EPA Finalizes theTransportation
Conformity Rule PM2.5 and PM10
Amendments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing
changes to the transportation conformity rule that primarily affect
PM2.5 and PM10 nonattainment and maintenance areas.
Key Elements of the Final Rule
The final rule provides clear guidance on how to implement transportation conformity
under the 2006 PM2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) to ensure
that transportation planning and air quality planning are coordinated and that air
quality is protected.
Conformity will apply in 2006 PM2.5 nonattainment areas for this NAAQS on
December 14, 2010, based on the one-year grace period for newly designated areas
in the Clean Air Act and the transportation conformity rule.
The final rule also updates the conformity regulation to:
• include the requirements for demonstrating conformity for the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS, including the regional emissions test(s) that would apply before
and after SIP motor vehicle emissions budgets are established for the revised
NAAQS;
• update the baseline year for the interim emissions test to calendar year
2008 in 2006 PM2.5 nonattainment areas;
• clarify which budgets PM10 nonattainment and maintenance areas would
use for transportation conformity determinations, now that the annual
PM10 standard has been revoked; and
• clarify that federally funded or approved highway and transit projects in
PM2.5, PM10 and CO nonattainment and maintenance areas must not
delay timely attainment or achievement of other interim milestones.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-10-011
March 2010
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Background
Transportation conformity is a Clean Air Act requirement that ensures that federally supported
highway and transit projects are consistent with state air quality implementation plans. Confor-
mity helps protect public health through early consideration of the air quality impacts of trans-
portation decisions in places where air quality does not currently meet federal standards or has
not met them in the past.
Health and Environmental Benefits
The final rule improves the health and environmental benefits of the existing transportation
conformity program by requiring new PM2.5 nonattainment areas and existing PM10 nonat-
tainment and maintenance areas to use conformity tests that ensure that air quality is protected
in areas that need to attain or maintain federal air quality standards. The final rule also clarifies
that hot-spot analyses are performed in a manner consistent with the Clean Air Act's public
health and environmental requirements.
For More Information
You can access documents on transportation conformity on EPA's Office of Transportation and
Air Quality Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/index.htm
For further information on this proposed rule, please contact:
Laura Berry
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI48105
734-214-4858
E-mail: berry.laura@epa.gov
Or
Patty Klavon
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-4476
E-mail: klavon.patty@epa.gov
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