Air Quality and Project Level Conformity Sample Clauses

Air Quality and Project Level Conformity. The regulations implementing the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended, require that transportation plans, programs and projects in non‐ attainment or maintenance areas for transportation‐related criteria pollutants (e.g., ozone, PM10, PM2.5, CO) that are funded or approved by FHWA must be in conformity with the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The USEPA has set standards for six criteria pollutants, known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Conformity is determined through the process specified in USEPA’s transportation conformity regulations (40 CFR Part 93). Projects located in attainment areas are not subject to the conformity regulations. However, as of July 2, 2014, the entire state of Connecticut is in non‐attainment for ozone, and three regions are in maintenance for CO. However, the CO maintenance periods will end in these areas on the following dates: • Hartford‐New Britain‐Middletown in 2015 • New Haven‐Meriden‐Waterbury in 2018 • Southwestern Connecticut in 2020 (For information as to which town or city is located in these areas, see additional information at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇.▇▇▇/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpolicy/policymaps/ref/COAreas.pdf). Projects in Connecticut are subject to conformity for at least one of the above pollutants unless they are exempt from conformity (per 40 CFR §93.126), or are exempt from a regional emissions analysis (per 40 CFR §93.127). For all air quality and project level conformity determinations and analyses, please contact the Travel Demand/Air Quality (TD/AQ) Section of the Bureau of Policy and Planning. • Project Level Emissions Analysis – This type of analysis (a.k.a., “hot‐spot” analysis) applies to CO and PM10 concentrations. In Connecticut, the following projects require a CO “hot‐spot” analysis [see 40 CFR §93.123(a)]: (a) Projects that affect intersections currently at Level of Service (LOS) D, E, or F, or will change to LOS D, E, or F because of increased traffic volumes related to the project. Projects may fall within the CO categorical hot‐spot finding, per guidance issued February 12, 2014. FHWA’s website regarding the CO categorical hot‐spot analysis finding can be used to determine if the project fits within the parameters. (▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇/environment/air_quality/conformity/policy_and_guidance/c mcf/index.cfm) PM hot‐spot quantitative analyses is required for the following projects (per 40 CFR §93.123(b)(1): (a) New highway projects that have a significant number of diesel vehicles, and ...

Air Quality and Project Level Conformity. The proposed project is in a currently approved Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and conforming Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); AND there are no violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) at any new or revised signalized intersections: AND the project is either exempt from conformity, or the air quality assessment determined the project is in conformity.

Air Quality and Project Level Conformity. The regulations implementing the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended, require that transportation plans, programs and projects in non-attainment or maintenance areas for transportation-related criteria pollutants (e.g., ozone, PM10, PM2.5, ) that are funded or approved by FHWA must be in conformity with the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The USEPA has set standards for six criteria pollutants, known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Conformity is determined through the process specified in USEPA’s transportation conformity regulations (40 CFR Part 93). Projects located in attainment areas are not subject to the conformity regulations. (For information as to which town or city is located for criteria pollutants,, see additional information at ▇▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇.▇▇▇/DOT/PP_Bureau/Documents/Maps under miscellaneous maps. Projects in Connecticut are subject to conformity for at least one of the above pollutants unless they are exempt from conformity (per 40 CFR §93.126), or are exempt from a regional emissions analysis (per 40 CFR §93.127). For all air quality and project level conformity determinations and analyses, please contact the Travel Demand/Air Quality (TD/AQ) Section of the Bureau of Policy and Planning. • Project Level Conformity – The criteria for determining conformity of a project are contained in 40 CFR §93.109. For projects that are either (a) exempt from Transportation Conformity; (b) exempt from a regional emissions analysis; or, (c) do not otherwise require a project level emissions analysis, an Automatic or Programmatic CE is applicable. For those projects that do not qualify as an Automatic or Programmatic CE per any of the above- listed three conditions, if the project is included in the applicable Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO’s) current conforming TIP and the current conforming STIP, the project is in conformity, and a separate Project Level Conformity determination is not required unless a Project Level Emissions analysis is required. For all other projects, if the project is not from a conforming plan and TIP, a separate Project Level Conformity determination is required. o The project is not exempt from conformity, and is not included in a currently approved STIP or TIP; or