Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Vehicle Miles Traveled Forecasting and Tracking: Alaska

The EPA today approves the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Alaska for the purpose of forecasting and tracking vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the Anchorage area. On March 24, 1994, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) submitted a SIP revision to EPA to satisfy the requirements of sections 187(a)(2)(A) and 187(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (CAA). Section 187(a)(2)(A) requires Moderate and Serious carbon monoxide (CO) non-attainment areas with a design value above 12.7 to submit a SIP revision that contains a forecast of VMT in the non-attainment area for each year before the year in which the SIP projects the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for CO to be attained. The SIP revision, which was due by November 15, 1992, also requires annual updates of the forecasts and specific contingency measures to be implemented if the annual estimate of actual VMT or a subsequent VMT forecast exceeds the most recent prior forecast of VMT or if the area fails to attain the CO NAAQS by the attainment date.