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New Ambient Air Quality Standards - Analytic Challenges and Process Changes: An FHWA Perspective of the Impacts on Small and Medium Sized Areas

Significant changes to standards and regulations that influence metropolitan transportation planning in many areas were made in 1997. Specifically, the U.S. EPA issued both a new set of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and major revisions to the Conformity Rule. The impacts of the new standards and the conformity rule are interrelated. For example, the current conformity regulations are based on the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment nonattainment designations which in turn are based on the old NAAQS. Thus with new NAAQS one would expect new designations and a new set of conformity regulations. However, the medium to long term impacts of these changes on the planning processes and the analysis techniques employed by small-medium size areas is not yet clear. It does appear that the changes in the ozone and particulate matter standards will result in numerous new nonattainment areas, some of which will likely be considered small or medium-sized areas. This paper will first provide background information on the new standards. Second, it will provide a review of some of the applicable transportation and air quality terminology. Third, the "current" air quality status of small and medium sized areas will be described and developing issues will be discussed. Finally, information will be provided which will assist small-medium sized areas in their preparations to meet the analysis requirements under the new standards and revised regulations.