On May 6-7, 2014, the Center for Environmental Excellence held a national peer exchange on air quality in Washington, DC. The event brought together more than 40 air quality practitioners from around the country to exchange ideas, best practices, and lessons learned related to air quality issues facing State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs). In attendance were representatives from approximately twenty-five State DOTs, three metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and FHWA staff.

The peer exchange was an opportunity for participants to share experiences from their air quality work, learn about resources and tools being developed by FHWA and EPA, and engage with each other through presentations and discussions. This peer exchange allowed participants to identify technical assistance needs, existing resources, and opportunities for further investigation.

All of the presentations from the peer-exchange, as well as the final White Paper, can be found below:

White Paper: 2014 Air Quality Peer Exchange – Summary and Key Takeaways (June 2014)
Peer Exchange Program

Day 1 Presentations

Welcome and Introduction

Tim Sexton, Air Quality, Noise, and Energy Policy Manager, Washington State DOT; Chair, Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee
April Marchese, Director, Office of Natural Environment, FHWA

Update from AASHTO and Federal Report Out

AASHTO Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee
Jennifer Brickett, Program Manager for the Environment, AASHTO

Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency
Cecilia Ho, Air Quality and Noise Team Leader, FHWA
Meg Patulski, Transportation Conformity Team Leader, EPA

Air Quality Round Robin: What Are States Working On?

Jill Schlaefer, Colorado DOT
Tom Hanf, Michigan DOT
Tim Wood, Texas DOT
Anne McGahan, Boston MPO (representing Massachusetts DOT)
Heather Hildebrandt, North Carolina DOT
Henry Phillips, South Carolina DOT
Mike Henderson, Missouri DOT
Dawn Sullivan, Oklahoma DOT

PM Hot Spot Modeling

Mike Claggett, Air Quality Modeling Specialist, FHWA
Darcy Anderson, Air Quality Program Coordinator, Arizona DOT
Christina Brandt, Environmental Manager, Maryland State Highway Administration

CMAQ Program Updates and Best Practices

Emily Biondi, Air Quality and Noise Team, FHWA
Daniel Burgin, Environmental Technologist II, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
David D’Onofrio, Air Quality and Climate Change Planner, Atlanta Regional Commission

Air Quality and NEPA Streamlining

Christopher Voigt, Senior Environmental Engineer, Virginia DOT
Jackie Ploch, Air Quality Work Leader, Texas DOT; Vice Chair, Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee
Natalie Liljenwall, Noise and Air Quality Specialist, Oregon DOT

Breakout Discussions

Group discussions on institutional and technical issues in transportation and air quality planning, including interagency coordination, streamlining, and modeling.

Day 2 Presentations

Day 1 Recap

Jackie Ploch, Air Quality Work Leader, Texas DOT; Vice Chair, Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee

Air Quality Round Robin: What are States Working On?

Di Wu and Adam Johnson, Mississippi DOT
Elena Constantine, Transportation Planning Board (Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)
Natalie Liljenwall, Oregon DOT
James Elder, California Department of Transportation
Minghua Qiu Miller, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
Marie C. Limage, New Jersey DOT
Linda Heck, Alaska DOT

Transportation, Air Quality, and Public Health

Tim Sexton, Air Quality, Noise, and Energy Policy Manager, Washington State DOT; Chair, Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee
Michael Trepanier, Massachusetts DOT

Mobile Source Air Toxics

Mike Claggett, Air Quality Modeling Specialist, FHWA
Mariano Berrios, Environmental Programs Coordinator, Florida DOT

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis

John Davies and Diane Turchetta, FHWA
Rich Denbow, Director of Technical Programs, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Emissions Reduction Strategies

Alan Jones, Manager, Research and Policy Office, Long Range Planning Division, Tennessee DOT
Phillip Peevy, Air Quality and Technical Resource Branch Chief, Georgia DOT

“Unconference” Session

Open discussion on topics of interest to peer exchange participants, including air quality topics not covered during previous sessions.

Wrap-up: Closing Remarks & Summary of State Air Quality Needs

Tim Sexton, Air Quality, Noise, and Energy Policy Manager, Washington State DOT; Chair, Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee