Transportation Conformity Highlights

September 2008

Prepared by the Office of Natural and Human Environment Federal Highway Administration

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Announcements

FHWA's New Transportation Conformity of Practices Website.

On September 26, 2008, FHWA's Transportation Conformity Website was updated to provide users the ability to search a repository of transportation conformity practices that could be replicated in other areas of the country. The repository currently contains examples of PM2.5 and PM10 project level hot-spot analyses, state and local procedures for determining whether PM2.5 and PM10 hot-spot analyses are required for a project, and state and local on-road mobile source measures in State Implementation Plans. The repository is located at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/air_quality/conformity/practices/

EPA Releases guidance on Transportation Conformity in PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas and the Revocation of the Annual PM10 Standard. On September 25, 2008 EPA released a new memorandum to provide guidance as noted above. The EPA memo provides guidance for the implementation of transportation conformity for the revised PM10 standards of October 2006 which also revoked the Annual PM10 standard. The guidance will be available shortly on EPA's website.

EPA Files Petition for Rehearing in CAIR Case.On September 24, 2008, EPA filed a Petition for Rehearing or Rehearing En Banc of the D.C. Circuit's July 11, 2008 decision to vacate EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and its associated Federal Implementation Plans. A copy of the Petition is available on EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/documents/cair/CAIRRemandOrder.pdf

NTAQS Presentations Now Available.The agenda and presentations from the Northern Transportation and Air Quality Summit which was held in Baltimore in August 2008 are now available. The sessions included global climate change and transportation, regulatory issues, mobile source air toxics, air pollution and health, and modeling and diesel/freight. See: http://www.marama.org/ntaqs/.

Reminders

EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR).On July 30, 2008 the U.S. EPA released an ANPR for review and comment on analyses and policy alternatives regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) effects and regulations under the Clean Air Act. Comments are due November 28, 2008. This notice includes both the Preamble to the proposed rulemaking that provides voluminous detail on issues that EPA is seeking input on, and observations and issues raised by other federal agencies during the interagency review process related to the ANPR. EPA is seeking comment on both to help them frame the issue going forward. For more information, see: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-07-30/html/E8-16432.htm.

Training Opportunities

Introduction to Transportation Conformity Course. The National Transit Institute course will be offered in Pittsburgh, PA on October 21-23, 2008 and in Seattle, WA on November 5-7, 2008. This introductory course is a two and one-half day training course. For more information and to register contact: http://www.ntionline.com/CourseInfo.asp?CourseNumber=FP213.

MOBILE6.2 Emissions Modeling Webinar.The FHWA Resource Center Air Quality Technical Service Team will hold a MOBILE6.2 Emissions Modeling Webinar on November 4th, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST. To participate in the webinar you will need to register in advance at http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webConfID=15259. Once registered, you will receive additional email instructions on how to participate in the webinar along with training materials. If you have any questions you may contact Mike Roberts at Michael.Roberts@dot.gov or Dr. John Byun at joon.byun@fhwa.dot.gov.

FHWA Resource Center Training Activities.FHWA's Resource Center Air Quality Technical Services Team is available to offer air quality-related training opportunities and information is available at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/airquality/courses.cfm. For further information, contact: Mike Roberts at 404-562-3928 or at Michael.Roberts@dot.gov.

FHWA Resource Center Air Quality Team:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/airquality/index.cfm.

Transportation Conformity Community of Practice:
http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/hcx.nsf/home?openform

If you have any suggestions for future monthly conformity highlights, please email: ssiwek@aol.com.