### STAT E O F RHOD E ISLAN D AN D PROVIDENC E PLANTATIONS DEPARTMENT O F ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMEN T OFFIC E O F AI

RRESOURCE S AI RPOLLUTIO N CONTRO L REGULATIO N NO
. 4 9 TRANSPORTATIO N CONFORMIT Y

Effective October

20, 2011

AUTHORITY : Thes

e regulation s ar

e authorize

d pursuan t t o R.I

. Gen

. Law s § § 42-17.1-2(s ) an d 23

- 23 , a s amended

, an d hav e bee n promulgate

d pursuan t t o th e procedures se

t fort h in th e R.I

. Administrative Procedure

s Act , R.I

. Gen

. Law s Chapte r 42-35

.TABL E O F CONTENT S

49. 1 Definition s 1 49. 2 Applicability 6 49. 3 Consultatio n 8 49. 4 Commitment s fo r Regiona l Emission s Analysi s 1 4 49. 5 Commitment s fo r Project-Leve l Mitigatio n and Contro l Measure s 1 4 49. 6 Purpos e 1 5 49. 7 Authority 1 6 49. 8 Applicatio n 1 6 49. 9 Severabilit

y 1 6 49.1 0 Effectiv e Dat

e 1 6RHOD E ISLAND DEPARTMEN T O F ENVIRONMENTA L MANAGEMEN T

OFFIC E O F AI RRESOURCE S AI RPOLLUTIO N CONTRO L REGULATIO N NO

. 4 9
TRANSPORTATIO N CONFORMIT Y
49. 1 Definition s Unles s otherwise expressl

y define d i n thi s section, th

e term s use d i n thi s regulatio

n shal l b e define d b y referenc e t o th e Rhod e Islan d Ai r Pollution Contro

l Genera l Definition s Regulation

. Term

s use d bu t no t define d i n thi s regulation o r th e Rhod e Islan d Ai r Pollution Contro l Genera l Definition s Regulatio

n shal l hav e th e meanin g given the

mb y th e CAA , title s 2 3 an d 4 9 U.S.C. , othe

r Environmenta

l Protectio n Agenc y (EPA ) regulations , o

r othe r DO T regulations , i n tha

t orde r o f priority

. A s use d i n thi s regulation , th

e followin g term

s shall , wher

e th e contex t permits , b

e construe d a s follows : 49.1. 1 "Applicabl e implementatio n plan " i s define d i n sectio n 302(q ) o f th e CA A an d mean s th e portio n (o

r portions ) o f

th e implementatio

n plan , o r mos t recen t revisio n thereof

, whic h ha s bee n approve d unde r sectio n 110 , o r promulgate

d unde r sectio n 110(c) , or

promulgate

d o r approve d pursuan t t o regulation s promulgate

d unde r sectio n 301(d ) an d which implement

s th e relevan t requirement

s o f th e CAA

. 49.1. 2 "CAA " mean s th e Clea n Ai r Act , a s amende d (4 2 U.S.C

. 740 1 e

t seq
. )

. 49.1. 3 "Contro l strateg y implementatio n pla n revision " i s th

e implementatio

n pla n which contain s specifi c strategie s fo r controllin g th

e emission

s o f an d reducin g ambien t level s o f pollutants i n orde

r t o satisf y CAA requirement

s fo r demonstrations o f

reasonabl e furthe r progres s an

d attainmen

t (includin g implementation pla n revision s submitte

d t o satisf y CAA sections 172(c) , 182(b)(1) , 182(c)(2)(A) , 182(c)(2)(B) , 187(a)(7) , 187(g) , 189(a)(1)(B) , 189(b)(1)(A) , an d 189(d) ; sections 192(a

) an d 192(b) , fo r nitroge n dioxide ; an

d an y othe r applicabl e CA A provisio n requirin g a demonstratio

n o f reasonabl

e further progres s o

r attainment)

. 49.1. 4 "Design concept " mean s th e type o f facility identifie d b

y th e project , e.g. , freeway , expressway , arteria l highway , grade-separate

d highway , reserve

d right-of-wa

y rai l transit , mixed-traffi c rai l transit , exclusiv e busway , etc

. 49.1. 5 "Design Scope " mean s th e desig n aspect s whic h wil l affec t

th e propose d facility' s impac

t o n regiona l emissions , usuall

y a s the y relat e t o vehicle o

r perso n carryin g capacit

y an d control , e.g. , numbe

r o f lane s o r track s t o b e

lconstructe d o r added , lengt h o f project , signalization , access contro l including approximat

e numbe r an d locatio n o f

interchanges , preferentia

l treatmen t fo r high-occupanc

y vehicles , etc

. 49.1. 6 "DOT " mean s th e United State

s Departmen

t o f Transportation

. 49.1. 7 "Donu t

areas " ar e geographi

c area s outsid e ametropolita

n planning are

a boundary , bu

t insid e th e boundar y o f anonattainmen

t o r maintenanc

e are a tha t contains an

y par t o f ametropolita

n area(s)

. Thes

e area s ar e no t isolate d rura l nonattainmen

t an d maintenanc

e areas
. 49.1. 8 "Exemp t

projects " ar

e project s o f

th e typ e liste d i n 4

0 CF R93.126 "Tabl e 2 , Exemp

t Projects " o

r 40 CF R93.12 7 "Tabl e 3 , Project

s Exemp t Fro mRegiona

l Emissions Analyses"

. 49.1. 9 "FHWA " mean s th e Federa l Highwa y Administratio n o f

DOT

. 49.1.1 0 "FHWA/FT A project" , fo r th e purpos e o f thi s subpart

, i s an y highwa y o r transi t projec t which i s propose

d t o receiv e fundin g assistanc

e an d approva l throug h th e Federal-Ai d Highwa

y progra mor th e Federa l mass transi t program, or

require s Federa

l Highwa y Administratio n (FHWA ) or Federa l Transi t Administratio n (FTA ) approva l fo r som e aspec t o f th e project , suc

h a s connectio

n to a n interstat e highwa y o r deviatio n fro m applicabl e desig n standard

s o n th e interstat e system

. 49.1.1 1 "FTA " mean s th e Federa l Transi tAdministratio

n o f DOT
. 49.1.1 2 "Fina l documen t o r decision " mean

s th e documen

t o r decisio n prepare d afte r consideratio

n o f an d respondin

g t o comment

s received , i f

any , during th e interagenc

y consultation proces s and , i f applicable , th

e publi c commen t process
. 49.1.1 3 "Highwa

y project " i s a

n undertakin

g t o implemen

t o r modif y ahighwa

y facility o r highway-relate

d program
. Suc

h a n undertakin

g consist s o f al l require d phase s necessar y fo r implementation

. Fo

r analytica l purposes , i t mus t b e define d sufficientl y to : (a ) Connec

t logica l termin i an d b e o f sufficient lengt h t o addres s environmenta

l matter s o n abroa d scope ; (b ) Hav

e independen

t utilit y or significance , i.e. , b

e usabl e an d b e a reasonabl e expenditur

e eve n i f n o additiona

l transportatio

n improvement

s i n th e are aar e made ; an

d (c ) No t

restric t consideratio

n o f alternative s fo r

othe r reasonabl y foreseeabl e transportatio

n improvements

. 249.1.1 4 "Hot-spo t analysis " i s a

n estimatio

n o f likel y futur

e localized CO , PMJO , and/o r PM2.5pollutan

t concentrations an

d acompariso

n o f those concentrations t

o th e nationa l ambien t ai r qualit y standards

. Hot-spo

t analysi s assesse

s impact s o n ascal e smalle r tha n th e entir e nonattainmen

t o r maintenanc

e area , including , fo r

example , congeste

d roadwa y intersection s an

d highway s or

transi t terminals , an

d use s a n ai r qualit y dispersio n mode l t o determin

e th e effect s o f

emissions on ai

r quality

. 49.1.1 5 "Isolate d rura l nonattainment and maintenanc e areas " ar e area s tha t d o no t contai n or ar e no t par t o f an y metropolita

n planning are

aa s designate d unde r th e transportatio

n planning regulations

. Isolate d rura l area s d o no t hav e federally require

d metropolita

n transportatio

n plans o r TIP s an d d o no t hav e projects tha

t ar e par t o f th e emission

s analysi s o f

an y MPO' s metropolita

n transportatio

n pla n o r TIP

. Project

s i n suc h area s ar e instea d included i n statewid

e transportatio

n improvemen

t programs
. Thes

e area s ar e no t donu t areas
. 49.1.1 6 "Maintenanc e area " mean s an y geographi

c region o f

th e United State

s previousl y designate

d nonattainmen

t pursuan t t o th e CAA Amendment

s o f 199 0 an d subsequentl

y redesignate

d t o attainmen

t subjec t t o th e requiremen

t to develo p amaintenanc

e pla n unde r sectio n 17 5 A o f th e CAA , a s amended

. 49.1.1 7 "Maintenanc e plan " mean s a n implementatio

n pla n unde r sectio n 175 A o f th e CAA , a s amended

. 49.1.1 8 "Metropolita n plannin g organizatio n (MPO) " mean s th e Stat e Plannin g Council an

d it s staf f i n th e Departmen

t o f Admimstration , Divisio n o f Planning

. 49.1.1 9 "Milestone " ha s th e meanin g give n i n CAA section

s 182(g) ( 1 ) an

d 189(c ) fo r serious an d abov e ozon e nonattainmen

t area s an d PMi o nonattainmen

t areas , respectively

. Fo

r al l othe r nonattainmen

t areas , amileston

e consist s o f a n emissions leve

l an d th e dat e o n which tha

t leve l i s t o b e achieve d a s required by th

e applicabl

e CAA provision fo r

reasonabl e furthe r progres s towards attainment

. 49.1.2 0 "Moto r

vehicl e emission s budget " i s tha t portio n o f

th e tota l allowabl e emission s define d i n th

e submitte d o r approve d control strateg

y implementatio

n pla n revision o

r maintenanc

e pla n fo r acertai n dat e fo r th e purpos e o f meetin g reasonabl

e further progres s milestones o

r demonstratin

g attainmen

t or maintenanc

e o f th e NAAQS , fo r

an y criteri a pollutan t o r it s precursors , allocate

d t o highwa y an d transi t vehicle us

e an d emissions

. 349.1.2 1 "Nationa l ambien t ai r qualit y standard s (NAAQS) " ar e those standard

s establishe d pursuan t t o sectio n 10 9 o f th e CAA

. 49.1.22 "NEPA"

means the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 etseq.).
49.1.2 3 "NEPA proces s completion" , fo r th e purpose s o f thi s subpart

, wit h respec t t o FHW A or FTA , mean

s th e poin t a t whic h ther

e i s aspecifi c actio n t o mak e adeterminatio

n tha t aproject i s categoricall

y excluded , t

o mak e aFinding o f

N o Significan

t Impact , o r t o issu e arecor d o f decisio n o n aFina l Environmenta

l Impac t Statemen t unde r NEPA

. 49.1.2 4 "Nonattainmen t

area " mean

s an y geographi

c region o f

th e United State

s whic h ha s bee n designate

d a s nonattainmen

t unde r sectio n 10 7 o f th e CAA fo r an y pollutan t fo r which anationa

l ambien t ai r qualit y standar d exists

. 49.1.2 5 "Project " mean

s ahighwa

y project o r transi t project

. 49.1.26 "Regionall y significan t project " mean

s atransportatio

n project (othe r tha n a n exemp t project ) tha t i s o n afacility which serve s regiona l transportatio

n need s (suc h a s acces s t o an d fro mth e are aoutsid e o f th e region , major

