EPA Finalizes Transportation
Conformity Rule: MOVES Regional
Grace Period Extension
EPA is taking direct final action to extend the grace period before
the MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator model (MOVESZOlOa) is
required for regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity
determinations ("regional conformity analyses")* MOVES is EPA's
state-of-the-art model for estimating emissions from highway vehicles,
based on analyses of millions of emission test results and considerable
advances in the Agency's understanding of vehicle emissions.
This final rule ensures that air quality is protected and clarifies
requirements for implementers under the extended grace period for
regional conformity analyses.
EPA has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation
to develop this final rule.
Background
Transportation conformity is a Clean Air Act requirement that ensures that fed-
erally supported highway and transit projects are consistent with state air quality
implementation plans (SIPs). Conformity helps protect public health through early
consideration of the air quality impacts of transportation decisions in places where
air quality does not currently meet federal national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS) or has not met them in the past.
Key Elements of the Final Rule
• This final rule provides an additional year to the previously established two-
year conformity grace period. As a result, MOVESZOlOa is not required for
new regional conformity analyses until March 2, 2013,
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-11-001
October 2011
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The final rule is based on unique circumstances presented by the transition to MOVES
from the previous emissions model. Several state and local transportation and air quality
agencies have requested additional transition time for using MOVESZOlOa in regional
conformity analyses.
This action does not affect EPA's previous approval of the use of MOVES in official SIP
submissions or the existing grace period before MOVESZOlOa is required for carbon
monoxide and particulate matter hot-spot analyses for project-level conformity determi-
nations (75 FR 79370).
Health and Environmental Benefits
The final rule ensures that transportation activities are consistent with air quality goals of the
transportation conformity program. The final rule ensures that all nonattainment and mainte-
nance areas use conformity tests that ensure air quality progress continues in areas that need to
attain or maintain the NAAQS,
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 final rule, please contact:
Meg Patulski
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI48105
734-214-4842
E-mail: patulski.meg@epa.gov
Or:
Astrid Larsen
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-4812
E-mail: larsen.astrid@epa.gov
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