Noise & Air Quality
NEPA Class
September 2015
Office of Environmental Services
Noel Alcala, PE, Noise and Air Quality
Coordinator
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Air Quality
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Air Quality Regulations- Why do we do what
we do??
Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 and 1990- protect and improve the
nation’s air quality
CAA requires development of State Implementation Plan (SIP) &
requires fed actions to conform to SIP’s purpose
SIP- Defines how States will comply with CAA and improve AQ
(requires demonstration of “conformity”)
Conformity- project must not cause new AQ violation, worsen
existing violation, or delay timely attainment
Attainment- meets or is cleaner than AQ standards (NAAQS)
SIP explains the strategy for attaining/maintaining the NAAQS,
reducing air pollution, AQ management program
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4
What air quality episodes led to
the CAA?
A. Donora, PA- 1948
B. Poza Rica, Mexico- 1950
C. London- 1952
D. New York- 1953 & 1963
E. All of the above
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Which human system is most directly
affected by air pollution?
A. Circulatory
B. Digestive
C. Respiratory
D. Nervous
E. All of the above are equally affected
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The primary responsibility for enforcing the
NAAQS belongs to who?
A. States
B. USEPA
C. Congress
D. FHWA
E. All of the above
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Air Quality Pollutants required to be
addressed in your NEPA Document
 Carbon Monoxide (CO)
 Ozone (O3)
 Particulate Matter (PM
2.5)
 Mobile Source Air
Toxics (MSAT)
 O3 and PM apply to
certain areas; MSAT
applies statewide
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Air Quality Guidances
 USEPA/FHWA policies and guidance
documents for PM2.5, MSAT analyses
 ODOT Flow charts for PM2.5, MSATs, O3
 AQ Webinars:
http://epa.gov/air/oaqps/eog/broadcast.html#air
data021212
 NHI Webcourses
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Non-Attainment & Maintenance
• Geographic areas
that require specific
air pollution controls,
analysis, programs,
etc…
• Nonattainment- worse
than the NAAQS
• Maintenanceformerly in
nonattainment and
under a maintenance
plan
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Baseline Transportation Conformity
Requirements for PM and O3



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All projects must be listed in the State Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP) and/or the
Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) (MPO list) for
NEPA approval
See ODOT-OSPPM website for more details (STIP
list, TIP list, STIP process)
Regional vs Project Level air quality requirements.
Regional/Planning level PM2.5 and O3 addressed in
TIP.
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Carbon Monoxide (CO)
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CO Analysis Determination
Entire state of Ohio is now in
attainment for CO since 3/5/14.
CO is not an issue and no
analysis is required.
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Ozone
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Ozone Confirmation
 No requirement to perform project level analysis for
ozone at this time
 Verify that the project is in the STIP/TIP- NEPA
document can not be approved unless in STIP/TIP
 Verify project scope has not significantly changed
 Include discussion in NEPA document- is project in
Non-Attainment or maintenance for ozone?
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Particulate Matter
(PM)
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PM 2.5
 PM2.5- (soil, dust, vehicle emiss,