activit y center s i n th e region , major

planne d development

s suc h a s ne w retai l malls , sport

s complexes , etc. , o

r transportatio

n terminal s a s wel l a s mos t terminal s themselves) an

d would normall

y b e include d i n th e modelin g o f ametropolita

n area's transportatio

n network, including a

t aminimu mal l principa

l arteria l highway s an

d al l fixed guidewa

y transi t facilitie s tha

t offe r a n alternative t

o regiona l highwa y travel

. 49.1.2 7 "RIDOT " mean

s th e Rhod e Islan d Departmen

t o f Transportatio

n 49.1.2 8 "RIPTA " mean s th e Rhod e Islan d Public Transi

t Authorit y 49.1.2 9 "Transit " i s mass transportatio n b y bus , rail , o

r othe r conveyanc

e which provide s genera

l o r specia l service t o th e publi c o n aregula r an d continuing basis

. I t

doe s no t includ e schoo l buse s o r charte r o r sightseein g services

. 49.1.3 0 "Transi t

project " i s a

n undertakin

g t o implemen

t o r modif y atransi t facility o r transit-related program ; purchas e transi t vehicle s o

r equipment ; o r provid e financial assistanc

e fo r transi t operations

. I t

doe s no t includ e actions tha

t ar e solel y withi n th

e jurisdictio n o f

RIPTA , suc

h a s change s i n routes , schedules , o

r fares

. I t ma y consis t o f severa l phases

. Fo

r analytica l purposes , i t

mus t b e define d inclusively enoug h to :

4(a ) Connec

t logica l termini an

d b e o f sufficien t lengt h t o addres s environmenta

l matter s on aregiona

l scope ; (b ) Hav

e independen

t utilit y o r independen

t significance , i.e. , b

e a reasonabl e expenditur

e eve n i f n o additiona

l transportatio

n improvement

s i n th e are aar e made ; an

d (c ) No t restrict consideratio

n o f alternative s fo r

othe r reasonabl y foreseeabl

e transportatio

n improvements

. 49.1.3 1 "Transportatio n contro l measur e (TCM) " i s an

y measur e tha t i s specifically identifie d an

d committe

d t o i n th e applicabl

e implementatio

n plan , includin g asubstitut

e o r additiona l TC M tha t i s incorporate

d int o th e applicabl e implementation pla

n throug h th e proces s establishe

d i n CAA sectio n 176(c)(8) , tha

t i s eithe r on e o f th e types liste d i n CA A sectio n 108 , o r an y othe r measur e fo r th e purpos e o f reducin g emissions o

r concentrations o f

ai r pollutant s fromtransportatio n source s b y reducin g vehicle us e o r changin g traffi c flo w or

congestio n conditions

. Notwithstandin

g th e firs t sentenc e o f thi s definition , vehicle technology

based , fuel-based , an

d maintenance-base

d measure

s whic h contro l th

e emission s fromvehicle s unde

r fixe d traffi c condition s ar e no t TCM s fo r th e purpose s o f thi s subpart

. 49.1.3 2 "Transportatio

n improvemen

tprogra m (TIP) " mean

s a transportatio

n improvemen

tprogra m develope

d b y a metropolita

n plannin g organizatio

n unde r 2 3 U.S.C
. 134(j)
. 49.1.3 3 "Transportatio n plan " mean s th e officia l intermoda

l metropolita

n transportatio

n pla n tha t i s develope

d throug h th e metropolita

n planning proces s fo r

th e metropolita

n planning area

, develope d pursuan t t o 2 3 CF R 450

. 49.1.3 4 "Transportatio n project " i s ahighwa y projec t o r atransi t project

. 49.1.3 5 "Writte n commitment " fo r th e purpose s o f thi s subpar

t mean s awritte n commitmen

t tha t include s adescription o f

th e actio n t o b e taken ; a schedul e fo r th e completion o f

th e action ; ademonstratio

n tha t fundin g necessar y t o implemen

t th e action ha

s bee n authorize

d by th e appropriatin

g o r authorizing body ; an

d a n acknowledgmen

t tha t th e commitmen

t i s a n enforceabl

e obligatio n unde

r th e applicabl

e implementatio

n plan

.

549. 2 Applicabilit y 49.2. 1 Actio n applicability

. (a ) Excep

t a s provided fo r

i n 49.2. 3 or

40 CF R93.126 , conformit

y determinations ar

e required for : (1 ) Th e adoption , acceptance , approva l o r suppor t o f transportatio

n plans an d transportation pla

n amendment

s develope

d pursuan t to 2 3 CF R45 0 o r 4 9 CF R61 3 by th

e MP O or RIDOT ; (2 ) Th e adoption , acceptance , approva l o r suppor t o f TIP s an d TIP amendment

s develope

d pursuan t to 2 3 CF R45 0 o r 4 9 CF R61 3 by th e MP O o r RIDOT ; an

d (3 ) Th e approval , funding , o

r implementatio

n o f FHWA/FTA projects

. (b ) Conformit

y determination s ar

e no t require d unde r thi s subpar

t fo r individua l projects whic h ar

e no t FHWA/FT

A projects

. However

, 40 CF R 93.12 1 applie s t

o suc h project s i f

the y ar e regionall

y significant

. 49.2. 2 Geographi

c applicability

. (a ) Th e provision s o f

thi s regulatio n shal

l appl y i n al l nonattainmen

t an d maintenanc

e area s fo r transportation-relate

d criteri apollutant s fo r

which th e are ai s designate

d nonattainmen

t or ha s amaintenanc

e plan

. (b ) Th e provision s o f

thi s regulatio n appl

y wit h respec t t o emissions o f

th e followin g criteri apollutants : ozone , carbo n monoxid

e (CO) , nitroge

n dioxide (NO2) , particle s with a n aerodynami

c diamete r les s tha n o r equa l t o anomina

l 1 0 micrometer

s (PM10) ; an

d particle s wit

h a n aerodynami

c diamete r les s tha n or equa l t o anomina

l 2. 5 micrometer

s (PM2.5)

. (c ) Th e provision s o f

thi s regulatio n also appl

y wit h respec t t o emission

s o f th e followin g precurso

r pollutants : (1 ) Volatil e organi

c compound

s (VOC ) an

d nitroge n oxide s (NOx ) i n ozon e areas ; (2 ) NOx i n N0 2 areas ; (3 ) VO

C and/o r NO x i n P M 1 0 area s i f th e EP A Regiona

l Administrato

r o r th e Chie f o f th e Offic e o f

Ai r Resource s ha s mad e afinding tha

t transportation-relate

d emissions o f

on e o r bot h o f thes e precursor

s withi n th e nonattainmen

t are aar e asignifican

t contributo

r to th e P M 1 0 nonattainmen

t proble man d ha s s o notifie d th

e MPO , 6RIDOT , RIPTA , an d DOT , o r i f th e applicable implementatio n pla n (o r implementation pla

n submission

) establishe s a

n approve d (o r adequate ) budge t fo r suc h emissions a

s par t o f th e reasonabl

e furthe r progress , attainmen

t o r maintenanc

e strategy ; (4 ) NO

xi n PM2.

