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THE BATTLE CREEK AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (BCATS) HEREBY GIVES NOTICE of opportunity for public involvement relative to the 1997 Ozone NAAQS Transportation Conformity Analysis for the BCATS 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program.  Per a court decision termed “South Coast II,” the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) must now require transportation conformity determinations for the 1997 ozone ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for those areas that were maintenance areas for ozone when the 1997 ozone NAAQS was revoked and then were attainment for the 2008 and 2015 NAAQS.  Kalamazoo County, Calhoun County, and Van Buren County fall into this designation and are termed the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek MI Conformity Area for the purposes of this requirement.  For the BCATS area, this means that the BCATS 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program were analyzed in accordance with 40 CFR 51 for air quality conformity.  The results of the conformity analysis conducted by the Michigan Dept. of Transportation demonstrates that the forecasted volatile organic compound (VOC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions for all analysis years are below the State Implementation Plan (SIP) budgets for these emissions.  This reflects the determination for the entire Kalamazoo-Battle Creek MI Conformity Area.

The Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS) is separately conducting public involvement outreach relative to this Air Quality Conformity Analysis.  BCATS is posting the Air Quality Conformity Analysis document (which is for the entire Kalamazoo-Battle Creek MI Conformity area) on the homepage of its website at https://www.bcatsmpo.org where it can be reviewed.  A copy of the document is also available for review at the BCATS staff office.  Discussion & action regarding the Air Quality Conformity Analysis will be conducted at the regular meetings of BCATS’ Technical Committee (Wednesday 2/13/19) and Policy Committee (Wednesday 2/27/19), beginning at 1:30 pm in the Council Chambers of Springfield City Hall at 601 Avenue A.  Public comment is encouraged before or at those meetings; BCATS' regular meetings are open to the public.  Comments will be accepted up to Policy Committee action on 2/27/19.  Direct questions and/or comments to:  BCATS, 601 Avenue A, Springfield, MI 49037; ph 269/963-1158, fax 269/963-4951, e-mail bcats@bcatsmpo.org.