1. Transportation Conformity Basics Eddie Dancausse FHWA NC Division 919-856-4330x112 edward.dancausse@fhwa.dot.gov

2. What is Transportation Conformity? Transportation conformity (conformity) is a way to ensure that Federal funding and approval goes to those transportation activities that are consistent with air quality (AQ) goals.

3. What is Transportation Conformity? Conformity applies to: Projects funded by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in nonattainment or maintenance areas

4. Who makes a conformity determination? Eastern Federal Lands (EFL) Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

5. How often are conformity determinations required? Conformity is only done when there is a FHWA/FTA projects in the nonattainment or maintenance area

6. Who is involved in determining conformity? An interagency consultation process involving: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EFL FTA State AQ Agency

7. How do we involve the public? A conformity analysis is made available to the public as part of the MPO and/or State DOT planning process

8. What are emissions budgets? The State Implementation Plan (SIP) places limits on emissions for each source type (mobile, stationary and area sources). Budgets are developed as a part of the air quality planning process by State AQ agencies and approved by EPA.

9. What happens when a conformity determination cannot be made? The use of Federal aid funds is stopped Impacts design work, Right-of-Way acquisition, construction, permitting