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Transportation Conformity and PM2.5 Hot Spot Modeling

Transportation Conformity and PM2.5 Hot Spot Modeling. Region 4 Modelers Workshop Dianna Smith, EPA-R4 November 15, 2012. Transportation Conformity…. Connects air quality & transportation planning. Summary of Key Conformity Dates. MOVES Regional Conformity Analyses.

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Transportation Conformity and PM2.5 Hot Spot Modeling

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  1. Transportation Conformity and PM2.5 Hot Spot Modeling Region 4 Modelers Workshop Dianna Smith, EPA-R4 November 15, 2012

  2. Transportation Conformity… Connects air quality & transportation planning.

  3. Summary of Key Conformity Dates

  4. MOVES Regional Conformity Analyses • Final rule to extend grace period from March 2, 2012 to March 2, 2013 was effective on February 27, 2012 (77 FR 11394) • After March 2, 2013, MOVES2010 must be used for new regional conformity analyses • MOBILE6.2 can be used for any analysis started by March 2, 2013 unless • Budgets based on MOVES have already been found adequate or approved • EPA encourages use of MOVES2010b for new MOVES analyses • See EPA’s MOVES Policy Guidance for more details: • www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/documents/420b12010.pdf

  5. MOVES2010b • Released April 2012 • Performance and feature improvements only • Not considered a new emission models for SIP and conformity purposes • No new grace period • SIP/conformity policy: users can choose to continue significant work with MOVES2010 or MOVES2010a, or switch to MOVES2010b • Recommend use of MOVES2010b for new work

  6. Other Items for MOVES2010b • Updated SIP and Conformity Policy Guidance • Updated MOVES Technical Guidance • Tools that help convert RunSpecs and user input databases created with previous versions of MOVES2010 to MOVES2010b format • Spreadsheet converter to ease input of retrofit program data in MOVES • Updating 2-day training course materials

  7. MOVES2013: What’s Next? • A major upgrade to MOVES • New data • New rules • Addition of draft NONROAD emissions • Will finalize in later version • Other potential improvements • Tentative release mid-2013 • Started new FACA process for MOVES2013 • Considering a workshop to bring MOVES users together to talk about developing local fleet and activity inputs

  8. New Conformity Guidance • On July 25, 2012 OTAQ issued two guidance : • Conformity Guidance for 2008 Ozone Areas • Provides guidance for meeting conformity requirements in areas designated nonattainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. • Also addresses the revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS for transportation conformity purposes. • Updated Multi-jurisdictional Conformity Guidance • Describes how conformity determinations are done in areas: • where multiple MPOs, states and/or other agencies have jurisdiction in a nonattainment or maintenance area, and • where nonattainment boundaries for a newer NAAQS have changed from the previous NAAQS • This guidance updates and replaces the multi-jurisdictional guidance released in July 2004 • The documents are available at: www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/2008naaqs.htm

  9. Hot-spot Guidance and Models • EPA announced two technical guidance documents in the Federal Register on December 20, 2010 • Transportation Conformity Guidance for Quantitative Hot-spot Analyses in PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas • Using MOVES in Project-Level Carbon Monoxide Analyses • Both documents are available at: www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm • EPA also approved MOVES2010a for use in PM and CO hot-spot analyses and EMFAC2007 for PM hot-spot analyses in California • 2-year conformity grace period ends December 20, 2012 • Grace period also applies to MOVES2010b • EPA encourages use of MOVES2010b for new MOVES analyses

  10. When Are Quantitative PM Hot-spot Analyses Required? • A PM hot-spot analysis is only required for projects of local air quality concern (40 CFR 93.123(b)(1)) • Example: new or expanded highway/transit projects with a significant number/significant increase in diesel vehicles • Beginning December 20, 2012, quantitativePM hot-spot analyses are required • Exception: a qualitative PM hot-spot analysis begun before December 20, 2012 can be completed • Until December 20, 2012: • Any PM hot-spot analyses required can continue to be done qualitatively • Quantitative analyses can be completed, if desired • Hot-spot analysis grace period is separate from MOVES2010 grace period for regional conformity analyses

  11. Other PM Hot-spot Resources • EPA has released or has under development several tools for helping state and local agencies with PM hot-spot analyses • Already released: • Emission Rate post-processing scripts (now in MOVES2010b) • PM grams/hour or grams/mile • CO grams/hour and/or grams/mile • 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS Design Value Script • MOVES2AERMOD • MySQL script to automate process of incorporating MOVES output into AERMOD input file • Under development: • OpMode Distribution Generator • Improve how idle emissions are calculated at intersections

  12. For Future Consideration • Additional 3-day PM Hot-spot Trainings? • More PM hot-spot related webinars? • Further tools to assist state and local agencies in the details of PM hot-spot analyses? • Other ideas for improving the transition to quantitative PM hot-spot analyses? • Contact Meg Patulski (patulski.meg@epa.gov) or conformity-hotspot@epa.gov

  13. Questions

  14. Contact Information Dianna B. Smith (404) 562-9207 Smith.dianna@epa.gov

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