5 areas , unles s bot

h th e EP A Regiona

l Administrato

r an d th e Chie f o f th e Offic e o f

Ai r Resource s hav e mad e afindin g tha t transportation-relate

d emissions o f

NO

xwithi n th

e nonattainmen

t are aar e no t asignifican

t contributo

r to th e PM2. 5 nonattainmen

t proble man d ha s s o notifie d th

e MPO , RIDOT , RIPTA , an

d DOT , o r th e applicable implementatio n pla n (o r implementatio

n pla n submission

) doe s no t establis h a n approve d (o r adequate ) budge t fo r suc h emissions a

s par t o f th e reasonabl

e furthe r progress , attainmen

t o r maintenanc

e strategy ; an

d (5 ) VOC , sulfur

dioxide (SO2

) and/o r ammoni a(NH3 ) i n PM2.

5 area s eithe r i f th e EP A Regiona

l Administrator

o r th e Chief o f th e Offic e o f Ai r Resource s ha s mad e afindin g tha

t transportation-relate

d emission s o f an y o f thes e precursor

s withi n th

e nonattainmen

t are a ar e asignifican

t contributo

r to th e PM2. 5 nonattainmen

t proble man d ha s s o notifie d th

e MPO , RIDOT , RIPTA , an d DOT , o r i f th e applicabl e implementatio

n pla n (o r implementatio

n pla n submission

) establishe s a

n approve d (or adequate ) budge t fo r suc h emission s a s par t o f th e reasonabl

e furthe r progress , attainmen

t o r maintenanc

e strategy

. (d ) Th e provision s o f

thi s subpar

t appl y t o PM2. 5 nonattainmen

t an d maintenanc

e area s with respec

t t o PM2. 5 fro mre-entraine

d roa d dus t i f th e EP A Regiona

l Administrato

r or th e Chie f o f th e Offic e o f

Ai r Resource s ha s mad e afindin g tha

t re-entraine

d roa d dus t emission s withi n th

e are a ar e asignifican

t contributo

r to th e PM2. 5 nonattainmen

t proble man d ha s s o notifie d th

e MPO , RIDOT , RIPTA , an d DOT , o r i f th e applicabl

e implementatio

n pla n (or implementatio

n pla n submission

) include s re
entraine d roa d dus t i n th e approve d (o r adequate ) budge t a s par t o f th e reasonabl e furthe r progress , attainmen

t o r maintenanc

e strategy

. Re

entraine d roa d dus t emissions ar

e produce d by trave l o n pave d an d unpave d road s (includin g emissions fromanti-ski d an d deicing materials)

. (e ) Th e provision s o f

thi s regulation appl

y to maintenanc

e area s throug h th e last yea r o f amaintenanc

e area' s approve

d CA A sectio n 175A(b) maintenanc

e plan , unles s th

e applicabl

e implementatio

n pla n specifie s tha

t th e provision s o f

thi s subpar

t shal l appl y fo r mor e tha n 2 0 years
. 49.2. 3 Limitations

. I n orde r t o receiv e an y FHWA/FTA approva

l o r fundin g actions , includin g NEP

A approvals , fo r

aprojec t phas e subjec t t o thi s subpart

, acurrentl

y conformin g transportatio

n pla n an d TI P mus

t b e i n plac e a t th e tim e o f project 7approva l a s describe d i n 4 0 CF R93.114 , excep

t a s provided b

y 4 0 CF R 93.114(b)

. 49.2. 4 Grac

e perio d fo r

ne w nonattainmen

t areas
. Fo

r area s o r portion s o f

area s which hav e bee n continuousl

y designate

d attainmen

t o r no t designate d fo r an y NAAQ S fo r ozone , CO , PMio , PM2.

5 o r NO 2 since 199

0 an d ar e subsequentl

y redesignate

d t o nonattainmen

t o r designate d nonattainmen

t fo r an y NAAQ S fo r

an y o f thes e pollutants , th

e provision s o f

thi s subpar

t shal l no t appl y with respec

t t o tha t NAAQ S fo r

1 2 month s followin g th

e effectiv e dat

e o f fina l designatio

n to nonattainmen

t fo r eac h NAAQ S fo r

suc h pollutant

. 49. 3 Consultatio

n 49.3. 1 Thi s rul e provide s procedure s fo r federal , state , an

d loca l interagenc

y consultation , publi c consultatio n an d resolution o f

conflicts

. Suc

h consultation procedures shal

l b e undertake

n by th e MPO , RIDOT , RIPTA , an d DO T with th e Departmen

t an d EP A befor e makin g conformit

y determination s an

d by th e Departmen

t an d EP A wit h th e MPO , RIDOT , RIPTA , an d DO T i n developin

g applicabl e implementatio

n plans

. 49.3. 2 Interagenc

y consultatio

n procedures : Genera

l factors

. (a ) Th e MPO , th e Departmen

t an d RIDO T shal

l undertak e a n interagenc

y consultation proces s i n accordanc e wit h thi s sectio

n wit h eac h othe r an d wit h loca l o r regiona l office s o f

EPA , FHWA , an

d FT A o n th e developmen

t o f th e applicable implementatio n plan , th e transportatio

n plan , th e TIP , an d associate

d conformit

y determinations

. RIPT

A shal l b e provided th

e opportunit

y to participat

e an d ma y participat

e i f the y choose

. (b ) Th e Departmen

t shal l b e th e lea d agenc y responsibl

e fo r preparin g th e final documen

t o r decision an

d fo r assurin g th e adequac y o f th e interagenc y consultatio

n proces s wit

h respec t to th e developmen

t o f th e applicabl e implementatio

n pla n an d th e lis t o f TCM s i n th

e approve d applicabl e implementatio

n plan

. Th e MP O shal l b e th e lea d agenc y responsibl e fo r preparin g th e final documen

