1. Transportation Conformity and Development of Emission Budgets

2. We will cover the following topics:  CAA Transportation Conformity Regulations  Development of Emission Budgets What are our objectives?

3. What Is Conformity? Established by the Clean Air Act Requires governments to evaluate emissions from planned federal or federally funded projects BEFORE they are built Applies in ozone, CO, PM-10 and NO 2 areas designated as nonattainment or maintenance

4. Conformity: Transportation vs. General Transportation conformity applies to federal highway and transit actions General conformity applies to all other federal actions (e.g. airports and railroads)

5. Transportation Conformity: What pollution does it address? Stationary Sources Transportation/ On-Road Mobile Sources Area Sources Off-Road Mobile Sources Transportation Conformity…covers just one piece of the pie... Transportation conformity addresses air pollution from on-road mobile sources. On-road mobile sources are emissions created by cars, trucks, and transit.

6. What Transportation Actions are Subject to Conformity? Transportation plans (20-year timeframe) Transportation improvement programs (TIP) (3- year timeframe) “Federal” projects –projects receiving federal funding –projects receiving FHWA/FTA approval Regionally significant State projects are partially affected

7. Transportation Conformity: A Link Between Air Quality and Transportation Planning State Implementation Plan (SIP) Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Conformity

8. SIP Elements Inventory of emissions estimates for each sector (stationary, area, mobile) Air quality modeling Demonstration of SIP’s purpose Specific list of controls Contingency measures (maintenance areas)

9. SIPs contain motor vehicle emissions budgets (“budgets”) SIP budgets based on area’s motor vehicle inventory and control measures Budgets important for conformity because used in regional emissions analysis Budget test: emissions from planned transportation system < budget –budget = ceiling on emissions of that pollutant / precursor SIP MV Budgets

10. Adequacy Review of Budgets SIP budgets must be adequate before used for conformity Conformity rule (93.118(e)(4)) describes adequacy criteria –these criteria are similar to those for SIP approval Positive adequacy finding does not guarantee approvability of SIP

11. Adequacy Criteria Governor Endorsement Public Hearing Interagency consultation and full documentation EPA concerns addressed Control measures achieve air quality goals (RFP, attainment, maintenance)

12. Adequacy Criteria Emissions budget(s) clearly identified and precisely quantified in the SIP Budget is consistent with emissions inventory/control measures Revisions to previously submitted SIPs are explained EPA will review public comment from state’s public hearing

13. Adequacy Process Approximately 90 day process State submits SIP to EPA EPA announces receipt of SIP on website, 30-day public comment period started EPA makes adequacy/inadequacy finding Respond to any comments Send letter to state Post finding on web Issue a Federal Register notice (FRN) Finding effective 15 Days after FRN in most cases