Transportation Conformity: Meeting the New Federal Rule for PM2.5 and PM10 Hotspot Conformity

摘要

On March 10, 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released the Final Transportation Conformity Rule (TCR), which contains new requirements for demonstrating compliance with ambient particulate matter (PM) air quality standards. This new Rule updated the requirements of PM10 hot spot analyses and introduced requirements for PM2.5 analyses. The EPA released the Transportation Conformity Guidance for Qualitative Hot Spot Analyses in PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas on March 29, 2006, but guidance for quantitative analyses has yet to be provided. This paper focuses on Southern California’s experience and updated processes in evaluating PM2.5 and PM10 hot spots. In addition, local requirements and methods for demonstrating compliance with ambient air quality standards from off-road sources are presented.