t o r decisio n an d fo r assurin g th e adequac y o f th e interagenc

y consultation proces s with respec t t o th e transportatio

n plan , th e TIP , an y amendment

s o r revision s thereto , an

d an y conformit y determinations

. (c ) I n addition t

o th e lea d agencie s identifie d i n subsectio

n 49.3.2(b) , othe

r agencie s entitle d t

o participat

e i n an y interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s unde r thi s rul e includ

e th e RIDOT , RIPTA , FHWA , FTA , an d EPA

. (d ) I t shal l b e th e role an d responsibilit

y o f eac h lea d agenc y i n a n interagenc

y consultation process , a

s specified i n subsectio

n 49.3.2(b) , t

o confe r wit h al l othe r agencie s identifie d unde

r subsectio n 49.3.2(c ) wit

h a n interes t i n 8th e documen

t t o b e developed , provid

e al l appropriat

e informatio n t o thos

e agencie s neede d fo r meaningful input , solici t

earl y an d continuing inpu

t fromthos e agencies , conduc

t th e consultation proces s describe d i n th e applicabl e paragraph

s o f 4 0 CF R93.105 , wher

e required , assur

e policy

leve l contac t wit h those agencie

s an d prior t o takin g an

y action , conside

r th e view s o f eac h suc h agenc y an d respon d t o thos e view s i n atimely , substantiv e writte n manne

r prior t o an y fina l decisio n on suc

h document

, an d assur e tha t suc h view s an

d writte n respons

e ar e mad e par t o f th e recor d o f an y decisio n o r action

. I t shal l b e th e rol e an d responsibilit

y o f eac h agenc y specified i n subsectio

n 49.3.2(c) , whe

n no t fulfillin g th

e rol e an d responsibilitie s o f

alea d agency , t

o confe r with th e lea d agenc y an d othe r participants i n th

e consultatio

n process , revie

w an d commen t a s appropriat e (includin g comment

s i n writing ) on al l propose d an d final document s an d decisions i n atimely manner , atten d consultation an

d decisio n meetings , assur

e policy-leve l contac

t wit h othe r participants , provid e inpu t o n an y are ao f substantiv

e expertise or

responsibilit

y (includin g plannin

g assumptions , modeling , informatio n o n status o f

TC M implementation , an

d interpretation o f

regulator y or othe r requirements) , an d provid e technica l assistanc

e t o th e lea d agenc y o r consultatio

n proces s i n accordanc

e wit h thi s paragrap

h whe n requested

. 49.3. 3 Specifi c roles , responsibilities , an d organizationa

l level o f variou s participants i n th e interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s shal

l b e a s follow s (a ) Th e Departmen

t shal l b e responsibl

e fo r developin g emissions inventories , emission s budgets , ai

r qualit y modeling , coordinatin

g wit h th e MP O fo r traffi c relate

d modeling , applicable implementatio n pla n demonstrations , includin g emissions budget s a s necessar y an d an y applicabl

e implementatio

n pla n TCMs

. (b ) Th e MP O shal l b e responsibl

e fo r developin g transportatio

n plans an

d TIPs ; evaluatin

g TC M transportatio

n impacts ; developin

g transportatio

n an d socioeconomi

c dat aan d planning assumption

s fo r us e i n emissions analysi s t o determin e conformit

y o f transportatio

n plans , TIPs , an

d projects ; determinin

g regionall

y significan

t projects , convenin

g ai r qualit y technica l revie w meeting s o

n specifi c project s whe

n requeste d by othe r agencie s or a s needed , identifyin g system

- or facility-based o

r othe r programmati

c TCMs ; providin g technica l an d polic y inpu

t o n emission

s budgets ; performin g transportation modeling an d regiona l emissions analyse s an d documentin

g timel y implementatio

n o f TCM s neede

d fo r conformit y assessments

. (c ) RIDO T shal

l b e responsibl

e fo r providin g technica

l inpu t on propose

d revision s to moto

r vehicle emissions factors , distributin g draf t an d final projec t environmenta

l document

s t o othe r agencies , an

d identifyin g

9regionall y significan

t highwa y an d rai l project

s an d project change s i n th e TI P an d Lon g Rang e Transportatio

n Plan

. (d) RIPT

A shal l b e responsibl

e fo r identifyin g regionall

y significan

t bu s transi t projects an

d project change s i n th e TIP an d Long Rang

e Transportatio

n Plan

. (e) FHW

A an d FT A shal l b e responsibl

e fo r assurin g timely action o

n final findings o f

conformity , afte

r consultation wit

h othe r agencie s a s provided i n thi s section , providin g guidanc e on th e transportatio

n plannin g proces s t o agencie s i n interagenc

y consultation

. (f ) EP A shal l b e responsibl

e fo r reviewing , findin g adequate, an d approvin

g update d moto r vehicle emissions budget s an d providin g guidanc

e o n conformit y criteri aan

d procedures t

o agencie s i n interagenc

y consultation

. 49.3. 4 I t shal l b e th e affirmativ e responsibilit y o f th e agenc y wit h th e responsibilit

y fo r preparin g th e fina l documen

t o r decision subjec

t t o th e interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s to initiat

