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BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines Update Supervisor Lockyer Informational Workshop SCS & CEQA

Learn about the updates to the CEQA guidelines by attending the Supervisor Lockyer Informational Workshop hosted by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Discover how these changes aim to address air quality impacts, reduce health risks, and promote sustainable land use.

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BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines Update Supervisor Lockyer Informational Workshop SCS & CEQA

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  1. BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines Update Supervisor Lockyer Informational Workshop SCS & CEQA March 19, 2011 Henry Hilken Director of Planning and Research Bay Area Air Quality Management District

  2. Why Update the CEQA Guidelines? • Provide guidance to local lead agencies in evaluating air quality impacts of land use development • Include thresholds of significance, analytical tools, mitigation measures • Last published 1999, update needed • Attain health-based air quality standards for ozone and fine PM • Reduce health impacts from toxic air contaminants and fine PM • Highest exposures to toxics & fine PM near roadways, industry • GHG reductions to achieve AB 32, SB 375 • Goal: encourage air quality beneficial land use • Support infill, TOD, mixed use • Minimize public health impacts of new development

  3. Transportation, Land Use and Air Quality • Motor vehicles are largest source of air pollution in Bay Area - ozone, PM, toxics, GHGs • Continuing challenges: exceed health based AQ standards; local AQ impacts; GHGs • California vehicle fleet very clean–need to reduce vehicle use • Promote strategies that support livable communities • Infill, mixed use, TOD • Support MTC, ABAG, local programs • Help implement SB 375 • Integrate AQ into local planning • Use caution near high concentrations of pollutants 2007 Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Source for SF Bay Area

  4. GHG Thresholds • Address critical void • No thresholds for GHGs in CEQA previously existed • Legal scrutiny by AG, environmental groups • Based on AB 32 and Scoping Plan – allows statewide consistency • Thresholds options – land use projects • Plan based – consistency with GHG reduction strategy OR • “Bright line” – 1,100 metric tons/yr OR • Efficiency based – 4.6 tons/service population/yr (residents & employees) • Credit for lower vehicle use/efficiencies of infill, mixed use projects • Thresholds will be revisited if/when State guidance available • Consistent w/Office of Planning & Research State CEQA Guidelines • Provides certainty: legally defensible approach, level playing field

  5. Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program • Evaluate regional and community cancer and non-cancer health risks from toxic air contaminants • Supplements long-standing programs to reduce regional smog (ozone, particulates) • Identify sensitive populations • Focus health risk mitigation measures on locations with higher risk levels and sensitive populations

  6. Emissions and Modeled Air Toxics (2005) Modeled Air Toxics Risk Risk-weighted Emissions

  7. Demographic & Health Data Population under 18 Asthma Hospitalization Rates

  8. Priority DevelopmentAreas and Air Toxics Priority Development Areas Modeled Air Toxics Risk

  9. Encourage Healthy Infill Poor housing site Good housing site

  10. Public Health Impacts ofPollution Near Freeways • Health studies consistently show that living near highways has serious health consequences • Children living near a busy highway more likely to develop asthma and wheezing, suffer increased asthma attacks. • Exposure to traffic-related pollution, especially fine PM, significantly increases risk of heart attacks and premature death. • Pregnant women exposed to high levels of pollution from cars and trucks are more likely to experience problems with baby’s development, such as low birth weight. • Pre-term and early childhood exposures to carcinogens are ten times more important than previously estimated • Local land use decisions play an important role in determining exposure to air pollutants • San Francisco ordinance on air quality and infill development

