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NEPA & Project Level Conformity. Gary Jensen Environmental Protection Specialist Office of Natural and Human Environment. Existing Guidance. Project-level Conformity Transportation Conformity Rule Transportation Conformity Reference Guide Other Conformity Guidance NEPA
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NEPA & Project Level Conformity Gary Jensen Environmental Protection Specialist Office of Natural and Human Environment
Existing Guidance • Project-level Conformity • Transportation Conformity Rule • Transportation Conformity Reference Guide • Other Conformity Guidance • NEPA • 1987 Technical Advisory • 1986 Discussion Paper
Project-Level Conformity Requirements • From Conforming Plan/TIP in Metro Areas • Regional Emissions Analysis in Rural Areas • CO Hot-Spot Analysis • Quantitative in certain cases, or qualitative • PM-10 Hot-Spot Analysis • Currently qualitative only • PM-10 Control Measures
New Standards • 8-Hour Conformity Required June 15, 2005 • Prior to final environmental document, project must be part of conforming plan/TIP • If past environment stage, project-level conformity required prior to project approval after June 15, 2005 • In isolated rural areas, regional emissions analysis must be completed • PM-2.5 Conformity Required Early 2006
PM-2.5 and PM-10 Hot-Spots • June 2004 Final Rule does not address • EPA developing supplemental proposal this summer • How should the PM-2.5 hot-spot issue be addressed • Should changes be made to PM-10 hot-spot requirements • Final rule prior to PM-2.5 designations
What Is Being Done To Address Ozone In NEPA Documents? • Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas • Transportation Conformity • Attainment Areas • Is any one performing corridor-level/macro-level analyses in NEPA?
What Is Being Done To Address CO In NEPA Documents? • Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas • Transportation Conformity • Regional Emissions • Hot-Spot Analysis • Attainment Areas
CO Hot-Spot Analysis • Transportation Conformity Rule Quantitative Analysis Thresholds • Alternative Procedures/Thresholds • Attainment Area Protocols
What Is Being Done To Address PM-10 In NEPA Documents? • Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas • Transportation Conformity • Regional Emissions • Hot-Spot Analysis • PM-10 Control Measures • Attainment Areas
PM-10 Hot-Spot Analysis • FHWA Qualitative Analysis Guidance • Other Methods?
PM-10 Control Measures • How are these being addressed in NEPA documents? • What sort of measures do you see?
Next Steps • Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments • Update of the Transportation Conformity Reference Guide • NEPA Air Quality Guidance to Replace Technical Advisory and Out-Dated Guidance
NEPA Air Quality Issues • Criteria Pollutants and Conformity • 1-Hour Ozone, 8-Hour Ozone, CO, PM-10, PM-2.5, and Nitrogen Dioxide • Mobile Source Air Toxics • Green House Gases • Regional Haze and Visibility • Construction Emissions