# 2026-19566: EPA Approves Alabama's Transportation Air Quality Conformity Plan

2026-19566, Air Plan Approval; Alabama; Transportation Conformity, is a Federal Register rule from Environmental Protection Agency published 2026-09-24, effective 2026-10-26; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19566
- As of: 2026-10-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-19566
- Title: Air Plan Approval; Alabama; Transportation Conformity
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency
- Citation: 91 FR 60518
- Published: 2026-09-24
- Effective: 2026-10-26
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-10-01

## In one line

EPA Approves Alabama's Transportation Air Quality Conformity Plan

## Summary

The EPA just gave a thumbs-up to Alabama’s updated plan for making sure transportation projects don’t mess with air quality. This update improves teamwork between agencies, clears up how the public can get involved, and tightens rules to keep pollution in check. Starting October 26, 2026, these changes help Alabama keep the air cleaner without costing extra money or causing delays.

## Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on April 7, 2026. The SIP revision replaces the previously approved transportation conformity memorandum of agreement (MOA) with an updated MOA concerning transportation conformity criteria and procedures related to interagency consultation, conflict resolution, public participation, and enforceability of certain transportation-related control and mitigation measures. The SIP revision also makes a minor stylistic change to the Transportation Conformity and General Conformity rules in the Alabama SIP. The EPA has determined that Alabama's April 7, 2026, SIP revision is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

## Effects PRIA read

- Updated MOA: clearer consultation and public input: benefit, low. The EPA approved Alabama's updated Interagency Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreement submitted April 7, 2026. The MOA establishes procedures for interagency consultation, dispute resolution, public participation, and enforceability of certain transportation-related control and mitigatio…
- State rules and MOA become federally enforceable: benefit, low. The EPA incorporated by reference Alabama Rules 335-3-17-.01 and 335-3-17-.02 (state effective February 12, 2024) and the April 7, 2026 MOA into the State Implementation Plan. Those materials are federally enforceable under Clean Air Act sections 110 and 113 as of the rule's effective date, October…
- No added federal costs or burdens for small entities: benefit, low. The EPA states this approval does not impose additional Federal requirements beyond State law, does not impose an information collection burden under the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The approval is…
- Does not apply on Indian reservation lands: benefit, low. The EPA states that this SIP approval is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or other area where a Tribe has demonstrated jurisdiction. In those Tribal areas, the rule does not have Tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on Tribal governments.

## Related documents

- [2026-19071](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19071): Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units, 2026-09-17
- [2026-19072](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19072): Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emiss…, 2026-09-17
- [2026-18317](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18317): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2026-09-09
- [2026-14112](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14112): Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions fo…, 2026-07-14
- [2026-13667](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13667): Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans, 2026-07-07
- [2026-13263](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13263): Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems, 2026-07-01

## Sources
- [2026-19566 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/24/2026-19566/air-plan-approval-alabama-transportation-conformity)
- [2026-19566 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-24/pdf/2026-19566.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-19537, Measures To Restrict Stockpiling of Polysilicon and Polysilicon Derivatives Und…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19537)
- [Next: 2026-19597, Rules of Practice](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19597)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19566 (as of 2026-10-01).
