National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Designation Process

In December 2011, we released two key guidance documents related to the process for designating areas of Indian country. The first document, Guidance to Regions for Working with Tribes during the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Designations Process3 provides guidance to the EPA regional offices for working with federally recognized Indian tribes regarding the designations process for Indian country.

The second document, Policy for Establishing Separate Air Quality Designations for Areas of Indian Country sets forth the EPA’s policy regarding designating particular areas of Indian country separately from surrounding or adjacent areas when a tribe requests a separate designation. We also released a guidance manual to support tribes’ understanding of, and participation in, the recommendation process for designating areas for the NAAQS for Indian country. This document does not develop new policy, but more clearly explains “existing policy.”  Please see these documents for a greater understanding of the designation recommendation process as it relates to Indian country. 

• NTAA & EPA 3-Part Webinar Series on the NAAQS.pdf (PDF)(2 pp, 134 K, 01/05/2017)
  The National Tribal Air Association (NTAA) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency are co-hosting a three-part webinar series on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQPS) for tribal air agencies.
• Guidance to Regions for Working with Tribes during the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Designations Process (PDF)(10 pp, 713 K, 12/20/2011)
  This memorandum provides guidance to EPA Regional Offices for working with federally-recognized Indian tribes regarding the Clean Air Act section 107(d) designations process for Indian country.
• Developing Designation Recommendations for Areas of Indian Country (PDF)(75 pp, 4 MB, 9/28/2018)
  This manual is intended to serve as a tool to support your understanding of, and participation in, the recommendation process for designating areas for the NAAQS for your area of Indian country. We, the US EPA, are providing general air quality background information, and template materials to assist in your decision making and development of a designation recommendation. This document does not develop new policy, but more clearly explains "existing policy."
• Policy for Establishing Separate Air Quality Designations for Areas of Indian Country (PDF)(16 pp, 1 MB)
  This memorandum provides EPAs policy regarding designating areas of Indian country separately from adjacent areas for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, when requested by the relevant tribe for a particular area of Indian country.
• Guidance for Indian Tribes Seeking Class I Redesignation of Indian Country Pursuant to Section 164(c) of the Clean Air Act (PDF)(11 pp, 85 K, August 29, 2013)
  This document provides guidance for federally recognized Indian tribes who are considering redesignating the areas within the exterior boundaries of their reservations as Class I areas under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. This guidance also provides answers to frequently asked questions and an explanation of the redesignation process.
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards Webinar Presentation.pdf (PDF)(14 pp, 2 MB, 01/19/2017)
  NAAQS 101 - Webinar #1 - presentation on 01/19/2017 from EPA. Recording of webinar: http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/p2u3aeb6jk0/