Interagency consultation is required under the transportation conformity rule, as described in 40 CFR 51.402. In northeastern Illinois, these procedures are addressed through the consultation process described below and through the work of CMAP's committees, subcommittees, task forces, and working groups as described in the region's Public Participation Plan.
In northeastern Illinois, consultation involving the metropolitan planning organization (MPO), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation Authority, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) facilitates the local, regional, and state decision-making process by providing a forum for all affected agencies to discuss and resolve important issues. Decisions made through this interagency consultation process guide the MPO in making the conformity determination.