NOT PART OF SIP, FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

COMAR 26.11.26 has been revised to incorporate the changes in the federal conformity

rule which were published on August 15, 1997. The primary purpose ofthe federal

amendment is to streamline the administrative procedures nd provide greater flexibility

in the existing transportation conformity regulation.COMAR 26.11.26 has also been amended to provide a legal platform for the various

consultation procedures that have been developed between the Maryland Department ofthe Environment (MDE), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), MetropolitanWashington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), and Metropolitan Planning

Organizations (MPOs). The recent revisions to the federal rule to reduce the

administrative complexity ofthe rule allow many decisions to be made through theinteragency consultation process. The revisions to COMAR 26.11.26 give state and localgovernments increased flexibility to set performance measures used to determine

conformity, develop the SIP, and handle unique planning situations in a manner

beneficial to the environment and economic development.

The general regulatory platform of COMAR 26.11.26.03 allows consultation to occurthrough a variety of processes. These processes are tailored to fit the resources and

planning style ofthe area.

In the Baltimore nonattainment area, a workgroup structure involving the following

parties was developed: the Transportation Steering Committee (TSC), which is the

metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for Baltimore represented by the BaltimoreMetropolitan Council staff, MDOT, which is the lead agency for transportation planning

in Maryland, and MDE, which is the lead agency for State Implementation Plan

development.In Cecil County, Maryland, the Air Quality Subcommittee ofthe Wilmington Area

Planning Council (WILMAPCO) meets on a monthly basis to discuss air quality and

transportation issues. The subcommittee includes WILMAPCO Planning Council staff

and representatives of MDE, MDOT, the Delaware Department ofTransportation(De1DOT), Delaware Department ofNatural Resources and Environmental Control(DNREC) and local county governments.

In the Washington multi-jurisdictional nonattainment area, to facilitate the air quality

planning process and foster regional cooperation, the Governors ofMaryland and

Virginia and the Mayor ofthe District of Columbia have delegated responsibility for

development of an air quality plan for the Washington Region to the Metropolitan
Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the Washington region

s

designated MPO. This process is a continuing, comprehensive planning process, whichincludes state and local government representatives from the three majorjurisdictions,

encompassed by the region, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The TPB

assesses conformity ofthe region’s transportation plans and programs with the StateImplementation Plans (SIP) from the three jurisdictions. The transportation planningconsultation process n the Washington area is one where information and comments are

exchanged between the principal parties through informational mailings.

The amendment to COMAR 26.11.26.03 has established in a legal format the process by

which participating agencies will consult over conformity and SIP issues. The Baltimore

and Washington regions have established more detailed consultation procedures as well,

that are in alignment with COMAR 26.11.26.03. The Consultation Procedures for theBaltimore and Washington regions are attached as Appendix A and B for informationalpurposes but should not be considered as part ofthe formal SIP submittal.

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