HomeMy WebLinkAbout20131549.tiffUSDepartment
of Transportation
Federal Highway
Administration
Colorado Division
May 30, 2013
Ms. Terri Blackmore
Executive Director
North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization
419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 300
Fort Collins, CO 80521
12300 W. Dakota Ave., Ste. 180
Lakewood, CO 80228
(720) 963-3014
Fax (720) 963-3001
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Subject: NFRMPO 2035 RTP and Amended 2012-2017 TIP Conformity Determination
Dear Ms. Blackmore:
In accordance with the Clean Air Act of 1990, as amended, 40 CFR 93 and 23 CFR 450, the U.S.
Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is required to make air quality conformity
determinations of Regional Transportation Plans (RTP) and Transportation Improvement
Programs (TIP) in non -attainment and maintenance areas. The process to make a conformity
determination in Colorado is that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Colorado
Division office signs the letter on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region
VIII office per the current Memorandum of Agreement for Transportation Planning Oversight
(MOA).
On May 21, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule
designating the Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Fort Collins and Greeley urbanized areas non -
attainment for 2008 8 -hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The non -
attainment area includes the planning areas of the Denver Regional Council of Governments
(DRCOG), North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council, also known as
the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), and the Upper Front
Range Transportation Planning Region (Upper Front Range TPR). Included in the EPA final
rule is the requirement for a submittal by NFRMPO and DRCOG of an initial conformity
determination to address the nonattainment provisions for the 2008 8 -hour ozone NAAQS by
July 20, 2013.
The transportation planning organizations have signed an MOA explaining how air quality
conformity for 8 -hour ozone is accomplished by the three parties within the non -attainment area.
The 8 -Hour Ozone MOA states that NFRMPO will provide conformity determinations for the
northern subarea on the Denver -North Front Range non -attainment area, as well as portions of
the Upper Front Range TPR.
Currently, Fort Collins and Greeley are designated as maintenance areas for the carbon
monoxide NAAQS.
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On March 7, 2013, NFRMPO, in its capacity as the MPO, adopted an air quality conformity
determination for the NFRMPO 2035 RTP and the Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP. The
conformity determination specifically met the 40 CFR 93 Subpart A requirements that address
the 2008 8 -hour ozone NAAQS, and NFRMPO has complied with the one-year grace period
deadline. The 2035 RTP is the fiscally constrained long-range transportation plan for the
NFRMPO region, while the FY 2012-2017 TIP is the fiscally constrained transportation
improvement program for the NFRMPO region. The 8 -hour ozone portion of the conformity
determination covers the Denver -North Front Range Northern Subarea, and includes both the
Upper Front Range TPR 2035 RTP and the FY 2012-2017 State Transportation Improvement
Program (STIP) for the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region. NFRMPO also
adopted a conformity determination for the carbon monoxide NAAQS that covers the Fort
Collins and Greeley Maintenance Areas.
Based on our evaluation of the NFRMPO 2035 RTP conformity determination and the Amended
FY 2012-2017 TIP in coordination with the EPA, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission
(AQCC), the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT), we have determined that the NFRMPO area has met the requirements of
40 CFR 93, 23 CFR 450, 49 CFR 613 along with FHWA/FTA policies and guidance. NFRMPO
correctly followed the procedures of the 8 -Hour Ozone MOA. Furthermore, the NFRMPO 2035
RTP and the NFRMPO Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP conform to the State Implementation Plan
(SIP).
A conformity determination for the NFRMPO 2035 RTP and the NFRMPO Amended 2012-
2017 TIP is hereby made. Our action is consistent with the FHWA/FTA Transportation
Planning MOA.
Sincerely yours,
John M. Cater
Division Administrator
cc: Ms. Lisa Silva, APCD
Mr. Jeff Sudmeier, CDOT
Mr. David Beckhouse, FTA
Mr. Larry Squires, FTA
Mr. Tim Russ, EPA
Ms. Jennifer Schaufele, NFRMPO
Ms. Barbara Kirkmeyer, UPR TPR
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