e th e proces s b

y notifyin g othe

r participants , conven

e consultatio

n meeting s earl

y i n th e proces s o f

decisio n o n th e final document

, appoin t th e convener

s o f technica l meetings , an

d assur e tha t al l relevan

t document s an d informatio n ar

e supplie d t o al l participants i n th

e consultation proces s i n atimely manner
. 49.3. 5 Regula

r consultatio

n on majo r activitie s suc

h a s th e developmen

t o f a n applicabl

e implementatio

n plan , th e developmen

t o f atransportatio

n plan , th e developmen

t o f aTIP , o r an y determinatio

n o f ai r qualit y conformit

y on transportatio

n plans o r TIPs , shal l includ e meeting s a

t regular, schedule

d interval s n

o les s frequently tha

n semiannually , unles s th

e consensu

s o f th e grou p determines tha

t ameetin g i s no t warrante d an d shal l b e attende d b y representatives o f

eac h agency
. I n addition , technica l meeting s shal

l b e convene d a s necessary
. 49.3. 6 Eac

h lea d agenc y i n th e consultatio

n proces s require

d unde r thi s sectio

n (tha t is , th e agenc y with th e responsibilit

y fo r preparin g th e fina l documen

t subjec t t o th e interagenc y consultatio

n process) shal

l confe r wit h al l othe r agencie s identifie d unde r 49.3.2(c ) wit

h a n interes t i n th e documen

t t o b e developed, provid

e al l appropriat e informatio n t

o thos e agencie s neede d fo r meaningfu

l input , and, prior t o taking an

y action , conside

r th e view s o f eac h suc h agenc y an d respon d to thos e view s i n atimely , substantiv e writte n manne

r prior t o an y final decisio

n o n suc h document

. Suc

h view s an

d writte n respons

e shal l b e mad e par t o f th e recor d o f an y decisio n o r action

. 49.3. 7 Th e Departmen

t wil l prepar

e alis t o f an y TCM s i n th

e approve d applicabl

e implementatio

n pla n an d provid e thi s lis t t o th e interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s i n accordanc

e wit h 49.3.2

.
1 049.3. 8 Interagenc y consultatio

n procedures : Specifi c processes
. (a ) A n interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s i n accordanc

e with paragrap

h 49.3. 2 involvin g th

e Ai r Qualit y Workin g Group , comprise

d o f th e MPO , th e Department

, RIDOT , RIPTA , EPA , FHWA , an d FT A shal

l b e undertake

n fo r th e following : (1 ) Evaluatin

g an d choosin g amode l (o r models ) an

d associate

d method s an d assumption

s t o b e use d i n hot-spo

t analyse s an d regiona l emission s analyses t

o b e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap h 49.3.2

. (2 ) Determinin

g which transportation projects shoul d b e considere

d "regionall y significant " fo r

th e purpose s o f regiona l emission s analysi s (i n addition t

o thos e functionall y classifie d a s principa l arteria l o r highe r o r fixed guidewa

y system s or extensions tha

t offe r a n alternativ

e t o regiona l highwa y travel) , an

d which project

s shoul d b e considere

d t o hav e asignifican

t chang e i n desig n concep t an d scop e fromth e transportation pla

n o r TIP , t o b e conducte d i n accordanc

e with paragrap

h 49.3.2 ; (3 ) Evaluatin

g whethe r projects otherwis e exempte d fro mmeetin

g th e requirement

s o f 40 CF R9 3 (i.e

. projects describe d i n 4 0 CF R 93.12 6 an d 93.127 ) shoul

d b e treate d a s non-exemp

t i n case s wher e potentia l advers e emissions impact

s ma y exist fo r an y reason , t o b e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap h 49.3.2 ; (4 ) Making adetermination , a s require d by 4 0 CF R93.113(c) ( 1) , whethe r pas t obstacles t

o implementation o f

TCM s which ar

e behin d th e schedul e establishe

d i n th e applicabl

e implementatio

n pla n hav e bee n identifie d an

d ar e bein g overcome , an

d whethe r Stat e an d loca l agencie s with influenc e ove

r approval s o

r fundin g fo r TCM s ar e givin g maximu

mpriorit y to approva

l o r fundin g fo r TCMs , t o b e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap h 49.3.2

. Thi s consultatio

n proces s shal

l als o conside

r whethe r delay s i n TC M implementatio

n necessitat

e revision s t

o th e applicabl

e implementatio

n pla n to remov

e TCM s o r substitut e TCM s o r othe r emissio n reductio n measures ; (5 ) Notificatio n o f

transportation pla

n o r TI P revision s or

amendment

s which merel

y ad d o r delet e exemp t projects listed i n 4

0 CF R 93.126 o r 40 CF R93.127 , to b

e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap h 49.3.2 ; (6 ) Choosin

g conformit

y test s an d methodologie s fo r

isolate d rura l nonattainmen

t an d maintenanc

e areas , a s require d b y 4 0 CF R 1 193.109(n)(2)(iii ) to b e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap

h 49.3.2

. (7 ) Durin g preparatio

n o f th e transportatio

n pla n an d TIP , th e MP O wil l reques

t tha t participants o f

th e interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s identif

y al l non-FHWA/FT

A transportatio

n projects an

d thei r desig n concep t an d scope, includin g thos e wher e detaile d desig n feature s hav

e no t ye t bee n decided, an

d determin

e which one s mee t th e definitio n o f

regionall y significant

fo r regiona l emission s modeling

. An

y recipien

t o f federa l funding , a

s defined i n 4 0 CF R93.101 , i s require

d t o disclos e t

o th e MP O informatio n regardin g al l non-FHWA/FT

A regionall

y significant

project s an

d an y change s t o thes e plans shal

l b e immediatel

y disclosed

. An interagenc

y consultatio

n proces s i n accordanc

e with paragrap

h 49.3. 2 involvin g th

e MPO , th e Department

, RIDOT , an

d RIPT A shal l b e undertake n fo r th e following : (1 ) Evaluatin

g event s which wil l trigge

r ne w conformit

y determinations i n addition to those triggerin g event s establishe

d i n 4 0 CF R93.104 , to b

e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap

h 49.3.2 ; an d (2 ) Consultin

g on emissions analysi s fo r transportatio

n activitie s whic h cros s th e border s o f MPO s or

nonattainmen

t area s o r ai r basins , t o b e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap

