# UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

REGION 10

1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900

Seattle, WA 98101-3140

OFFICE OF

AIR AND WASTE



# MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT : Finding of Adequacy for the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) in the Fairbanks

North Star Borough Moderate PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP)

FROM : Karl Pepple

DATE : December 9, 2016

TO : Docket No. EPA-R10-OAR-2015-0131

The purpose of this memo is to document the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s)

proposed adequacy finding for transportation confor mity purposes of the motor vehicle emissions

budgets in the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Moderate PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP)

for the 2006 PM 2.5 

# national ambient air quality standard As a result of our finalizing this adequacy

finding, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) 

# , Alaska Department of

Transportation and Public Faciliti es, the Fairbanks Metropolitan Ar ea Transportation System, and the

U.S. Department of Transportation will be required to utilize these budgets for purposes of regional

emissions analysis for conformity.

The SIP was submitted to the EPA on December 31, 2014 with revisions January 29, 2015; March 24,

2015; July 10, 2015; November 5, 2015; March 10, 2016; November 3, 2016; November 10, 2016;

November 18, 2016; and November 23, 2016. 1 

# The EPA is proposing to approve this submittal as an

impracticability demonstration. Comments on the pr oposed finding of adequacy of the motor vehicle

emissions budgets (MVEBs) included in the FNSB Moderate Plan may be submitted during the

comment period for this proposal.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4) of the Transportati on Conformity Rule (40 CFR part 93, subpart A),

the EPA reviewed the submitted SIP and the motor vehicle emissions budget contained in the SIP,

which were developed with the use of the Moto r Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) on-road

model. The EPA determined that these motor vehicl e emissions budgets are adequate for transportation

conformity purposes. In reaching this decision, we have reviewed the SIP, including state of Alaska

responses to public comments on the SIP. Based on our review, we believe it is appropriate to propose

finding the motor vehicle emission budgets contained therein adequate for transportation conformity

purposes. This adequacy finding does not relate to the merits of the SIP submittal nor does it indicate

whether the submittal meets the requirements for approval. The budgets proposed for adequacy are

listed in the following table.

1 

# Hereafter, all of the submissions will be referred to collectively as “the FNSB Moderate Plan”

# 2 2017 MVEBs for FNSB

PM 2.5 

# 0.33 tons/day

NO

x 

# 2.13 tons/day

We have determined that the motor vehicle emissi on budgets contained in the SIP, when considered

with all other emissions sources in the Fairbanks North Star area, are consistent with applicable

requirements for attaining the 2006 PM 2.5 

# national ambient air quality standard. The motor vehicle

emissions budgets also meet the ot her adequacy criteria found in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4)(iv) as detailed in

the enclosed “Transportation Conf ormity Adequacy Review.” These motor vehicle emissions budgets

serve to strengthen the SIP through continued progre ss toward attainment and ensure that the motor

