Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Conformity determinations and conformity
redetermination for transportation plans, TIPs and FHWA/FTA projects shall be
made according to the requirements of 20.11.3.104 NMAC and the applicable
implementation plan.
B. Frequency
of conformity determinations for transportation plans:
(1) Each new transportation plan shall be
demonstrated to conform before the transportation plan is approved by the MPO
or accepted by DOT.
(2) All
transportation plan amendments shall be found to conform before the
transportation plan amendments are approved by the MPO or accepted by DOT,
unless the amendment merely adds or deletes exempt projects listed in
20.11.3.126 NMAC or 20.11.3.127 NMAC. The conformity determination shall be
based on the transportation plan and the amendment taken as a whole.
(3) The MPO and DOT shall determine the
conformity of the transportation plan (including a new regional emissions
analysis) no less frequently than every four years. If more than four years
elapse after DOT's conformity determination without the MPO and DOT determining
conformity of the transportation plan, a 12-month grace period will be
implemented as described in Subsection F of 20.11.3.104 NMAC. At the end of
this 12-month grace period, the existing conformity determination shall
lapse.
C. Frequency of
conformity determinations for transportation improvement programs:
(1) A new TIP shall be demonstrated to
conform before the TIP is approved by the MPO or accepted by DOT.
(2) A TIP amendment requires a new conformity
determination for the entire TIP before the amendment is approved by the MPO or
accepted by DOT, unless the amendment merely adds or deletes exempt projects
listed in 20.11.3.126 NMAC or 20.11.3.127 NMAC and has been made in accordance
with the notification provisions of Subparagraph (g) of Paragraph (1) of
Subsection D of 20.11.3.105 NMAC.
(3) The MPO and DOT shall determine the
conformity of the TIP (including a new regional emissions analysis) no less
frequently than every four years. If more than four years elapse after DOT's
conformity determination without the MPO and DOT determining conformity of the
TIP, a 12-month grace period will be implemented as described in Subsection F
of 20.11.3.104 NMAC. At the end of this 12-month grace period, the existing
conformity determination shall lapse.
D. Projects: FHWA/FTA projects shall be found
to conform before they are adopted, accepted, approved or funded. Conformity
shall be re-determined for any FHWA/FTA project if one of the following occurs:
a significant change in the project's design concept and scope; three years
have elapsed since the most recent major step to advance the project; or
initiation of a supplemental environmental document for air quality purposes.
Major steps include NEPA process completion; start of final design; acquisition
of a significant portion of the right-of-way; and, construction (including
federal approval of plans, specifications and estimates).
E. Triggers for transportation plan and TIP
conformity determinations: Conformity of existing transportation plans and TIPs
shall be re-determined within two years of the following, or after a 12-month
grace period (as described in Subsection F of 20.11.3.104 NMAC) the existing
conformity determination shall lapse, and no new project-level conformity
determinations may be made until conformity of the transportation plan and TIP
has been determined by the MPO and DOT:
(1)
the effective date of EPA's finding that motor vehicle emission budgets from an
initially submitted control strategy implementation plan or maintenance plan
are adequate pursuant to Subsection E of 20.11.3.118 NMAC and can be used for
transportation conformity purposes;
(2) the effective date of EPA approval of a
control strategy implementation plan revision or maintenance plan that
establishes or revises a motor vehicle emissions budget if that budget has not
yet been used in a conformity determination prior to approval; and
(3) the effective date of EPA promulgation of
an implementation plan that establishes or revises a motor vehicle emissions
budget or adds, deletes or changes TCMs.
F. Lapse grace period. During the 12-month
grace period referenced in Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 20.11.3.104 NMAC,
Paragraph (3) of Subsection C of 20.11.3.113 NMAC, and Subsection E of
20.11.3.113 NMAC, a project may be found to conform according to the
requirements of 20.11.3 NMAC:
(1) the project
is included in the currently conforming transportation plan and TIP (or
regional emissions analysis); or
(2) the project is included in the most
recent conforming transportation plan and TIP (or regional emissions
analysis).
