standards and established new criteria for siting ambient lead monitors and new data collectionrequirements. Monitors meeting thenew network siting requirements
were to begin operation January 1, 2010.

Within two years ofpromulgatingnew orrevised National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to complete the initial process ofidentifying or designating areas that meet ordo not meet an air quality standard. Ifthe Administratorhas insufficient information to make these designations, the EPA has the authority to 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-201O monitoring network. For all other areas, the EPA extended the deadline for designations byup to one year so that datafrom the newly deployed monitors canbe considered in making appropriate designation decisions. States were given an opportunityto update theirrecommendation letters for those remaining areas for our consideration in the secondround ofdesignations byDecember 15, 201

### O. The EPA intends to complete the second round of lead designations byno later than October 14, 2011.
Consistent with the Clean AirAct, and after carefully considering Alaska's October 14,2009, recommendation letter and all the associated technical infonnation for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, including,the most recent air quality data from 2008-2010, the EPA is proposing to adopt Alaska's recommended designation(s) and boundary.

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 staffcontact Mr. Steve Bodyat (206) 553-0782. Sincerely,

# ~-;@f 

# -­ Dennis 

### J. Mckrran Regional Administrator

cc: Larry Hartig Commissioner, Alaska Department ofEnvironmental Conservation Alice Edwards AirProgram Director, Alaska Department ofEnvironmental Conservation GinaMcCarthy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, EPA Steve D. Page Director, Office ofAir QualityPlanning and Standards, EPA