vehicle emissions remain consistent with the emissions levels provided for in the SIP.Enclosure to Letter Dated December 9, 2016 fromKarl Pepple to Docket No. EPA-R10-OAR-2015-0131Transportation Conformity Adequacy ReviewThe Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Moderate PM2.5 State Implementation PlanSubmitted December 31, 2014 with revisions January 29, 2015; March 24, 2015; July 10, 2015; November 5, 2015; March 10, 2016;November 3, 2016; November 10, 2016; November 18, 2016; and November 23, 2016.1Adequacy Determination of Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget 40 CFR 93.118 (e) (4)(4) EPA will not find a motor vehicle emissions budget in asubmitted control strategy implementation plan revision or maintenance plan to beadequate for transportation conformity purposes unless the following minimum criteria are satisfied:Adequacy Review Criteria Is thisCriterionSatisfied?Reference in SIP Documents/Comments(i) The submitted control strategy implementationplan revision or maintenance plan was endorsed by theGovernor (or his or her designee) and was subject to aState public hearing;Yes The FNSB Moderate Plan initially was filed by the Governor of Alaska’sdesignee, Larry Hartig, Commissioner of the Alaska Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (ADEC),on December 31, 2014. Revisions andsupplements were filed January 29,2015; March 24, 2015; July 10, 2015;November 5, 2015; March 10, 2016; November 3, 2016; November 10, 2016;November 18, 2016; and November 23,2016. The FNSB Moderate Plan wassubmitted to meet the nonattainment area requirement located in Subpart 1 of theClean Air Act. Subsequent revisions addressed Subpart 4 requirements. TheFNSB Moderate Plan was the subject ofmultiple public hearings, the first ofwhich was held in Fairbanks, AK on January7, 2014. The details of the hearingscan be located in the ADEC document.(ii) Before the control strategy implementation plan ormaintenance plan was submitted to EPA, consultationamong federal, State, and local agencies occurred; fullimplementation plan documentation was provided toEPA; and EPA's stated concerns, if any, were addressed;Yes A draft of the FNSB Moderate Planand supporting documentation was reviewedby EPA Region 10 and discussed withADEC and the Fairbanks MetropolitanArea Transportation System (FMATS) prior to state adoption on December 24,2014. Informal consultations betweenthe EPA, ADEC, and FMATS were heldas the draft plan was being developed as well as during the development of therevisions. The EPA’s concerns were addressed during this consultation process.(iii) The motor vehicle emissions budget(s) is clearlyidentified and precisely quantified;Yes Table 5.6-1 of the FNSB Moderate Plan clearly lists the MVEB for both directemissions of PM2.5 (0.33 tpd) for the PM2.5 precursor NOx (2.13 tpd).Documentation on the calculation of the MVEB is provided both in AppendixIII.D.5.6 of the original submittal, and where needed in the subsequent revisions.(iv) The motor vehicle emissions budget(s), when Yes Theapproval of the FNSB Moderate Plan is as an impracticability1Hereafter, all of the submissions will be referred to collectively as “the FNSB Moderate Plan”considered together with all other emissions sources, isconsistent with applicable requirements for reasonablefurther progress, attainment, or maintenance (whicheveris relevant to the given implementation plansubmission);demonstration, showing that the area cannot attain by the 2015 attainment date.Taken as a whole, the FNSB Moderate Planas revised appears to be consistentwith the requirements of an impracticability demonstration, including MVEBsfor calendar year 2017.(v) The motor vehicle emissions budget(s) isconsistent with and clearly related to the emissionsinventory and the control measures in the submittedcontrol strategy implementation plan revision ormaintenance plan; andYes The PM2.5 issue faced in Fairbanks is dominated by the area sector (woodstoves). The MVEB is in line with the emissions inventory, and with the controlstrategies developed. While the SIP contains contingency measures, none are foron road sources.(vi) Revisions to previously submitted controlstrategy implementation plans or maintenance plansexplain and document any changes to previouslysubmitted budgets and control measures; impacts onpoint and area source emissions; any changes toestablished safety margins (see Sec. 93.101 fordefinition); and reasons for the changes (including thebasis for any changes related to emission factors orestimates of vehicle miles traveled).Yes This is the first SIP submitted by ADEC for the Fairbanks North Star Boroughfor the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The assumptions, methods andcomputations used to estimate emissions are addressed in detail in AppendixIII.D.5.6 of the initial submittal, and corresponding sections of revisions.93.118 (e) (5) Before determining the adequacy of asubmitted motor vehicle emissions budget, EPA willreview the State's compilation of public comments andresponse to comments that are required to be submittedwith any implementation plan. EPA will document itsconsideration of such comments and responses in a letterto the State indicating the adequacy of the submittedmotor vehicle emissions budget.Yes The State submitted a complete list of comments received during their commentperiod, as well as the response to comments.The EPA is satisfied that ADEC hasaddressed the comments pertaining to theon-road aspect of the FNSB ModeratePlan.