smokestacks, etc) focus is on diesel
trucks/emissions
Applies to nonattainment areas
Nonexempt projects with ADT>=125,000 and
diesels>=8% AND there is a significant
increase in the number of diesel trucks from
DYNB to DYB
Estimation of future PM2.5 concentrations
12 ug/cubic m (annual; was 15ug/cubic m); 35
ug/cubic m (24 hr) thresholds
Dispersion modeling required- MOVES and
AERMOD (AMS/EPA Reg Model)
Follow USEPA Quantitative PM2.5 Hotspot
Guidance dated 12/12 and updated PM2.5
process flowchart
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Dispersion modeling is the…..
A. Measured distance of pollutant dispersion for a given
B.
C.
D.
E.
source
Method to estimate the ground level concentration of
pollutants from a source
Standard rate of pollutant dispersion at predetermined
atmospheric conditions
Method for regional AQ policymakers to reach an AQ
goal
None of the above
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PM2.5 Project Categories
Exempt
Nonexempt and no hotspot analysis
required
Nonexempt and a hotspot analysis is
required
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Projects exempt from PM2.5
analysis
 Projects could be exempt from PM2.5
analysis under 40CFR93.126 list of
projects (i.e. intersection improvements,
bridge replacements- no added capacity,
pavement resurfacing/rehabilitation, etc)
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Projects not exempt from PM2.5 analysis
but do NOT require a PM2.5 Hot-spot
analysis
These projects require coordination with OEPA, USEPA,
FHWA- OES does this)
Informational items to be provided to OES for
coordination are P&N, Project Description, project sponsor,
FY for construction, verification that project is on STIP/TIP,
existing and design year ADT and truck %, and aerial
mapping showing the preferred alternative
For new auxiliary lane projects, <1 mile threshold
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Projects not exempt AND require a PM2.5
Quantitative Hot-spot Analysis
 When ADT>125,000 and diesels>8% AND expansion of an




existing highway that has a significant increase in the number
of diesel trucks from DYNB to DYB
Follow USEPA PM2.5 Guidance Manual
Pre-coordination with agencies to discuss approach
Document coordination required with agencies
PI requirement- Provide Hot-spot analysis report on project’s
website with comment period and make report available for
review and comment at NEPA PI meeting
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The primary mobile source of air
pollution in the USA is what?
A. Diesel trucks
B. Automobiles
C. Airplanes
D. Lawn mowers
E. Motorcycles
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Mobile Source
Air
Toxics
(MSATs)
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MSATs
 Required under FHWA Interim Guidance on Air Toxics


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Analysis in NEPA Documents (February 3, 2006, Sept
30 2009 memorandum, 12/6/12 update)
Priority Transportation Toxics- suspected cancer-causing
pollutants from vehicles
Linked to heart disease and asthma
Statewide Implementation (all projects/counties)
Three levels of potential MSAT effects (No, low, higher)
Project types and prototype language provided for each
level of analysis
Follow MSAT process flowchart
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MSATs
No Potential MSAT Effects
 No sensitive land uses within approx 500’ of the
project (homes, hospitals, churches, etc)- Identify in
the Project Initiation Package
 Exempt from analysis- NEPA exempt or CE C1 and
possibly CE C2
 Include prototype language (from FHWA/USEPA
guidance doc- Appendix A) in NEPA document
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MSATs
Low Potential MSAT Effects
 Requires “Qualitative” Analysis
 Capacity adding project with <140,000 DYADT, new
interchange, new road, relocates lanes closer to
sensitive areas, expansion of intermodal center
 Provide project info and traffic info- Vehicles mi
travelled (VMT), % difference betw Ex and DYB
 Required OEPA review and consultation
 Discuss results in NEPA document
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MSATs
Higher Potential MSAT Effects
Requires “Quantitative” Analysis- are there
meaningful differences in MSAT emissions
between base case year, OYB, OYNB, DYB,
DYNB
Confirm requirement with OES and agencies
Capacity adding projects with DYADT > 140,000
Requires air quality modeling
Required OEPA review and concurrence
Discuss results in NEPA document
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Air Quality Requirements?- Example
Projects
1.
2.
3.
4.
Project in DEL Cty with 145,000 DYADT is resurfacing and
widening narrow pavements. What is required for PM2.5, MSAT?
Project in LOR Cty is a widening from 2-4 lanes. DYB ADT is
130,000 and truck % is 15%. DYNB truck % is 16%. What is
required for PM2.5, MSAT?
Project in SUM Cty is replacing a bridge, no added thru lanes, DYB
ADT is 200,000. What is required for PM2.5, MSAT?
Project in CUY Cty is adding capacity on IR77. Ex 2015 ADT is
150,000. 2035 DYB ADT is 180,000. 2035 DYB diesels are 30%.
2035 DYNB diesels are 15%. What is required for PM2.5, MSAT?
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