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Air Directors Meeting Update December 2006

Air Directors Meeting Update December 2006. Scott Davis Air Quality Modeling and Transportation Section. Update Topics. Southeast Diesel Collaborative Emerging Fuels Issues Workshop Transportation Conformity Rulemaking Fuel Waivers EPA IG Inspection/Maintenance Report Upcoming Events.

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Air Directors Meeting Update December 2006

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  1. Air Directors Meeting UpdateDecember 2006 Scott Davis Air Quality Modeling and Transportation Section

  2. Update Topics • Southeast Diesel Collaborative • Emerging Fuels Issues Workshop • Transportation Conformity • Rulemaking • Fuel Waivers • EPA IG Inspection/Maintenance Report • Upcoming Events

  3. Southeast Diesel Collaborative • A voluntary, public-private partnership for the Southeast • Coordinated effort to promote clean diesel • Pool intellectual capital; share learning and ideas • Leverage resources to maximize benefits • Limit duplication of efforts

  4. SEDC Committees • Strategic Planning • Agriculture & Biodiesel • Construction • Emerging Sectors • Funding • Onroad/Highway • Outreach • Technology

  5. Ag/Biodiesel Sector • Education & Outreach – Producers Guide • Research – what farmers can produce now • Market development – regional strategy, different feedstocks • Engage Ag Commissioners across SE • Identify impediments to biodiesel distribution

  6. Construction Sector • Encourage/facilitate incentives for contractor retrofits • Catalogue biodiesel use successes • Outreach – stress health and fuel savings benefits of anti-idling/retrofits • Retrofit grant programs for SE pilot projects • Assist in Industry workshops and training-solicit ideas

  7. Onroad/Highway Sector • Expand retrofits to other public fleets (transit, waste) • Promote biodiesel use • Enhance clean refueling infrastructure • Interstate Green Corridors – truck stop electrification and biofuels refueling • Expand SmartWay Transport • Explore creative financing

  8. Recent Project • Comprehensive SEDC Region 4 biodiesel inventory identifies: • Production facilities; • Distributors; • Refueling stations; • Infrastructure; and, • State incentives • Links: mapmuse.com and SEDC website at www.southeastdiesel.org

  9. Regional Investment

  10. Grants/Funding • Over $2 Million invested by EPA in Region 4 ($23 Million non-EPA funds) • Three SEDC 2006 grants for construction retrofit projects with KY AGC, GA DOT and Mecklenburg NC DAQ - $100K total • 2007 SEDC grants – • Awaiting final FY07 EPA appropriation • Potential range nationwide -- $20-28M

  11. What’s Next ? • Develop strategies and projects with state and local partners • Assist State Diesel Workgroups • Continue SEDC outreach • Monthly Partner conference calls/Committee calls • Funding Forum (Feb 07), Annual Partners Meeting (May or June 07)

  12. EPA Emerging Fuels Issues Workshop • December 5-6 in Atlanta • Audience: State/Local agencies, SEDC groups with interest in fuels; opened by RA J. Palmer • Topics: • Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel; • Fuel waivers; • Labeling/tank issues; • Biodiesel and ethanol; • Regulatory requirements; • Energy Policy Act

  13. Transportation Conformity • All 8-hr Ozone and PM2.5 areas meeting requirements • Continue strong interagency consultations and formal reviews • FY06 – 69 reviews completed • Coordination for PM2.5 Hotspots • Completed over 300 project reviews in R4 for compliance with requirements since April 2006 • Ongoing-Motor vehicle emissions budgets adequacy determinations; ATL RFG litigation; insignificance findings (NC)

  14. Rulemaking/Guidance update • July 1, 2004 – New NAAQS Transportation Conformity Rule Revision • July 1, 2004 – Companion Guidance for Transportation Conformity Implementation in Multi-jurisdictional Areas • May 6, 2005 – PM2.5 Precursor Rule • August 10, 2005 – Annual PM2.5 Inventory for SIPs and Conformity Guidance • February 14, 2006 – Interim SAFETEA-LU Guidance • March 10, 2006 – PM2.5/PM10 Hotspot Rule • March 29, 2006 – PM2.5/PM10 Qualitative Hotspot Guidance • June 9, 2006 - Diesel Retrofit SIP and Conformity Guidance • Oct 31, 2006 – Interim CMAQ Improvement Program Guidance under SAFETEA-LU • SAFETEA-LU Transportation Conformity Rule Revision (final coming soon)

  15. Fuel Waivers • Continue as liaison between States and EPA OECA for granting fuel waivers • Facilitated Outreach call on requirements from HQ this past summer • No waivers needed for FY06 !! • Maintained States’ emergency contact information for HQ, R4, St/L

  16. Other: EPA IG I/M Report • EPA IG Report on oversight of Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs released Oct 5, 2006 • Focus was Region 3 but information evaluated from all EPA Regions • Findings-many programs not submitting required reports and few Regions conducting I/M audits, with the exception of REGION 4 (~of course~) • OTAQ addressing the findings • Have added personnel to I/M program to provide better support; states had complained about issues related to obtaining technical information and guidance from EPA • Reviewing ideas to allow I/M programs to make use of new technologies to improve operations • Region 4’s most recent audit was in Georgia during Summer 2006 (not reflected in the report)

  17. Upcoming Events • SEDC Funding Forum – week of Feb 20-23 in Biloxi, MS (One and a half days TBA) • R4 Modelers Workshop – March 20-22 or March 27-29 in Atlanta • SEDC Annual Partners Meeting – May or June 2007 in Atlanta; inviting EPA Administrator • Southern Transportation Air Quality Summit (STAQS) – Joint FHWA/EPA/St/Local conf planned for Sept 2007 in Savannah, GA

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