CONFORMITY POLICY: AIR QUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

The first section of this policy document outlines the conformity process and the specific requirements that must be met in making conformity determinations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the subsequent conformity rules promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The second section addresses National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements and provides guidance that will aid in understanding how the conformity process is interrelated with the environmental impact assessment process. The third section addresses the importance of a comprehensive and stringent adherence to the mandates of both the transportation conformity rule and NEPA/CEQA. The role of public involvement and the specter of citizen suits under the provisions of both the CAA and NEPA/CEQA are discussed. Potential litigation points under the CAA, NEPA, and CEQA are identified and explained. This section also reviews a number of legal cases that appear relevant to CAA conformity determinations and NEPA/CEQA environmental assessments. This review indicates when NEPA and CEQA court cases might be referenced by litigants in an effort to counter conformity determinations. In the final section of this policy report, the findings of the technical modeling studies reported in Guensler, et al. (1994) are summarized. The report concludes with a summary of the relevant policy issues associated with project assessment under the transportation conformity rule.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Davis

  Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center, Institute of Transportation Studies
  Davis, CA  United States  95616
• Authors:
  • Guensler, R
  • SHAHEEN, S
  • Mar, F
  • Yee, C Y
• Publication Date: 1998-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References;
• Pagination: 151 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality; Conformity; Environmental impact analysis; Laws and legislation; Legal action; Litigation; Transportation policy
• Identifier Terms: California Environmental Quality act; Clean Air Act; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transportation programs; Transportation projects
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00780252
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UCD-ITS-RR-98-2
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 14 1999 12:00AM