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Air Quality Specialist
The Air Quality Specialist is the Federal Highway Administration's main contact for the State of North Carolina. In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation they are responsible for providing guidance and oversight on: Long Range Transportation Plans (LRTPs), Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs), transportation conformity, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), transportation control measures (TCMs), and other federal transportation regulations as they pertain to air quality planning.
Clean Air Act
The Air Pollution Act of 1955 was the first federal regulation to address air pollution. It mandated federal research programs to examine the effects of air pollution on human health. The Clear Air Act of 1963 replaced the 1955 act. It continued the provision of funding for research. It also established emissions standards and criteria. The Amendment of 1965 established automobile emission standards. The Clean Air act of 1970 established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), strict vehicle emissions standards, and had a provision that enabled citizens to take legal action against any entities that violate the standards. The Amendment of 1977 created new motor vehicle emissions standards, a timeline to meet those standards, a timeline to meet the NAAQS and introduced transportation conformity.
The Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 is the foundation for all current federal air quality regulations. Some of the mandates of this amendment that affect transportation are the reduction of pollutants that create ozone (smog), reduction in motor vehicle emissions, use of low sulfur fuels, and made the requirement for transportation conformity stricter. This amendment introduced state implementation plans (SIPs), where each state lays out a plan on how they are going to maintain and/or improve the air quality. The 1990 CAAA also addressed hazardous air pollutants and acid rain.
With regard to conformity, Section 176(c)(1)(B) of the 1990 Clean Air Act states:
"conformity to [a SIP] means such activities will not:
i. Cause or contribute to any new violation of any standard in any area;
ii. Increase the frequency or severity of any existing violation of any standard in any area; or
iii. Delay timely attainment of any standard in any area."
Click here for more information on the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990.
Transportation Conformity
Transportation conformity is a means to ensure that federal funding and approval on transportation projects and programs are aligned with the air quality goals established in state implementation plan. Conformity applies to transportation plans, transportation improvement programs (TIPs), and projects that require funding or approval by FHWA or FTA in areas that are nonattainment or maintenance for ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, or nitrogen dioxide.
Each nonattainment and maintenance area is required to make a conformity determination demonstrating that the total emissions projected for a plan or program are within the emissions limits ("budgets") established by the air quality plan or State Implementation Plan (SIP), and that transportation control measures (TCMs) are implemented in a timely fashion.
| Role | Responsibility |
| Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) | Makes the initial conformity determination |
| North Carolina State Department of Transportation (NC DOT) | Makes the initial conformity determination in the areas outside of MPO boundaries |
| North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality | Develops motor vehicle emission limits ("budgets") and develops the emissions factors for the conformity determinations |
| Public/Community | Attends public meetings and provide comments |
| US Environmental Protection Agency | Consults on the conformity determination |
| Federal Highway Administration/Federal Transit Administration | Makes the final conformity determination |
For more information on transportation conformity
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) was initially authorized by the Intermodal and Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991. It was reauthorized with Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998. The primary purpose of the CMAQ Program is to provide federal funding for transportation projects and programs that will contribute to the attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM).
The following activities and programs are eligible for CMAQ funding:
For more information on the CMAQ program:
Transportation Control Measures
Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) are any measures that are specifically identified and committed to in the state implementation plan and is either listed in Section 108 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) or will reduce transportation related emissions by reducing vehicle use or changing the traffic flow or congestion conditions. (40 CRF 93.101)
Section 108 of the CAA provides examples of transportation control measures including, but not limited to:
For more information on TCMs:
