Air Quality
Last modified Wednesday, March 05, 2008 16:26
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is a federal law designed to protect air quality in the United States. This is achieved through limits, established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), on how much of a pollutant can be in the air anywhere in the US. These limits are referred to as National Ambient Air Quality Standards or NAAQS. NAAQS are set for six ambient air pollutants; ozone, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Areas exceeding the NAAQS are referred to as nonattainment areas. Individual states are charged with developing plans to reduce air pollution to acceptable levels in the timeframe prescribed by the CAA. These air quality plans are referred to as the State Implementation Plans. For more information on the CAA, read the Plain English Guide to the CAA, published by the US EPA.
Video: "Clearing the Air"
This episode - "Clearing the Air" - explores the current state of the region's air quality, defines the various types of pollution, profiles efforts to improve air quality and showcases specific programs that employers and commuters can take to adopt a Clean Air Lifestyle.
View this episode now:  Windows Media Player
Of the six pollutants that the CAA establishes standards for, the Atlanta region is designated nonattainment for two: ground level ozone and fine particulate matter.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is responsible for managing the process to ensure that transportation plans and programs within the Atlanta nonattainment area do not cause or contribute to worsened air quality. This process is referred to as transportation conformity. Mobile (transportation-related) emissions, as estimated by the ARC, must conform to established limits or Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEB) for nonattainment pollutants and/or their precursors. MVEB are set by the State Air Agency, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, in the State Implementation Plan and are approved by the US EPA as adequate for use in the transportation conformity process. For more information on transportation conformity, refer to "Transportation Conformity: A Basic Guide for State and Local Officials." (PDF)
A positive conformity determination must be made for transportation plans and programs within air quality nonattainment areas in order for federal transportation dollars to be allocated, without restriction, to the region. This determination is provided by the US Department of Transportation with concurrence provided by US EPA.
The most recent conformity determination was provided as part of the Mobility 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and FY 2006-2011 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). A positive conformity determination was provided for both the ozone and particulate matter standards on March 30, 2006. For more information on the conformity analysis reference Volume III of Mobility 2030 Plan Documentation.
For additional information or questions related to air quality, contact us at 404.463.0067.
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