UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105-3901



## AUG 1 9 2014

The Honorable Eloy S. Inos Governor ofthe Commonwealth ofthe N01ihern Mariana Islands Juan A. Sablan Memorial Building Capital Hill Saipan, Commonwealth ofthe Northern MarianaIslands 96950
Dear Governor Enos: OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

I am writing to inform you oftheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approach for completing the initial area designations for the 2012 annual fine particle National Ambient Air Quality Standard (2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS) throughout the Commonwealth ofthe N01ihern Mariana Islands. Area designations are an important first step as we move forward to improve PM2.s air quality in the nation. Although the Commonwealth ofthe Northern Mariana Islands has not providedthe EPA with a recommendation, the EPAhas reason to believe the Commonwealth oftheNorthern Mariana Islands is likely attainment and is not contributing to nearby violations. Accordingly, the EPA intends to designate the entire territory ofthe Commonwealth oftheNorthernMariana Islands as unclassifiable/attainrnent.
The EPA will make its preliminary designation decisions and supporting documentation available to the general public for review and comment. We will be announcing a 30-day public commentperiod shortly in the 

### FederalRegister. After considering the additional information we receive, the EPA plans to promulgate final annual PM2.s designations in December of2014

. As background, on December 14, 2012, the EPA promulgated a revised primary annual PM2.sNAAQS (78 FR 3086, January 15, 2013). In that action, the EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard, strengthening it from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (!lg/m3) to 12.0 !lg/m3 ; retained the existing 24- hour PM2.s standard at 35 !lg/m3; retained the existing 24-hour PMto (coarse particle) standard at 150 !lglm3; and retained the current suite ofsecondary PM standards. The EPA revised the primary annual PM2.s standard based on an integrated assessment ofan extensive body ofnew scientific evidence, which substantially strengthens our body ofknowledge regarding PM2.s-related health effects. The revised primary annual PM2.s standard will provide increasedprotection for children, older adults, persons with pre-existing heart and lung disease, and other at

-risk populations against an array ofPM2.s-related adverse health effects, includingpremature mortality, increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits, and development and exacerbation ofchronic respiratory disease.
The EPA designates an area as "nonattainrnent" ifitis violating the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS or ifit is contributing to a violation ofthe NAAQS in a nearby area. Consistent with designations for previous PM2.s standards, the EPA intends to use a designation category of"unclassifiable/attainment" for areas that are monitoring attainment or do not have monitors, and that the EPA has reason to believe are likely

Printed on Recycled Paperattainment and are not contributing to nearby violations. Additionally, the EPA intends to designate as "unclassifiable" those areas where the EPA cannot determine based on available information whether the area is meeting the NAAQS or where EPA has not determined that the area contributes to a nearby violation. At this time, the EPA is proceeding with intended initial area designations using qualityassured, certified air quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2013.
The EPA is committed to working with the states, territories and tribes to share the responsibility of reducingPM2.s air pollution. Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards- including pollutionreduction rules for powerplants, vehicles, and fuels -will ensure steady progress to reduce PMz.s-forming pollution and will protectpublic health in communities across the country. We look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your staffas we work togetherto implement the 2012 annual PM2.s NAAQS. Should you have any questions, please contact me, orhave your staffcontact Kerry Drake ofmy staffat415-947-4157, or drake.kerry@epa.gov. Sincerely,

cc: Frank Rabauliman, Administrator, Bureau ofEnvironmental Quality Control, Commonwealth ofthe Northern Mariana Islands