air quality basics

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Air Quality and GHG BasicsWhat the CEQA are you talking about?

Chryss Meier


Air Quality Regulatory framework Impact analyses (construction, operational)

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) Regulatory framework Impact analyses (construction, operational)

Outline


Air Quality


Regulatory Framework

Definition Criteria Pollutant: An air pollutant for which acceptable levels of exposure have

been determined and documented (in a criteria document), and for which an ambient air quality standard has been set.

Other Pollutants: Anything introduced into the air that can cause nuisance, damage, disease or death to living creatures, or damage to crops or the environment

Federal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Clean Air Act (FCAA) (1970, Amendments 1990)

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (see handout) Ozone, PM (10 and 2.5), CO, NO2, SO2, lead,

Attainment Designation and Classification State Implementation Plans (SIPs)

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State California Air Resources Board (ARB) California Clean Air Act (CCAA) (1988)

California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) Local air district oversight, approving air quality attainment

plans, submitting SIPs to EPA, monitoring, area designations, Regulatory Authority On-road/Off-Road Emissions Limits, “In Use” Rules, Permits,

ATCMs, Consumer Products, Agricultural

Regulatory FrameworkCalifornia's regulatory forays predate the federal/EPA regulation, that's why we get special clearance to regulate (with permission) tailpipe emissions.


Regulatory Framework

Local 35 air districts for 15 air basins Attain and maintain air quality conditions

Air Quality Attainment Plans Adoption and enforcement of rules and regulations Permitting Inspections

CEQA guide Thresholds of significance Screening tools Analysis methodology Mitigation strategies


Impact Assessments

Construction-Related Activities

Off-Road Mobile Sources

On-Road Mobile Sources

ROG/VOC from paints and curing asphalt.

Operation-Related Activities

Off-Road Mobile Sources

On-Road Mobile Sources Area Sources

Area Sources

Stationary Sources


Tools of the Trade….

Models Urban Emissions Model (URBEMIS) California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) California Emissions Factor Models (EMFAC,

OFFROAD)


Answer me this…CEQA Appendix G

A) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan

B) Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation

C) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any Criteria Air Pollutants for which the project region is non-attainment under an CAAQS or NAAQS

D) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations

E) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people


Now you have an impact…..

Thresholds of significance Mitigation (on- and off-site)

Fees Construction (e.g., watering, new equipment fleet) Operational (e.g., trip reduction) Modified Activity Buffer Zones Proving Reduction effectiveness


Greenhouse Gases


GHG, GWP, CO….WTF???

Definition Any gas or particulate that absorbs infrared

radiation in the atmosphere : CO2, CH4, N2O

Global Warming Potential (GWP) Used to normalize GHGs to units of CO2 equivalent (CO2e)

Example:1 ton CH4 * 21 GWP = 21 tons CO2e


Regulatory Framework for GHG

Federal Mandatory GHG reporting rule National program to cut GHG emissions and improve fuel

economy for cars and trucks Endangerment and cause or contribute findings (2009)

States EPA should regulate and develop standards for emissions of any pollution from any class(es) of new motor vehicles (or engines), which in judgment cause, or contribute to, air pollution, which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare

Climate change adaptation


Regulatory Framework for GHG

State and Local Executive Order S-03-05

Established GHG emissions targets for California: By 2010, Reduce to 2000 Levels By 2020, Reduce to 1990 Levels By 2050, Reduce to 80% below 1990

Oversight by Secretary of CalEPA with other state departments, Climate Action Team

Biennial report on progress, impacts of global warming on California, and mitigation and adaptation plans to combat impacts

No action for implementation to date


Global Climate Solutions Act

Required that GHG emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020

Statewide cap on certain emissions to be phased in, starting in 2012

ARB to develop regulations and reporting system to track and monitor emission levels

Health and Safety Code 38501. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Global warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California.


So what does this all mean?

Small incremental emissions can be cumulatively considerable….e.g. SJVAPCD

Can’t dance around it you have to assess significance and recommend feasible, enforceable mitigation/alternatives

Absence of State thresholds is not an excuse to avoid determining significance

Highest priority is securing feasible mitigation and/or alternatives to reduce carbon emissions, including use of offsets


Sources of Information and Guidance

ARB Scoping Plan 08’

OPR Guidance 08’

CAPCOA Guidance 08’ & 10’

Attorney Generals Mit. List 10’


ARB’s Scoping Plan

Strategies to achieve reduction includes ARB-recommended GHG reductions for each emissions sector of the state’s GHG inventory

Improved emission standards for light-duty vehicles Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Energy efficiency measures in buildings and appliances

and the widespread development of combined heat and power systems

Renewable portfolio standard for electricity production Reapproved in August 2011


Climate Change, GHG, CEQA….Oh My!

CEQA Guidelines were revised effective March 10, 2010

Key contents: Determining significance Use of existing streamlining tools Appendix F – Energy Conservation Appendix G – Checklist

Not there: quantified GHG threshold, vulnerability provisions


Take it District by District SCAQMD

GHG CEQA Significance Threshold Working Group

Draft Guidance document - Interim CEQA GHG Significance Threshold (October 2008)

Significance Threshold (5-Tier Approach)

Tier 1: Applicable exemptions Tier 2: GHG emissions within GHG

budgets in approvedregional plans

Tier 3: GHG emissions incremental increase below, ormitigated to less than the significance screening level

Tier 4: Performance standards Tier 5: Offsets

SJVAPCD Basis: Performance based All projects that would result in an

increase in GHG emissions would be subject to San Joaquin Valley APCD’s Best Performance Standards (BPS)

Projects implementing BPS would be determined to have a less than significant individual and cumulative impact on climate change

? Where are the BPSs


Best Performance Standards

BPS Stationary Source Projects Most stringent GHG emission reductions

technology Achieved-in-Practice Pre-quantified GHG emission reductions

BPS Development Projects Any combination of approved measures Achieved-In-Practice Reducing GHG emissions by at least a 29%


Analytical Tools Urban Emissions Model (URBEMIS) (http://www.urbemis.com/) (On- and Off-Road Mobile, Area) BAAQMD’s GHG Model Add-on (BGM) (All) (http://www.urbemis.com/) (All) SCAQMD’s CalEEMod (http://www.aqmd.gov/caleemod/download.htm) (All) ARB On-Road Emission Factors Model (EMFAC 2011) (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/modeling.htm) ARB Off-Road Emission Factors Model (OFFROAD 2007)

(http://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/offroad/offroad.htm) EPA Climate Leaders GHG Inventory Guidance (http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/resources/inventory-

guidance.html) (On- and Off-Road Mobile, Area, Stationary, and Indirect) California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) General Reporting Protocol

(http://www.climateregistry.org/tools/protocols/general-reporting-protocol.html) (On- and Off-Road Mobile, Area, Stationary, and Indirect)

World Resources Institute (WRI) GHG Protocol (http://pdf.wri.org/ghg_protocol_2004.pdf) (On- and Off-Road Mobile, Area, Stationary, and Indirect)

ARB Regulation Order (http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/ghg2007/isor.pdf) (On- and Off-Road Mobile, Area, Stationary, and Indirect)

ARB/CCAR/ICLEI/TCR Local Government Operations Protocol (http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/protocols/localgov/pubs/final_lgo_protocol_2008-09-25.pdf)(On- and Off-Road Mobile, Area, Stationary, and Indirect


Sample Projects

Bell Village Project- City of Santa Rosa Chik-Fa-La Project- City of Santa Rosa Shore Power Project- Port of Oakland SunPower Solar Project-County of Kings Elk Grove SOI Expansion- Sacramento LAFCO

air quality basics

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