Opinion ID: 2966416
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: capital programs for public transit;

Text: (ii) construction or restriction of certain roads or lanes solely for the use of passenger buses or high occupancy vehicles; (iii) planning for requirements for employers to reduce employee work-trip-related vehicle emissions; (iv) highway ramp metering, traffic signalization, and related programs that improve traffic flow and achieve a net emission reduction; (v) fringe and transportation corridor parking facilities serving multiple occupancy vehicle programs or transit operations; (vi) programs to limit or restrict vehicle use in downtown areas or other areas of emission concentration particularly during periods of peak use, through road use charges, tolls, parking surcharges, or other pricing mechanisms, vehicle restricted zones or periods, or vehicle registration programs; _________________________________________________________________ 3 We explain the concepts of attainment and nonattainment in greater detail in Virginia I. In brief, an area is in nonattainment with respect to a pollutant if levels of that pollutant in the ambient (breathable) air exceed a threshold level set by EPA. An ozone nonattainment area, for example, has what EPA has determined to be a sufficient amount of ozone in the air to cause health problems. 6 (vii) programs for breakdown and accident scene management, nonrecurring congestion, and vehicle information systems, to reduce congestion and emissions; and (viii) such other transportation-related programs as the [EPA] Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, finds would improve air quality and would not encourage single occupancy vehicle capacity. In considering such measures, the State should seek to ensure adequate access to downtown, other commercial, and residential areas, and avoid increasing or relocating emissions and congestion rather than reducing them. CAA § 179(b)(1)(B), 42 U.S.C. § 7509(b)(1)(B). A second sanction increases the pollution offset requirements already imposed on private polluters within ozone nonattainment areas. Normally, new major stationary sources of pollution may not be operated within nonattainment areas (and existing stationary sources may not be modified if the modification would increase emissions) unless pollution from other sources is reduced to offset increased pollution from the new or modified source. In regions of marginal nonattainment with respect to ozone, 110 tons of old pollution must be eliminated for every 100 additional tons of new pollution (a ratio of 1.1:1). CAA § 182(a)(4), 42 U.S.C. § 7511a(a)(4). In regions of moderate nonattainment, 115 tons of old pollution must be eliminated for every additional 100 tons of new pollution (a ratio of 1.15:1). CAA § 182(b)(5), 42 U.S.C. § 7511a(b)(5). In regions of serious, severe, or extreme nonattainment with respect to ozone, 120 tons of old pollution must be eliminated for every additional 100 tons of new pollution (a ratio of 1.2:1). CAA §§ 182(c)(10), (d), & (e); 42 U.S.C. § 7511a(c)(10), (d), & (e). In regions of severe and extreme nonattainment, higher ratios are mandated for certain pollutants. See CAA §§ 182(d)(2) & (e)(1); 42 U.S.C. §§ 7511a(d)(2) & (e)(1). The sanction supersedes these normal ratios by increasing the ratio in all ozone nonattainment areas to 2:1, requiring 200 tons of old pollutants to be eliminated for every 100 tons of new pollutants allowed. CAA § 179(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. § 7509(b)(2). The offset sanction, therefore, could slow the rate of industrial development within a noncomplying state. 7 A third sanction eliminates the state's ability to manage its own pollution control regime. If the state does not gain approval for its permit program, EPA develops and implements its own Title V permitting program within the noncomplying state. CAA § 502(d)(3), 42 U.S.C. § 7661a(d)(3). The state is not required to do anything to assist EPA in this effort; the federal government becomes wholly responsible.