Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 13 / Friday, January 18, 2008 / Notices 3467 

the reason for the change, how the 

change was incorporated into the 

EMFAC model, and the resulting 

emissions impact. All presentations 

from the public workshops are available 

on the CARB Web site at: http:// 

www.arb.ca.gov/msei/ 

workshops.htm#work200612. These 

presentations summarize the major 

changes to the EMFAC model and 

contain tables showing the impacts of 

the changes both statewide and by 

county for HC, CO, NOX, PM10, and 

PM2.5. 

F. Will a Transportation Conformity 

Grace Period Be Set by This Approval? 

Yes. The transportation conformity 

rule (40 CFR part 93.111) requires that 

conformity analyses be based on the 

latest motor vehicle emissions model 

approved by EPA for SIP purposes for 

a state or area. Section 176(c)(1) of the 

CAA states that ‘‘* * * [t]he 

determination of conformity shall be 

based on the most recent estimates of 

emissions, and such estimates shall be 

determined from the most recent 

population, employment, travel, and 

congestion estimates. * * *’’ When EPA 

approves a new emissions model such 

as EMFAC2007, a grace period is 

established before the model is required 

for conformity analyses. However, areas 

have the option of using the new model 

prior to the end of the grace period. The 

conformity rule provides for a grace 

period for new emissions models of 

between 3 to 24 months. In consultation 

with FHWA and FTA, EPA considers 

many factors in establishing the length 

of the grace period, including the degree 

of change in emissions models and the 

effects of the new model on the 

transportation planning process (40 CFR 

93.111). 

Upon consideration of all of these 

factors, EPA is establishing a 3-month 

grace period before EMFAC2007 is 

required for the following conformity 

analyses: 

• All new HC, NOX, PM10, PM2.5 and 

CO regional emissions analyses (e.g., 

supporting transportation plan and TIP 

conformity determinations); and 

• All new CO hot-spot analyses 

supporting project-level conformity 

determinations. 

The grace period begins today and 

ends on April 18, 2008. As discussed 

earlier in the notice, the last version of 

EMFAC (EMFAC2002) is no longer used 

in California for new regional emissions 

analyses for transportation plan and TIP 

conformity determinations. Therefore it 

is appropriate to set a short grace period 

since all areas in California will need to 

use EMFAC2007 to begin any new 

regional conformity analyses. A longer 

grace period would provide no practical 

benefit for transportation plan and TIP 

conformity determinations, since older 

EMFAC models cannot be used in new 

regional analyses due to the latest 

planning assumptions requirements in 

the conformity rule (40 CFR 93.110). 

When the grace period ends on April 

18, 2008, EMFAC2007 will become the 

only approved motor vehicle emissions 

model for all new regional and CO hotspot transportation conformity analyses 

across California. In general, this means 

that all new HC, NOX, PM10, PM2.5, and 

CO regional conformity analyses and CO 

hot-spot analyses started after the end of 

the 3-month grace period must be based 

on EMFAC2007, even if the SIP is based 

on an earlier version of the EMFAC 

model. 

G. Can Areas Use Any Other Models 

During the Grace Period? 

Yes, in limited cases. CO hot-spot 

analyses for project-level conformity 

determinations can be based on 

EMFAC2002 if the analysis was begun 

before the end of the grace period, 

started before August 1, 2007 and if the 

final environmental document for the 

project is issued no more than three 

years after the issuance of the draft 

environmental document (see 40 CFR 

93.111(c)). The interagency consultation 

process should be used if it is unclear 

whether an EMFAC2002 based analysis 

is covered by the circumstances 

described above. 

H. Future Updates to EMFAC 

On January 31, 2006, CARB submitted 

a letter to EPA and to the California 

Division of the FHWA indicating the 

State’s intention to update future 

revisions to EMFAC. These EMFAC 

updates would reflect, among other new 

information, updated vehicle fleet data 

every three years. In California, 

Metropolitan Planning Organizations 

and Air Districts have not been able to 

update vehicle fleet data embedded into 

EMFAC. The EPA/USDOT January 18, 

2001, guidance on latest planning 

assumptions and EPA’s July 2004 final 

rule, indicate that new vehicle 

registration data must be used when it 

is available prior to the start of new 

conformity analyses and that states 

should update the data at least every 

five years. The State reaffirmed their 

commitment to keeping the latest 

planning assumptions included in 

EMFAC updated on a three year cycle 

in the April 18, 2007 EMFAC submittal 

letter. The next update to the planning 

assumptions in EMFAC is expected in 

2010, which would most likely also 

include updates to the emissions factors 

of the model as well. 

III. Summary of EPA Actions 

EPA is approving EMFAC2007 as 

submitted by CARB on April 18, 2007 

with the following limitations and 

conditions: 

(1) The approval is limited to 

California. 

(2) The approval is Statewide and 

applies to estimation of emissions of 

hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, 

nitrogen oxides, particulate matter 

(PM10 and PM2.5), lead, and sulfur 

oxides. However, EMFAC2007 will only 

be used in transportation conformity 

analyses for pollutants and precursors 

that affect regional on-road mobile 

emissions and are applicable in a given 

nonattainment or maintenance area. 

EPA is also approving EMFAC2007 to 

estimate hot-spot emissions for carbon 

monoxide conformity analyses. 

(3) A 3-month statewide 

transportation conformity grace period 

will be established beginning January 

18, 2008 and ending April 18, 2008 for 

the transportation conformity uses 

described in (2) above. 

Dated: January 10, 2008. 

Jane Diamond, 

Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX. 

[FR Doc. E8–876 Filed 1–17–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Meeting; Cancellation 

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: Equal 

Employment Opportunity Commission. 

‘‘FEDERAL REGISTER’’ CITATION OF

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: 73 FR 1343, 

Tuesday, January 8, 2008. 

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIME AND DATE OF

MEETING: Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 3 

p.m. (Eastern Time). 

CHANGE IN THE MEETING: The meeting has 

been cancelled. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Officer on 

(202) 663–4070. 

Dated: January 15, 2008. 

Stephen Llewellyn, 

Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat. 

[FR Doc. 08–187 Filed 1–17–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6570–01–M 

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Notices 

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, January 23, 

2008 at 10 a.m. 

PLACE: 999 E. Street, NW., Washington, 

DC. 


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