  11. Clean Air Communities InitiativeMultifaceted Approach to Cumulative Impacts REGULATIONS & GUIDELINES • MONITORING • Mobile Sampling Van • Ambient Monitoring Network • Community Monitoring • Local Measurement Studies • Collaborate with Universities and Community Research Monitoring Programs • Portable Sampling Trailers • Photochemical Monitoring • MODELING • Regional TAC Modeling • Local TAC Modeling • Regional PM and Ozone Modeling • Permit Modeling and • Risk Assessment • REGULATIONS • Indirect Source Rule • Toxics NSR • 2588 Hot Spots Program • Source Specific Rules • Wood Smoke Rule • GUIDELINES • CEQA Guidelines • Community Risk Reduction Plans • 2010 Clean Air Plan • General Plan Guidelines • SB375/SCS • Climate Protection Program/ • GHG Co-Benefits MONITORING & MODELING ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY COMMUNITIES OUTREACH & EDUCATION GRANTS & INCENTIVES • ENFORCEMENT • Diesel Enforcement Program • Inspection/Enforcement of District Regulations • Enforcement of CARB Regulations • Respond to Complaints • Inspection of Grantees • OUTREACH/EDUCATION • Community Grant Program • Collaborate with Local Governments • Collaborate with Health Departments • CARE Program and Task Force • Community Meetings • Resource Teams • Collaborate with Community Groups • Wood Smoke Outreach • GRANTS/INCENTIVES • Community Grant Program • Bay Area Clean Air Foundation • Carl Moyer Program • TFCA • Mobile Source Incentive Fund • I-Bond/Goods Movement • Climate Protection Grants

  12. Local Community Risks and Hazards • CARE program identifies 6 priority communities in Bay Area • High emissions, concentrations of toxics & vulnerable populations • Quantitative thresholds or plan-based approach • Address new sources of pollution and new receptors near existing sources (eg, freeways) • Thresholds address PM and toxic risk • Consider localized impacts – within 1,000 feet • Consider individual sources and cumulative impacts • Promote infill, while protecting residents • Potential conflicts may often be resolved through site specific analysis and reasonable mitigation • Encourage community risk reduction plans

  13. Community Risk Reduction Plans • Supports community wide planning approach to reduce cumulative impacts • Collaborative effort between local governments & Air District • CRRP elements • Define planning area & consider future development plans • Establish future goals, emission reduction targets • Prepare emission inventories and modeling • Develop & implement emission reduction measures • Monitor progress • Public involvement process • Air District preparing local emission inventories • Pilot projects underway in San Jose, San Francisco • Air District provide funds to local jurisdictions to support CRRP development and implementation

  14. Technical Tools to Support Guidelines • Set of unprecedented technical tools/resources – unique in California and the nation • Tools/Resources available on District website: • GHG Mitigation Measure Quantification • GHG Off-Model Spreadsheet Calculator for projects • GHG Reduction Strategy Guidance • Offsite Mitigation Program Guidance • Detailed Phased Modeling Methodology • Roadway Risk Screening Tables • Stationary Source Risk Screening Tables • Community Risk Reduction Plan Guidance • Updating tools as new information becomes available • District provides training classes for local staff • District provides ongoing technical assistance to local staff, consultants 14

  15. Extensive Outreach to Develop Guidelines • 11 local government workshops • 11 public workshops • Presentations to key officials and staff • MTC, ABAG, JPC • Mayors’ conferences • City managers • Bay Area Planning Directors • 12 Board of Directors meetings • Numerous meetings with local officials, staff, stakeholders

  16. Support for Infill, TOD • GHG thresholds • Acknowledge efficiencies of infill – take credit for lower vehicle trips, energy efficiency, etc. • GHG efficiency threshold supports larger infill projects • Risk and hazards thresholds • Extensive outreach to local gov’t, developers to improve understanding, receive feedback • Community risk reduction plans integrate with local planning activities • Extensive technical support documents assist evaluations • Case studies confirm thresholds are achievable, while health protective • Many projects pass screen level evaluations • Many additional projects pass with more site specific analysis and/or reasonable mitigation

  17. Case Study: The Uptown, Oakland • Project characteristics: 700 multifamily units, 14,000 sq. ft. retail, downtown Oakland • Step 1 – Determine 1,000 foot radius • Step 2 – Identify local roads (>10,000 vehicles/day) and freeways to be evaluated • Step 3 – Identify local permitted sources

