TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY WORKING GROUP

of the 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS

February 25, 2014

Minutes

3.1-1 TCWG Minutes February 25, 2013

THE FOLLOWING MINUTES ARE A SUMMARY OF THE MEETING OF THE 

TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY WORKING GROUP. A DIGITAL RECORDING 

OF THE ACTUAL MEETING IS AVAILABLE FOR LISTENING IN SCAG’S OFFICE.

The Meeting of the Transportation Conformity Working Group was held at the SCAG office in 

Los Angeles. 

In Attendance:

Abrishami, Lori Metro

Castro, Fernando Caltrans, District 7

Morris, Michael FHWA

Perez, Brenda FHWA

Sherwood, Arnie TCA

SCAG

Gutierrez, Pablo

Lee, Maria

Liu, Jeff

Luo, Rongsheng

Via Teleconference:

Anderson, Cari ARB

Mortenson, Marilee Caltrans Headquarters

Tavitas, Rodney Caltrans Headquarters

Brady, Mike Caltrans Headquarters

Cacatian, Ben VCAPCD

DeHate, Eric RCTC

Fagan, Paul Caltrans, District 8

Garcia, Dan SCAQMD

Gallo, Ilene Caltrans, District 11

Jaffery, Edison Caltrans, District 8

O’Connor, Karina EPA, Region 9

Shah, Ahmad Caltrans, District 8

Sonnenberg, Stew FHWA

Tax, Wienke EPA, Region 9

Tisoupulos, Tara OCTA

Walecka, Carla TCA

Yoon, Andrew Caltrans, District 7

Malisos, Achilles RBF Consulting

Namazi, Leili RBF Consulting
TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY WORKING GROUP

of the 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS

February 25, 2014

Minutes

3.1-2 TCWG Minutes February 25, 2013

1.0 CALL TO ORDER

Fernando Castro, Caltrans District 7, called the meeting to order at 10:05 am.

2.0 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

There were no public comments. 

3.0 CONSENT CALENDAR

3.1 TCWG January 28, 2014 Meeting Minutes 

The minutes were deferred to next TCWG meeting.

4.0 INFORMATION ITEMS

4.1 Review of PM Hot Spot Interagency Review Forms

1) SCAG015

It was determined that this is not a POAQC.

2) RIV120201

It was reaffirmed that this is an exempt project.

4.2 FTIP Update

Pablo Gutierrez, SCAG, reported the following:

 County project submittals for 2013 FTIP Amendment #13-17 were due to 

SCAG today.

 SCAG staff continues analyzing 2015 FTIP project submittals.

4.3 RTP Update

There was no new update.

4.4 EPA updates 

Wienke Tax, EPA Region 9, reported the following: 

 EPA withdrew its previous approvals of South Coast VMT offset 

demonstrations for 1-hour and 1997 8-hour ozone standards, effective April 29,

2013. The EPA action triggered two sanction clocks in South Coast. If not 

resolved, stationary source sanctions would start in October 2014 and highway 

sanctions would start in April 2015. EPA is required to take action on updated 
TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY WORKING GROUP

of the 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS

February 25, 2014

Minutes

3.1-3 TCWG Minutes February 25, 2013

South Coast VMT offset demonstrations per a legal settlement agreement by 

August 2014.

4.5 ARB UPDATE

Cari Anderson, ARB, reported the following:

 Two updates were presented in the January ARB Board meeting and are 

available online:

1) Air quality progress update in the South Coast region; and 

2) SB 375 implementation status update.

 Two presentations were given in the February ARB Board meeting:

1) Presentation on latest science of ozone and PM2.5 atmospheric chemistry in 

South Coast; and

2) Presentation on Proposed First Update to AB 32 Scoping Plan. 

 The March ARB Board meeting has been canceled.

 ARB continues working on Imperial County SIP for 2006 PM2.5 standard 

which is scheduled to be presented to ARB Board in June 2014. Draft PM2.5 

conformity budgets were expected to be completed this week.

 Minor updates to Western Mojave Desert and Coachella Valley 1997 8-hour 

ozone SIPs have been rescheduled for September 2014 ARB Board meeting.

 Next Statewide Conformity Working Group would be held on March 12, 2014. 

Meeting agenda and attachments were expected to be posted online next week.

4.6 Air Districts Update

Ben Cacatian, VCAPCD, stated that VCAPCD had no new update.

Dan Garcia, SCAQMD, stated that SCAQMD had no new update.

5.0 INFORMATION SHARING

Jeff Liu, SCAG, announced that SCAG’s new Draft Public Participation Plan had been

released for a 45-day public review and comment period on January 22, 2014. Mr. Liu

made a brief presentation on the Draft Plan.

Rongsheng Luo, SCAG, congratulated Mike Brady, Caltrans Headquarters, on his 

upcoming retirement. Mr. Luo acknowledged Mr. Brady for his valuable service and 

significant contribution as a long-term member of TCWG and presented SCAG’s

Certificate of Appreciation signed by SCAG President Honorable Greg Pettis and 

Executive Director Mr. Hasan Ikhrata.
TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY WORKING GROUP

of the 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS

February 25, 2014

Minutes

3.1-4 TCWG Minutes February 25, 2013

6.0 ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 am.

The next Transportation Conformity Working Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 

March 25, 2014 at the SCAG office in downtown Los Angeles.