10.2190/02EK-L7QC-7JTR-6Y21 02EKL7QC7JTR6Y21 6 Progress in Achieving Consistency between Transportation and Air Quality Plans 373 388 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 02EKL7QC7JTR6Y21.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=02EKL7QC7JTR6Y21 4 Jerry A. Kurtzweg Office of Transportation and Land Use Policy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <p>This paper summarizes the progress in implementing a statutory requirement for consistency between federal-aid highways and state plans for implementing national ambient air quality standards. In response to this requirement the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed interim regulations in 1973 and final regulations in 1974. Under the regulations, the highway agency responsible for "initiating and carrying forward the action" on federally funded highways requests the policy boards of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to annually determine the consistency of current transportation plans and programs with the relevant state air quality plan. The FHWA may withhold or condition planning certification for an MPO if sufficient inconsistencies exist. Planning certification is a prerequisite to approval of federally funded highway and public transit projects.</p><p>To determine the effectiveness of the consistency determination and review process, a survey was made of the results of the process for 1976. The survey focused on three basic questions: (1) Is the consistency process being completed for all 237 MPO areas? If not, is the process being completed for all those MPOs which should be given priority because of the severity of their air pollution problems? (2) Under the FHWA regulations the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional offices have a consultive role. What have been the recommendations of the EPA regional offices in their consultation with the FHWA? (3) What has been the FHWA response to EPA recommendations?</p><p>This paper describes and analyzes the results of the survey and identifies the resultant policy issues.</p> Final Environmental Impact Statement on Air Quality Guidelines, FHWA-EIS-73-01-F, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D. C., September 1974. Final Air Quality Guidelines, <i>Federal Register</i>, 39(44441), December 24, 1974. Transportation Improvement Program, <i>Federal Register</i>, 40(42976), September 17, 1975. Assessing Transportation-Related Air Quality Impacts, Special Report 167, Transportation Research Board, <i>National Academy of Sciences</i>, Washington, D. C., 1975. J. Horowitz and S. Kuhrtz, Transportation Controls to Reduce Automobile Use and Improve Air Quality in Cities, EPA-400/11-74-002, Office of Air and Waste Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D. C., November 1974. <i>National Resources Defense Council v. Environmental Protection Agency</i>, 475 F .2d 968, D. C. cir. 1973. Maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards—Summary, <i>Federal Register</i>, 41 (18382), May 3, 1976. Guidelines for Analysis of Consistency Between Transportation and Air Quality Plans and Programs, Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D. C., April 1975. Monitoring and Air Quality Trends Report, 1973, EPA-450/1-74-007, Office of Air and Waste Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N. C., October 1974. Monitoring and Air Quality Trends Report, 1974, EPA-450/1-76-001, Office of Air and Waste Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N. C., February 1976. R. E. Train, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, letter to E. S. Muskie, Chairman, Subcommittee on Environmental Pollution, U. S. Senate, January 16, 1976. Interim Air Quality Guidelines, <i>Federal Register</i>, 38(31677), November 16, 1973. Certification Status Report of Urbanized Areas, unpublished computer printout, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D. C., August 30, 1976, supplemented by telephone survey of Environmental Protection Agency regional offices.