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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

• Policy Guidance on the Use of MOVES2014 and Subsequent Minor Revisions for State Implementation Plan Development, Transportation Conformity, and Other Purposes (PDF) (EPA, July 2014) - This document describes how and when to use the MOVES2014 for SIP development, transportation conformity, general conformity, and other purposes.
• MOVES2014 Questions and Answers (PDF) (EPA, July 2014) This document highlights the differences between MOVES2014 and earlier versions of MOVES and explains EPA policy on using MOVES2014 in State Implementation Plans and Transportation Conformity Analyses.
• Carbon Monoxide Categorical Hot-Spot Finding (February 2014) - FHWA's carbon monoxide (CO) categorical hot-spot finding per the transportation conformity rule at 40 CFR 93.123(a)(3) for urban highway projects that include one or more intersections in CO maintenance areas, except in California. Project sponsors may be able to rely on the categorical hot-spot finding in place of doing their own CO hot-spot analysis as part of a project-level conformity determination in CO maintenance areas.
• Transportation Conformity Guidance for Quantitative Hot-spot Analyses in PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas (EPA, November 2013) - 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. Update of November 2013: This guidance was originally released in December 2010, and Sections 5, 7.6, and 9.4 have been updated to reflect EMFAC2011 and EPA's 2012 PM NAAQS final rule. The November 2013 guidance supersedes the December 2010 guidance.
  
  • Main document only (PDF)
  • Appendices only (PDF)
  • Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Guidance Change Bulletin: November 2013 (PDF)
• Federal Register Notice of Availability: Official Release of EMFAC2011 Motor Vehicle Emission Factor Model for Use in the State of California (March 2013) - In this notice, EPA is approving and announcing that EMFAC2011 is available to use in statewide California SIP development and for regional emissions analyses and CO, PM 10 and PM 2.5 hot-spot analyses for transportation conformity. EMFAC2011 must be used for all new regional emissions analyses and CO, PM 10 and PM 2.5 hot-spot analyses that are started on or after September 6, 2013.
• 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.
  • Questions and Answers
• 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.