(NOTPARTOFSIP,FORINFORMATIONALPURPOSESONLYINTERAGENCYCONSULTATIONPROCEDURESThetransportationconformityrule,40CFRSection93.105,requiresthattheStateImplementationPlan(SIP)addresshowtheprincipalagenciesinvolvedinthedevelopmentofstateimplementationplansandtheprincipleagenciesinvolvedinthecontinuingtransportationplanningprocesswillconsultwitheachothertoreachconsensusonimportantissues.COMAR26.11.26hasbeenrevisedtoincorporatethechangesinthefederalconformityrulewhichwerepublishedonAugust15,1997.Theprimarypurposeofthefederalamendmentistostreamlinetheadministrativeproceduresndprovidegreaterflexibilityintheexistingtransportationconformityregulation.COMAR26.11.26hasalsobeenamendedtoprovidealegalplatformforthevariousconsultationproceduresthathavebeendevelopedbetweentheMarylandDepartmentoftheEnvironment(MDE),MarylandDepartmentofTransportation(MDOT),MetropolitanWashingtonAirQualityCommittee(MWAQC),andMetropolitanPlanningOrganizations(MPOs).Therecentrevisionstothefederalruletoreducetheadministrativecomplexityoftheruleallowmanydecisionstobemadethroughtheinteragencyconsultationprocess.TherevisionstoCOMAR26.11.26givestateandlocalgovernmentsincreasedflexibilitytosetperformancemeasuresusedtodetermineconformity,developtheSIP,andhandleuniqueplanningsituationsinamannerbeneficialtotheenvironmentandeconomicdevelopment.ThegeneralregulatoryplatformofCOMAR26.11.26.03allowsconsultationtooccurthroughavarietyofprocesses.Theseprocessesaretailoredtofittheresourcesandplanningstyleofthearea.IntheBaltimorenonattainmentarea,aworkgroupstructureinvolvingthefollowingpartieswasdeveloped:theTransportationSteeringCommittee(TSC),whichisthemetropolitanplanningorganization(MPO)forBaltimorerepresentedbytheBaltimoreMetropolitanCouncilstaff,MDOT,whichistheleadagencyfortransportationplanninginMaryland,andMDE,whichistheleadagencyforStateImplementationPlandevelopment.InCecilCounty,Maryland,theAirQualitySubcommitteeoftheWilmingtonAreaPlanningCouncil(WILMAPCO)meetsonamonthlybasistodiscussairqualityandtransportationissues.ThesubcommitteeincludesWILMAPCOPlanningCouncilstaffandrepresentativesofMDE,MDOT,theDelawareDepartmentofTransportation(De1DOT),DelawareDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalControl(DNREC)andlocalcountygovernments.IntheWashingtonmulti-jurisdictionalnonattainmentarea,tofacilitatetheairqualityplanningprocessandfosterregionalcooperation,theGovernorsofMarylandandVirginiaandtheMayoroftheDistrictofColumbiahavedelegatedresponsibilityfordevelopmentofanairqualityplanfortheWashingtonRegiontotheMetropolitanWashingtonAirQualityCommittee(MWAQC).MWAQChasestablishedaConformitySubcommitteetoreviewconformityrelatedissues.Additionally,MWAQC’sprocessfor(SIPdevelopmentincludesaTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee(TAC).IntheWashingtonRegionalimitedexchangeprocesshasbegunfromcommitteetocommittee.Also,representativesfromtheTACsitontheTPBTechnicalCommitteeandamemberofTPBTechnicalCommitteesitsontheConformitySubcommittee.TheWchingtonregiontransportationplanningprocessiscarriedoutbytheNationalCapitalRegionTransportationPlanningBoard(TPB),theWashingtonregion’sdesignatedMPO.Thisprocessisacontinuing,comprehensiveplanningprocess,whichincludesstateandlocalgovernmentrepresentativesfromthethreemajorjurisdictions,encompassedbytheregion,Maryland,VirginiaandtheDistrictofColumbia.TheTPBassessesconformityoftheregion’stransportationplansandprogramswiththeStateImplementationPlans(SIP)fromthethreejurisdictions.ThetransportationplanningconsultationprocessntheWashingtonareaisonewhereinformationandcommentsareexchangedbetweentheprincipalpartiesthroughinformationalmailings.TheamendmenttoCOMAR26.11.26.03hasestablishedinalegalformattheprocessbywhichparticipatingagencieswillconsultoverconformityandSIPissues.TheBaltimoreandWashingtonregionshaveestablishedmoredetailedconsultationproceduresaswell,thatareinalignmentwithCOMAR26.11.26.03.TheConsultationProceduresfortheBaltimoreandWashingtonregionsareattachedasAppendixAandBforinformationalpurposesbutshouldnotbeconsideredaspartoftheformalSIPsubmittal.•C2