h 49.3.2

. (3 ) Cooperativ

e planning an

d analysi s fo r

purpose s o f determinin

g conformit y o f al l project s outsid

e th e metropolita

n are aan d withi n th e nonattainmen

t o r maintenanc

e area , t o b e conducte

d i n accordanc e wit h paragrap

h 49.3.2

. (4 ) Assuranc

e tha t plans fo r construction o f

regionall y significan

t project s which ar e no t FHWA/FTA projects (includin g projects fo r which alternativ

e locations , desig

n concep t an d scope, o r th e no
buil d optio

n ar e stil l bein

g considered) , including al l thos e by recipient s o f fund s designate

d unde r titl e 2 3 U.S.C

. or

th e Federa l Transi t Ac t ar e disclose d t o th e MP O o n aregula r basis , an d to assur e tha t an y change s t o thos e plan s ar e immediatel

y disclosed

. (5 ) A proces s i n accordanc e wit h paragrap

h 49.3. 2 involvin g th

e MP O an d othe r recipient s o f fund s designate

d unde r titl e 2 3 U.S.C

. o

r th e Federa l Transi t Ac t shall b e undertake

n fo r assumin g th e location an

d desig n concep t an d scop e o f projects tha

t ar e disclose d t o th e MP O a s require d b y 49.3.8(d ) o f thi s sectio

n bu t whos e sponsor s hav e no t ye t decide d thes e features , i n sufficient 1 2detail t o perfor mth e regiona l emissions analysi s accordin g t o th e requirement

s o f 4 0 CF R93.122 , t

o b e conducte

d i n accordanc

e wit h paragrap

h 49.3.2

. (6 ) Designing , scheduling , an d fundin g o f

researc h an d dat acollectio n effort s an d regiona l transportatio

n mode l developmen

t by th e MP O (e.g. , household

/ trave l transportation surveys) , t o b e conducte

d i n accordanc e wit h paragrap

h 49.3.2

. (7 ) Transportatio

n Pla n o r TIP revision s or

amendment

s tha t ad d o r delet e exemp t projects a s liste d i n 40CFR93.12 6 Tabl e 2 or 40CFR93.12

7 Tabl e 3

. (c ) I f aPla n o r TI P amendmen

t projec t or action i s deeme

d exemp t unde r th e EP A Ai r Qualit y Conformit

y Rul e (40 CF RPart s 5 1 & 93) , th

e MP O wil l issu e alette r t o th e Departmen

t stating such , an

d as k th e departmen

t fo r thei r concurrence
. (d) Th e MP O wil l provid

e fina l document

s (includin g the applicabl

e implementatio

n plan , transportatio

n plans , TIPs , plan/TI

P amendment

s an d conformit

y determinations ) an

d supportin

g informatio n t

o eac h agenc y afte r approva l o r adoption

. Thi s proces s i s applicabl e t o al l agencie s includin g th

e MPO , RIDOT , RIPTA , th e Department

, FHWA , FT A an d EPA

. 49.3. 9 Resolvin

g conflicts

. (a ) Th e Departmen

t shal l refe r an y conflic t betwee n th e Departmen

t an d th e MP O concernin

g apropose

d determination o f

conformit

y (o r othe r polic y decisio n unde r thi s ruIe)t o th e Governo

r i f th e conflic t canno t b e resolve d by th e head s o f th e involved agencies

. Th

e agencie s shal l mak e ever y effort t o resolv e an y differences , includin g persona l meetings betwee

n th e head s o f suc h agencie s o r their policy-leve l representatives , to th e exten t possible

. (b ) Th e Departmen

t ha s 1 4 calenda

r day s t o appea l apropose

d determinatio

n o f conformit

y (or othe r polic y decision unde

r thi s rule ) t

o th e Governo r afte r th e MP O ha s notifie d th

e Departmen

t o f th e resolution o f

al l comment s o n suc h propose d determinatio

n o f conformit

y o r polic y decision

. Suc

h 14-da y perio d shal

l commenc

e whe n th e MP O ha s confirme d receip

t b y th e directo r o f th e Departmen

t o f th e resolution o f th e comment

s o f th e Department

. I f

th e Departmen

t appeal s t o th e Governor , th e fina l conformit

y determinatio

n mus t hav e th e concurrenc

e o f th e Governor

. Th

e Departmen

t mus t provid e notice o f an y appea l unde r thi s subsectio

n t o th e MPO

. I f

th e Departmen

t doe s no t appea l t o th eGoverno r withi n 1 4 days , th e MP O ma y procee d wit h th e fina l conformit

y determination

. (c ) Th e Governo r ma y delegat e th e rol e o f hearin g an y suc h appea l unde r thi s subsectio n an d o f decidin g whethe r to concu r i n th e conformit

y determinatio

n t o anothe r officia l o r agenc y withi n th

e State , bu

t no t t o th e hea d or staf f o f th e Department

, RIDOT , an

y agenc y tha t ha s responsibilit

y fo r onl y on e o f thes e functions , o

r th e MPO

. 49.3.1 0 Publi

c Consultatio

n Procedure

s Th e MP O wil l follo w it s adopte

d publi c involvemen

t procedures , whic h wer

e develope d i n accordanc

e wit h th e requirement

s fo r publi c involvemen

t i n 2 3 CF R 450 , whe n makin g conformit

y determination s o

n transportatio

n plans , programs , an d projects

. Thes e procedures establis

h aproactiv

e publi c involvemen

t proces s whic h provide s opportunit y fo r publi c revie

w an d commen t by , a t aminimum , providin g reasonabl e publi c access t

o technica l an d polic y informatio n considere d by th e MP O a t th e beginnin

