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and maintenance areas would use for transportation conformity determinations, now that the annual PM10 standard has been revoked; and • clarify that federally funded or approved highway and transit projects in PM2.5, PM10 and CO nonattainment and maintenance areas must not delay timely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 ------- 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 ------- |