  18. Roadway Impacts Near The Uptown Highway 980 @ 700 feet PM2.5 = 0.096 ug/m3 Cancer = 10 in a million West Grand Avenue @ 850 feet PM2.5 = 0.03 ug/m3 Cancer = 1.4 in a million Castro Street @ 500 feet PM2.5 = 0.05 ug/m3 Cancer = 2.4 in a million Telegraph Ave @ 100 feet PM2.5 = 0.13 ug/m3 Cancer Risk = 7 in a million 20th Street @ 100 feet PM2.5 = 0.13 ug/m3 Cancer = 7 in a million Broadway St @ 400 ft PM2.5 = 0.03 ug/m3 Cancer = 1.6 in a million San Pablo Ave (Highway 123) @ 100 feet PM2.5 = 0.08 ug/m3 Cancer = 4 in a million Hazard = 0.02

  19. Permitted Sources Near The Uptown Autobody Shop De minimus risk Air Heater PM2.5 = 0.01 ug/m3 Gas Station 2 Cancer = 1.4 in a million Spray Booth De minimus risk Boiler De minimus risk Autobody Shop De minimus risk Gas Station 1 Cancer = 1.5 in a million Backup Generator 1 Cancer = 0.6 in a million PM2.5 = 0.01 ug/m3 Backup Generator 6 Cancer = 2 in a million Cogen Plant PM2.5 = 0.1 ug/m3 Backup Generator 5 Cancer = 1.1 in a million Backup Generator 2 Cancer = 8 in a million Backup Generator 3 Cancer = 0.4 in a million PM2.5 = 0.02 ug/m3 Backup Generator 4 Cancer = 0.4 in a million PM2.5 = 0.02 ug/m3

  20. Case Study:Dublin Transit Center Single Source Comparison Reduced to 350 ft buffer by 2015 based on reduced diesel emissions (will decrease further in future) Recommend 500 ft buffer north of I-580 based on 2012 emissions (AADT 219,000) • All stationary sources within 1,000 feet also meet cumulative impacts thresholds • RECOMMENDATIONS: • Phase project construction to avoid residential development closest to freeway until 2015 • Advise setback of 350 ft in 2015 • Locate HVAC intakes away from freeway BART Generator Cancer = 0.09 in million PM2.5 = 0.2 ug/m3 Generator 2 Cancer = 5 in million PM2.5 = 0.1 ug/m3 Generator 1 Cancer = 9 in million PM2.5 = 0.04 ug/m3 Proposed Land Use: Residential Commercial/Office Open Space BART Parking

  21. Board Adoption and Subsequent Activities • Extensive discussions with Board of Directors during 2009, 2010 • District Board of Directors approved significance thresholds June 2, 2010 • Most thresholds effective immediately • Risk & hazard thresholds for new receptors effective May 1, 2011 • Since adoption, District staff working closely with city & county staff, regional agency staff, consultants, developers, etc. • Responding to inquires, providing data & technical assistance • Many meetings and presentations • Tracking implementation • Reviewing CEQA documents, submitting comments • Local gov’t workshops – Feb./March 2011 • Work with ABAG and MTC to convene PDA/air quality work group

  22. Regional Agency Collaboration • Convened Air Quality/PDA workgroup with ABAG & MTC • Identify air quality concerns in Priority Development Areas • Support plan level efforts to address air quality impacts and CEQA • Streamline CEQA review of PDAs • Coordinate with SB 375 process • Regular staff meetings among ABAG, MTC, BAAQMD • Model to calculate benefits of transportation measures in PDAs • Regional agency staff meeting with Bay Area Planning Directors Association (BAPDA) • Coordinate regional programs • Support local planning and development

  23. Examples of Good Projects • Alameda County Climate Action Plan • Set GHG vehicle emissions target for residential projects • Aggressive building efficiency requirements and incentives • Union City Station Area Plan • Compact, energy efficient, TOD development • Dublin Climate Action Plan • Mixed use, higher density near BART • Green building ordinance, aggressive waste reduction goals • Treasure Island Redevelopment Plan • Compact, high density development • Innovative parking strategies • City of Santa Clara General Plan update • Increased densities, TOD • Develop climate action plan and CRRP

  24. Next Steps • Support community-wide planning through CRRPs and climate action plans • Collaborate with regional, local agencies on community-wide planning in PDA communities • Provide technical support to local gov’t, developers Poor housing site Good housing site

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