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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><img width="321" height="128" style="width:3.3437in;height:1.3333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D7F726.96D5F060" alt="Title: DCHC MPO logo"></span><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Member Organizations: Town of Carrboro, Town of Chapel Hill, Chatham County, City of Durham, Durham County, Town of Hillsborough,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">North Carolina Department of Transportation, Orange County, and GoTriangle</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </b>December 22, 2021<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>News Media Contact: </b>Andrew Henry, (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419 or
<a href="mailto:Andrew.Henry@DurhamNC.gov"><span style="color:blue">Andrew.Henry@DurhamNC.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">DCHC MPO Seeks Public Comment on Air Quality Plan<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Input Requested by January 12</span></i><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DURHAM, N.C. – If you’re interested in issues of air quality, now is the time to give your input on how the region’s future transportation system will comply with emissions goals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (<a href="http://www.dchcmpo.org"><span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO</span></a><span style="color:blue">)
</span>is seeking public input on a technical report, called the <a href="https://www.dchcmpo.org/what-we-do/programs-plans/air-quality-climate-change/air-quality-conformity">
<span style="color:blue">Air Quality Conformity Determination Report</span></a>, that demonstrates that the pollutant emission from the future transportation system will not exceed specified thresholds. Although the Triangle area is in attainment for all of
the controlled emissions, the area is in a maintenance program for ozone and therefore must demonstrate conformity for nitrous oxides, which are precursors to ground level ozone.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Residents and other stakeholders are asked to review the <a href="https://www.dchcmpo.org/what-we-do/programs-plans/air-quality-climate-change/air-quality-conformity">
<span style="color:blue">Air Quality Conformity Determination Report</span></a> and provide comments by
<a href="mailto:andrew.henry@durhamnc.gov"><span style="color:blue">email</span></a><span style="color:blue">
</span>or by calling (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419 no later than Wednesday, January 12.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Residents who wish to provide their comments directly to the DCHC MPO Board at their virtual public hearing on Wednesday, January 12 at 9 a.m. are asked to send their request to speak by
<a href="mailto:andrew.henry@durhamnc.gov"><span style="color:blue">email</span></a> or by calling (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419. The board meeting livestream will also be available for viewing on the
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MPOforDCHC/"><span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO’s Facebook page</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>About the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The <a href="http://www.dchcmpo.org/"><span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO</span></a><span style="color:blue">
</span>is responsible for planning and programming state and federal transportation projects in all of Durham County and the urbanized areas of Orange County and Chatham County. To learn more, follow the DCHC MPO
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MPOforDCHC"><span style="color:blue">Facebook</span></a><span style="color:blue">
</span>and <a href="https://twitter.com/DCHCMPO"><span style="color:blue">Twitter</span></a><span style="color:blue">
</span>pages to stay up-to-date on news about their transportation planning efforts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">###<span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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