Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans North Carolina: Approval of Revisions to North Carolina State Implementation Plan: Transportation Conformity Rule and Interagency Memorandum of Agreements

The EPA is approving a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) with the exception of one state regulation pertaining to triggers. The revision contains the transportation conformity rule pursuant to the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (Act) and seven memoranda of agreements that establish procedures for consultation as part of the transportation conformity provisions. The transportation conformity rule assures that projected emissions from transportation plans, improvement programs and projects in air quality nonattainment or maintenance areas stay within the motor vehicle emissions ceiling contained in the SIP. The transportation conformity SIP revision enables the State to implement and enforce the Federal transportation conformity requirements at the state level per regulations for conformity to State or Federal Implementation Plans of Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects Developed, funded or Approved Under Title 23 U.S.C. of the Federal Transit Laws. This EPA approval action streamlines the conformity process to allow direct consultation among agencies at the local level. This final approval action is limited to requirements for Transportation Conformity. Rationale for approving this SIP revision is provided in the Supplemental Information section of this action.