The
Honorable
Mark
Peniska
Chairman
Ponca
Tribe
of
Nebraska
1701
E
Street
Lincoln,
NE
68508
Dear
Chairman
Peniska:

On
July
18,
1997,
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
EPA)
promulgated
the
National
Ambient
Air
Quality
Standard
(
NAAQS)
for
fine
particulate
matter
or
PM
2.5.
This
standard
addresses
particulate
matter
less
than
2.5
microns
in
diameter
and
was
based
on
EPA's
review
of
a
number
of
health
studies
which
indicate
that
exposure
to
fine
particulate
matter
is
correlated
with
increased
mortality
and
serious
health
affects
such
as
aggravation
of
lung
disease,
asthma
attacks,
and
heart
problems.

As
a
first
step
in
the
process
towards
implementing
this
new
fine
particulate
matter
standard,
the
EPA
requests
that
you
submit
recommended
designation
and
documentation
in
accordance
with
section
107(
d)(
1)(
A)
of
the
Clean
Air
Act
to
us
by
February
15,
2004.
Your
Tribe's
participation
in
this
process
is
optional.
The
recommended
area
designation
should
be
based
on
quality­
assured
air
quality
monitoring
data
for
calendar
years
2000
to
2002.
EPA
may
make
modifications
to
these
designations
as
it
deems
necessary.
If
EPA
determines
that
a
modification
to
a
Tribe's
recommendation
is
necessary,
the
EPA
will
notify
the
Tribe
no
later
than
120
days
prior
to
promulgating
the
designations.
This
will
provide
the
Tribe
an
opportunity
to
demonstrate
why
the
EPA's
modification
is
not
appropriate.
EPA
intends
to
promulgate
final
designations
by
December
15,
2004,
based
on
the
most
recent
available
data.

We
will
consult
with
your
Environmental
Director
in
this
process
and
offer
the
EPA's
assistance
so
that
their
office
might
advise
you
on
the
designation
of
your
reservation.
We
are
also
available
to
meet
with
you
at
your
request.
A
copy
of
the
guidance
and
a
Fact
Sheet
are
enclosed.
The
documents
may
also
be
found
at
the
following
webpage:
http://
www.
epa.
gov/
ttn/
naaqs/
pm/
pm25_
index.
html
We
will
keep
your
tribe
informed
of
any
additional
guidance
and
other
support
activities.
Should
you
have
any
questions
regarding
this
matter,
please
contact
Art
Spratlin,
Director
of
the
Air,
RCRA,
and
Toxics
Division,
who
may
be
contacted
at
(
913)
551­
7401.

Sincerely,

James
B.
Gulliford
Regional
Administrator
Enclosures
cc:
Mr.
Anthony
"
Sam"
Kitto
Environmental
Director
ARTD/
APDB:
cas:
c:/
JROBINSON/
PENISKA.
WPD/
062403
APDB
APDB
CNSL
ARTD
OEP
RGAD
Robinson
Tapp
Patrick
Spratlin
Bustos
Guilliford
06/
/
03
06/
/
03
06/
/
03
06/
/
03
06/
/
03
06/
/
03
