PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER HOT SPOT ANALYSIS PEER EXCHANGE MEETING

Abstract

On October 23-24, 2007, subject matter experts on particulate matter (PM) gathered at Allerton Park in Monticello to exchange ideas and experiences in project level hotspot analysis of PM, including monitoring and compliance. The attendees included staff from five Midwestern state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations, the U.S. EPA, the Illinois EPA, University faculty, and the FHWA. Particulate matter is a generic term for a broad class of chemically and physically diverse substances that exist as discrete particles (liquid droplets or solids) over a wide range of sizes. It is emitted into the air through combustion exhausts or mechanical wear-and-tear from cars and trucks, power plants and factories, and construction sites. A hot-spot analysis is an estimation of likely future localized pollutant concentrations and a comparison of those concentrations to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set by the U.S. EPA. In general, the peer exchange participants are concerned with making sure their new transportation projects in compliance with the recently released U.S. EPA regulations for performing PM hot-spot analyses in non-attainment and maintenance areas for transportation conformity and NEPA reporting purposes. The meeting offered the attendees opportunities to identify hot-spot requirements, discuss PM modeling uncertainties and monitoring of PM, and learn about how other states are documenting the analyses in reports. Outcomes of the meeting included documented challenges in practice, research needs, and practical guidelines which will be useful to all state DOTs. This report includes the proceedings of this meeting. 17.