Project Level Conformity
Project level conformity determinations require that the FHWA/FTA project must come from a conforming transportation plan/TIP or associated regional emissions analysis. In addition, in carbon monoxide and particulate matter nonattainment and maintenance areas, an analysis of localized emissions may be required for federally funded or approved projects. This analysis is called a "hot-spot" analysis.
Policy & Guidance
- Transportation Conformity Guidance for Quantitative Hot-spot Analyses in PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas (EPA, December 2010) - Guidance for modeling the local air quality impacts of certain transportation projects on the PM2.5 and PM10 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This guidance is to be used by state and local agencies to conduct quantitative PM “hot-spot analyses” for new highway and transit projects that involve significant diesel emissions.
Main document only
Appendices only
Fact Sheet (HTML) or (PDF)
- Using MOVES in Project-Level Carbon Monoxide Analyses (EPA, December 2010) - This guidance describes how to use the MOVES emissions model to estimate CO emissions from transportation projects, including roadway intersections, highways, transit projects, parking lots and intermodal terminals.
- Federal Register Notice of Availability: Official Release of the MOVES2010a and EMFAC2007 Motor Vehicle Emissions Models for Transportation Conformity Hot-Spot Analyses and Availability of Modeling Guidance (December 2010) – This notice approves MOVES2010a for PM and CO hot-spot analyses (and EMFAC2007 for PM hot-spot analyses in California) with a 2-year conformity grace period. EPA also announced the availability of its final PM hot-spot guidance and CO project-level MOVES guidance.
- MOVES2010 Policy Guidance (December 2009) - This document describes how and when to use the MOVES2010 emissions model for SIP development, transportation conformity determinations, and other purposes.
- Clarification to the "Transportation Conformity Guidance for Qualitative Hot-spot Analysis in PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas" (February 2009)
- Guidance for the Use of Latest Planning Assumptions in Transportation Conformity Determinations (or PDF, 308 KB) (December 2008) - Joint USDOT and EPA guidance to clarify expectations for implementing the transportation conformity rule's latest planning assumptions requirements
- Transportation Conformity and the Revised 24-hour PM2.5 Standard (April 2007) - EPA guidance that addresses how transportation conformity will be implemented under the revised 24-hour PM2.5 standard
- Transportation Conformity Guidance for Qualitative Hot-Spot Analyses in PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas (March 2006) - Memorandum from FHWA and EPA on how to perform qualitative hot-spot analyses in PM2.5 and PM10 nonattainment and maintenance areas, as required by the March 10, 2006, final transportation conformity rule.
- Transportation Conformity Alert to FHWA Divisions on PM2.5 Project-Level Conformity (November 2005) - Alert to FHWA Divisions concerning PM2.5 Project-Level Conformity requirements as of April 5, 2006.
- Clarification of Transportation Conformity Requirements for FHWA/FTA Projects Requiring Environmental Impact Statements (May 2003) - Memorandum from FHWA and FTA to clarify how full compliance with the CAA transportation conformity requirements is to be achieved for FHWA and FTA projects requiring an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act, especially regarding whether conformity of a project must be determined prior to approval of the final EIS or prior to the issusance of the record of decision.
- Guidance for Qualitative Project Level "Hot-Spot" Analysis in PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas (September 2001) - FHWA guidance (and accompanying examples) for conducting PM10 qualitative hot-spot analyses - note this guidance pertains only to those hot-spot analyses begun prior to March 29, 2006.
