Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs)
Revision of the Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Final - September 24, 2021
In compliance with Section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Air Quality (DAQ) chose, through rulemaking as referenced in 15A NCAC 02D .2005, to develop transportation conformity memorandum of agreements (MOAs) to ensure that interagency consultation procedures for transportation conformity are followed in each of the maintenance areas in the state. Of the thirteen MOAs, eleven MOAs cover areas governed by a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), one covers the Great Smoky Mountains National Park administered by the National Park Service, and one covers the other areas of North Carolina.
On September 24, 2021, the DAQ submitted the final revised MOAs to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)for incorporation into North Carolina’s State Implementation Plan (SIP). The thirteen MOAs were revised based on the collective collaborative efforts between federal, state, local air program agencies and MPOs to which the MOAs apply. The transmittal letter and proposed revisions to the MOAs submitted to EPA are provided at the following links. Once the MOAs are approved by EPA into the SIP, the MOAs will replace the previously EPA-approved MOAs which were effective February 24, 2014.
DEQ Submittals:
- Transmittal Letter with Attachment
- Burlington-Graham MOA
- Cabarrus-Rowan MOA
- Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MOA
- Gaston-Lincoln-Cleveland Urban Area MOA
- Great Smoky Mountain National Park MOA
- Greater Hickory MOA
- Greensboro Urban Area MOA
- High Point Urban Area MOA
- Mecklenburg-Charlotte MOA
- North Carolina Capital Area MOA
- Rocky Mount Urban Area MOA
- Rural Area MOA
- Winston-Salem Forsyth Urban Area MOA
EPA Actions:
- Direct Final Rule: Air Plan Approval; NC; Transportation Conformity (88 FR 18423, March 29, 2023)
- Proposed Rule: Air Plan Approval; NC; Transportation Conformity (88 FR 7903, February 7, 2023)
Transportation Conformity MOAs – July 12, 2013
On July 12, 2013, the DAQ submitted thirteen transportation conformity MOAs to EPA for adoption into the North Carolina SIP. The MOAs were developed through a collective collaborative effort by the following signatory parties: North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the EPA, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Highway Administration - Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA-EFLHD), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), National Park Service (NPS), local air quality agencies and representatives of several North Carolina MPOs. The EPA approved the MOAs with an effective date of February 24, 2014. The final submittal package containing the transmittal letter and thirteen transportation conformity MOAs and EPA’s approval of the submittal are available at the following links:
DEQ Submittals:
- Transmittal Letter
- Burlington-Graham MOA 2013
- Cabarrus-Rowan MOA 2013
- Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MOA 2013
- Gaston Urban Area MOA 2013
- Great Smoky Mountain National Park MOA 2013
- Greater Hickory MOA 2013
- Greensboro Urban Area MOA 2013
- High Point Urban Area MOA 2013
- Mecklenburg-Union MOA 2013
- North Carolina Capital Area MOA 2013
- Rocky Mount Urban Area MOA 2013
- Rural Area MOA 2013
- Winston-Salem Forsyth Urban Area MOA 2013
EPA Actions:
- Direct Final Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreement Update (78 FR 73266-78272 December 26, 2013 )
- Proposed Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreement Update (78 FR 78310 December 26, 2013)
Please direct any further questions or comments concerning the MOA submittal to Tammy Manning at Tammy.Manning@ncdenr.gov.