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Last Updated: Friday, October 3, 2008 7:31 AM

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Air Quality Analysis and Coordination

Contents

Who We Are | Tools | Conformity | Climate Change
Links | Statewide Conformity Working Group

Who We Are

The Caltrans Headquarters Air Quality Coordination Branch manages Department air quality and Conformity policy; assists Caltrans District Office Environmental and Planning staff with regional and project-level air quality issues; consults and coordinates with State, Federal, and regional air and transportation planning agencies; builds and maintains air quality analysis tools and procedures for Department staff use; and manages research studies related to transportation air quality issues.

The Air Quality Coordination Branch, organizationally, is in the Division of Transportation Planning, Office of Regional and Interagency Planning.

Caltrans and the University of California, Davis have a long-standing relationship for air quality-related research and technical assistance. Many products of this relationship can be found at the UC Davis-Caltrans Air Quality Project web site.

Air Quality Studies that are used in the environmental analysis process for Caltrans projects are prepared by Environmental Engineering staff members in Caltrans District offices. Regional air quality analyses as part of the Federal Clean Air Act conformity process are normally prepared by staff members of Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the affected areas.

Caltrans Headquarters Air Quality Staff Contacts:

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

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

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

Project-Level Air Quality Analysis Tools

The following model and guidance documents are used for transportation-project-related air quality studies. Click on the item below for more information, and to download documents and software.

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

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 Links exit the Caltrans web site - privacy and other policies may differ, 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.

Conformity Areas map - click to enlarge

 

 

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, 123 KB file size)

PDF format (336 KB file size)

Or view a Table of Areas Subject to Transportation Conformity Requirements

 

Statewide Transportation Conformity Working Group

Please go to the Statewide Transportation Conformity Working Group Web Site for access to agendas, handouts, and other information related to recent Statewide Conformity Working Group meetings.

Climate Change

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) are generally analyzed separately from the "traditional" air pollutants. 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 can be estimated using the UCD air toxics spreadsheet and EMFAC by following this procedure (PDF file). The CT-EMFAC tool can also produce CO2 estimates.

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

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 Links exit the Caltrans web site - privacy and other policies may differ):