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Last Updated: Thursday, January 5, 2012 12:14 PM

Air Quality Analysis and Coordination

The Caltrans Headquarters Air Quality Branches manage Department air quality analysis and Transportation Conformity policy; assist Caltrans District Office Environmental and Planning staff with regional and project-level air quality issues; consult and coordinate with State, Federal, and regional air and transportation planning agencies; build and maintain air quality analysis tools and procedures; and manage research studies related to transportation air quality issues.

Contents

• Analysis Tools

• Conformity

• Statewide Conformity Working Group

• Climate Change

• References

• Who We Are

• Maintenance & Construction Contacts
  

Project-Level Air Quality Analysis Tools

Air quality analysts typically use the models and guidance documents described below for transportation projects in California. Many are from external agencies including: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , California Air Resources Board , or a local air pollution control or air quality management district .

Microsoft Excel™ files require use of Microsoft Excel™ or compatible spreadsheet software, or an Excel™ Viewer from Microsoft Corp .

• EMFAC Guidance
  • CT-EMFAC
  • EMFAC 2011 at ARB
    
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) Analysis Tools
  • CO Protocol Document
  • CALINE4 Model
  • CALINE4 Model Documentation
• Particulate Matter Hot Spot Analysis Tools
  • 2006 Conformity Rule Amendment (Text | PDF)
  • EPA Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Guidance - see EPA Conformity Policy Guidance web page
    • CAL3QHCR dispersion model
    • AERMOD dispersion model
    • "Appendix W"
  • AP-42 for Paved Roads (EPA - see 13.2.1) | San Joaquin Valley (ARB) | Statewide (ARB) | Bay Area (not SIP-approved))
• Air Toxics Tools
  • FHWA 2009 Interim Guidance (Web Page | PDF)
  • Sacramento AQMD Land Use Protocol
• Construction Emission Analysis
  The SER currently describes a qualitative approach. In some cases, analysts may wish to quantify emissions. No single tool is suitable for use statewide for all types of projects, but these may be helpful as starting points:
  • Sacramento AQMD Road Construction Model
  • OFFROAD emission inventory model
  • URBEMIS land development emission model
• Caltrans Standard Environmental Reference: Chapter 11 (Air Quality), Chapter 13 (Energy/Climate Change)
• Climate Change - see below

Federal Clean Air Act Transportation Conformity Requirements

"Transportation Conformity" is a process set up under the Federal Clean Air Act to ensure that transportation planning, transportation improvement programs, and projects are consistent with plans to achieve and maintain Federal air quality standards. Specific requirements are set by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations in 40 CFR 93 , US EPA and US DOT guidance documents, and local regulations and procedures set up by Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Air Pollution Control Districts. The following map and table illustrate the areas which are subject to Transportation Conformity requirements in California at the end of 2007.

 

 

Click on the graphic image at left for an enlarged image, or use one of the following links to download the map image. Save the file using the method appropriate for your browser:

GIF format (96 dpi, 114 KB file size)

PDF format (363 KB file size)

Or view a Table of Areas Subject to Transportation Conformity Requirements

Table of Conformity Areas with Regional Conformity Status

For more conformity information and records of Statewide Conformity Working Group meetings, see the Statewide Conformity Working Group page at this site.

Climate Change

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) are generally analyzed separately from the "traditional" air pollutants, since they are most closely related to energy and fuel consumption. However, some tools may be common to both greenhouse gas and air quality analysis. The ARB's EMFAC model, for instance, produces estimates of CO2 emissions and fuel usage as well as the more traditional mobile source emissions. Project-level CO2 emissions from highway operation (not construction) can also be estimated using the CT-EMFAC tool.

The California Air Resources Board prefers an approach based on fuel usage, similar to what was used for the California Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory.

For more information regarding greenhouse gas and energy analysis, see:

• Standard Environmental Reference (SER), Chapter 13 (Energy)
• Annotated NEPA Document Outlines in the SER Forms and Templates section
• Energy and Transportation Systems report (1983, PDF file) at Caltrans DRI
  • Searchable version (PDF file) - some errors may exist due to the nature of the OCR process
• California Climate Change Portal web site
• AB32 Information
• 2010 CEQA Guidelines regarding Climate Change
• CAPCOA GHG guidance (all in PDF format)
  • White Paper
  • Model Policies
  • NEW 9/2010: Guidance for Quantifying GHG Mitigation Measures

References – Air Quality Planning, Regulations, and Other Information

Air quality in California is regulated under both Federal and State Clean Air Acts. The California Air Resources Board sets and updates State air quality standards, manages statewide air quality regulatory and research programs, and is responsible for submitting the State Implementation Plan under the Federal Clean Air Act to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Stationary and area source permitting and regulation, and regional air quality planning including the development of mobile source emission budgets, are carried out by air pollution control districts and air quality management districts. For more air quality information, please consult the following web sites (all ):

• Air Resources Board (ARB) Home Page
  • Nonattainment Area Designations Web Page
  • Air Districts Directory
  • California Air Quality Laws and Regulations Web Page
  • Air Quality and Transportation Planning Web Page
  • The California State Implementation Plan (SIP)
  • Modeling Software Web Site
• California State and Local Government Links
• Federal Highway Administration Home Page
  • Federal Highway Administration Air Quality Web Page
    • Federal Highway Administration Transportation Conformity Web Page
    • Federal Highway Administration Air Toxics Web Page
  • Air Quality Web Page at Federal Highway Administration, California Division
• Federal Transit Administration Home Page
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Home Page
  • US EPA, Region 9 Home Page
    • US EPA Region 9 Air Quality Maps
  • US EPA Transportation Conformity Web Page
  • US EPA Air Quality Modeling Support Web Site
• AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence Air Quality section
• U.S. Census Urbanized Areas (note: may not yet show areas for 2010 Census)
  • Census Bureau Mapping
  • U.S. EPA Califronia Mapping
  • FHWA Mapping - Northern California
  • FHWA Mapping - Southern California

Who We Are

The Air Quality Coordination Branch is in the Division of Transportation Planning, Office of Regional and Interagency Planning. Environmental Analysis staff may also contact Jim Elder in HQ Environmental Engineering's Hazardous Waste, Noise, and Air Quality office.

Environmental Engineering staff members in Caltrans District offices prepare Air Quality Studies that are used in the environmental analysis process for Caltrans projects. Metropolitan Planning Organization staff members prepare regional air quality analyses as part of the Federal Clean Air Act conformity process.

Caltrans Headquarters Air Quality Staff Contacts:

, Senior Environmental Planner
Air Quality and Conformity Coordination
(916) 653-0158

, Transportation Engineer
Air Quality Analysis and Technical Assistance
(916) 651-8197

, Environmental Planner
Air Quality Planning and Coordination
(916) 653-1069

, Air Quality Specialist
Division of Environmental Analysis
(916) 653-3876

Maintenance and Construction Contacts for Air Quality (CAPCOA)

This list provides current (March 2010) contact information for Maintenance and Construction offices in each Caltrans District requested by CAPCOA:  CONTACTS LIST

 

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