vvEPA United states Office of Transportation EPA420-F-05-046 Env.ronmcrtalProtoci.cn and Ajr Qua|jty October 2005 for and for in Determinations 77)e I/. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed guidance for and agencies that are involved in developing implementation plans (SIPs) or transportation conformity determinations. This guidance explains how these agencies can incorporate emissions reductions resulting from changes in commuter trip behavior to their SIPs and transportation conformity determinations. The guidance explains how providing a high level of commuter benefits, as defined by achievement of the Best Workplaces for CommutersSM (BWC) designation, can result in decreased commuter trips, leading to decreased emissions. It also provides information on using one of the tools available to quantify these reductions—a newly-revised, spreadsheet-based calculator called the COMMUTER model. Workplaces for CommutersSM BWC is one of the voluntary programs offered by EPA's Office of Trans- portation and Air Quality aimed at achieving measurable environmental ------- benefits in a cost-effective way, without the need for regulation. Employ- ers qualifying to be designated as BWC must offer excellent commuter benefits that meet the program's "National Standard of Excellence." Voluntary programs like BWC can reduce pollution and improve air quality through strategic partnerships with small and large businesses, citizen groups, industry, manufacturers, trade associations, and state and local governments. SIP and Transportation Conformity Determinations Commuter benefit programs like BWC can offer quantifiable emission reductions. The guidance document describes the requirements for seeking emissions credit for BWC-related measures in SIPs and transpor- tation conformity determinations. While various modeling methodolo- gies for estimating the benefits of BWC-related measures are available, state and local agencies seeking reductions for SIPs or conformity should engage in a consultation process with EPA regarding appropriate meth- odologies. EPA has updated the COMMUTER model, first released in 2001, to assist worksite transportation coordinators and local planners in estimat- ing the impacts of commuter programs like BWC. The 2005 revision interfaces with EPAs current MOBILE6.2 emission factor model and adds the capacity to estimate how a commuter benefit can impact par- ticulate matter, air toxics emissions, and fuel use and costs. Running the model requires the user to provide information on the number of employ- ees covered and the types of benefits offered to them. The COMMUTER model allows users to input local-specific travel data, and emissions factors based on a MOBILE6.2 run representing the area. The MO- BILE6.2 look-up tables for emission factors in the COMMUTER model can be used to provide a preliminary estimate on what reductions are produced. If you choose to use the COMMUTER model to quantify emission reductions for SIP or transportation conformity purposes, you should use your own locally-generated MOBELE6.2 emission factors and local travel activity data to calculate emission reductions. Bundled The guidance "Incorporating Bundled Measures in a State Implementa- tion Plan (SIP)" released in August 2005 describes an option for how ------- BWC-related activities could be "bundled" with other voluntary mea- sures for SIP purposes. In cases where many small employers in an area are implementing BWC-related activities, it may be appropriate to consult this guidance along with the Bundled Measures guidance to quantify and account for the expected emission reductions. For More information You can access the guidance, the COMMUTER model, and related documents on the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/transp/conform/policy.htm For questions regarding this guidance: Mary Walsh 734-214-4205 walsh.mary@epa.gov For questions regarding BWC measures in transportation conformity determinations: Meg Patulski 734-214-4842 patulski.meg@epa.gov For questions regarding the COMMUTER model: Erik Herzog 734-214-4487 herzog.erik@epa.gov For more information about Best Workplaces for CommutersSM, visit the Web site at www.bwc.gov, send an e-mail message to bwc@epa.gov, or call the Best Workplaces for CommutersSM information line at 1-888- 856-3131. ------- |