AGENDA #5f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report and Conformity Determination
DATE: May 12, 2003
This memorandum summarizes results of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan Air Quality Analysis and Conformity Determination.
BACKGROUND
In December 2002, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee adopted a 2025 Long Range Plan for the Urban Area. Federal regulations require that all Long Range Plans must meet air quality conformity standards for non-attainment areas. A portion of the Urban Area, Durham County, has been designated as an air quality non-attainment area.
The Urban Area’s previous air quality conformity determination lapsed on February 28, 2003. The lapse has resulted in a suspension of new federally funded transportation projects within the Urban Area. The 2025 Air Quality Analysis and Conformity Determination has been completed and released for public comment. Approval of the 2025 Air Quality Conformity Determination will end the lapse and allow federally funded projects to be initiated.
DISCUSSION
Attachment 1 summarizes the results of the 2025 Air Quality Conformity Determination. In order to achieve air quality conformity, the projected pollutant levels must be below the “budgets” developed by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These budgets were developed using the Triangle Regional Transportation Model.
Table 2 summarizes the results of a comparison of emissions in specific categories of pollutants, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide. The results of the analysis indicate that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area is within the established budgets for all pollutant categories.
A copy of the full Conformity Analysis Report and Conformity Determination is available for review in the Town Clerk’s office. A copy is also available for review at the Chapel Hill Public Library and at the Urban Area website: dchc-mpo.org.
NEXT STEPS
A public comment period on the Air Quality Analysis and Conformity Determination will continue until June 4, 2003. The Transportation Advisory Committee will receive the Analysis and Conformity Determination on May 14, 2003, and is expected to approve the final Conformity Determination on June 11, 2003.
It is expected that federal and State review of the Air Quality Analysis and Conformity Determination will be completed in July 2003.
ATTACHMENTS