g o f th e public cornmen

t perio d an d prio r t o taking forma

l action o n aconformit

y determinatio

n fo r th e Lon g Rang e Transportatio

n Pla n an d TIP , consisten

t wit h thes e requirement

s an d thos e o f 2 3 CF R450

. Meeting s o f

th e Ai r Qualit y Working Grou

p ar e ope n t o th e public

. Any charge

s impose d fo r publi c inspectio

n an d copyin g ar e consisten

t wit h th e fee schedul

e containe d i n 4 9 CF

R7.43

. Th

e Ai r Qualit y Workin g Grou

p shall also provid

e opportunit y fo r publi c involvemen

t i n conformit

y determination s fo r

projects wher e otherwise required b

y law

. Additionally , th

e MP O wil l address i n writin g al l publi c comment s tha t plans fo r regionall y significan

t non-FHWA/FT

A projects ar

e no t properl y reflected i n th

e emissions analysis

. 49. 4 Commitment

s fo r Regiona l Emissions Analysi s I n accordanc

e wit h 4 0 CF R93.122(a)(4)(h) , th

e MP O wil l not

includ e emission

s reductio n credits fromcontro l measure s tha t ar e no t included i n th

e transportatio

n pla n o r transportatio

n improvemen

t progra man d tha t d o no t requir e aregulator

y actio n i n th e regiona l emissions analysi s use

d i n th e conformit

y determination unles s th

e MP O o r FHWA/FT

A obtain s writte n commitments , a s define d i n 40 CF

R93.101 , fromth

e appropriat e entitie s t

o implemen

t thos e control measures
. Th

e written commitment

s t o implemen t those contro l measure

s mus t b e fulfille dby th

e appropriat

e entities

. 49. 5 Cornmitment

s fo r Project-Leve

l Mitigatio n an

d Contro l Measure

s

1 4I n accordanc e with 4 0 CF R93.125(c) , prio

r t o makin g aproject-leve l conformit y determinatio

n fo r atransportatio

n project , FHWA/FTA mus t obtain fromth

e projec t sponso r and/o r operato r awritte n commitment

, a s define d i n 4 0 CF

R93.101 , t

o implemen t an y project-level mitigatio n or control measur

e i n th e construction o

r operatio n o f th e project identifie d a

s acondition fo r

NEP A proces s completion

. Th e writte n commitmen

t t o implemen

t suc h aproject-level mitigatio n o r contro l measur

e mus t b e fulfille dby th

e appropriat

e entity

. Prio

r t o makin g aconformit

y determinatio

n fo r th e transportatio

n pla n o r TIP , th e project sponso r wil l ensur

e an y projec t level mitigatio n o

r contro l measure

s fo r whic h awritte n commitmen t ha s bee n mad e ar e included i n th

e projec t desig n concep t an d scop e an d ar e appropriatel

y identifie d i n th

e regiona l emission s analysi s use

d i n th e conformit

y analysis

. Writte n commitment s mus t b e obtaine d befor e suc h mitigatio n or

control measure

s ar e use d i n aproject-level hot-spo t conformit y analysi s fo r

aproject-level determinatio n an d projec t sponsor s mus t compl y wit h suc h commitments

. 49. 6 Purpos

e Th e purpos e o f thi s regulation i s t

o fulfil l th e requiremen

t i n 4 0 CF R51.390(b) t

o establis h aSI P revision tha

t include s th

e followin g thre

e sections o f

th e federa l transportatio

n conformit

y rule :

• 4 0 CF R93.105 , whic h addresse

s consultation procedures ;

• 4 0 CF R93.122(a)(4)(h) , whic h state s tha t applicabl e implementatio

n plans fo r conformit y mus t requir e tha t written commitment

s t o contro l measure

s b e obtaine d prio r t o aconformit

y determinatio

n i f th e contro l measure

s ar e no t included i n ametropolita

n plannin g organization' s (MPO's ) transportatio n pla n an d transportatio

n improvemen

t progra m(TIP) ; an

d tha t suc h acommitmen

t b e fulfilled ; an

d

• 4 0 CF R93.125(c) , whic h state

s tha t applicable implementation plans fo r conformit y mus t requir e tha t written commitment

s t o mitigatio n measure

s b e obtaine d prior t o aproject-level conformit y determination , an

d tha t project sponsor s compl y wit h suc h commitments

. Onc e thi s stat e regulation i s approve

d b y EP A into th e Rhod e Islan d implementatio

n plan , i t ha s ful l lega l effect

. Conformit

y determination s wil l b

e governe d by thes e criteri a an d procedures a

s wel l a s an y applicabl

e portion s o f

th e federa l conformit

y rule s tha

t ar e no t addresse d by th e stat e rule

.

1 549. 7 Authorit y Thes e regulations ar

e authorize

d pursuan t t o R.I

. Gen

. La

w § § 42-17. 1 -2(s ) an

d 23-23 , a s amended , an d hav e bee n promulgate

d pursuan t t o th e procedure

s se t fort h i n th e RJ

. Administrative Procedure

s Act , RJ

. Gen

. Laws Chapte r 42-3 5 49. 8 Application Th e term s an d provision s o f

thi s regulatio

n shal l b e liberall y construe d t o permi t th e Departmen

t t o effectuat

e th e purpose s o f stat e law , goal

s an d policies

. 49. 9 Severabilit

y I f an y provisio n o f thi s regulatio

n o r th e applicatio

n thereo f t o an y perso n o r circumstance , i s hel d invali d b y acour t o f competen t jurisdiction , th

e validit y o f th e remainde

r o f th e regulatio n shal l no t b e affecte d thereby

. 49.1 0 Effectiv e Dat

e Th e foregoin g regulation , "Transportatio n Conformity" , afte

r du e notice , i s hereb

y adopte d an d filed wit h th e Secretar y o f Stat e thi s 30t h da y o f September

, 201 1 t o becom e effectiv e twent y (20 ) day

s thereafter, i n accordanc

e wit h th e provision s o f

Chapter s 23-23,42-35,42

- 17.1,42-17.6 , o f

th e Genera l Law s o f Rhod e Islan d o f 1956, a s amended

.

Jane t Coit , Directo

r Departmen

t o f Environmenta

l Managemen

t

Notic e Give

n on : Jul

y 15,201 1
Filin g Date : Septembe

r 30,201 1
Effectiv e Date : Octobe

r 20,201 1

1

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