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2 <br /> <br />specific values, but the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that such changes be <br />justified by substantial evidence.2 Once all of the values are inputted into the model, the Project's <br />construction and operational emissions are calculated, and "output files" are generated. These output <br />files disclose to the reader what parameters were utilized in calculating the Project's air pollutant <br />emissions and make known which default values were changed as well as provide justification for the <br />values selected.3 <br />Review of the Project’s air modeling demonstrates that the Addendum underestimates emissions <br />associated with Project activities. As previously stated, the Addendum’s air quality analysis relies on air <br />pollutant emissions calculated using CalEEMod. When reviewing the Project’s CalEEMod output files, <br />provided in Appendix C to the Addendum, we found that several of the values inputted into the model <br />were not consistent with information disclosed in the Addendum. As a result, the Project’s construction <br />and operational emissions are underestimated. A DEIR should be prepared to include an updated air <br />quality analysis that adequately evaluates the impacts that construction and operation of the Project <br />will have on local and regional air quality. <br />Failure to Include All Proposed Land Uses <br />Review of the Project’s CalEEMod output files demonstrates that not all of the land uses proposed by <br />the Addendum were included in the air model. As a result, the Project’s construction and operational <br />emissions are underestimated. <br />According to the Addendum, the proposed Project would include 332 parking spaces (p. 1-1). However, <br />review of the Project’s CalEEMod output files demonstrates that the model failed to include any amount <br />of parking (see excerpt below) (Appendix C, pp. 135, 163, 188). <br /> <br />As you can see in the excerpt above, the model failed to include any amount of parking. The land usage <br />parameters, including land use types and sizes, are used throughout CalEEMod to determine default <br />variables and emission factors that go into the model’s calculations.4 For example, land use areas are <br />used for certain calculations such as determining the wall space to be painted (i.e., VOC emissions from <br />architectural coatings) and volume that is heated or cooled (i.e., energy impacts). Therefore, by failing to <br />include the proposed parking land use in the air model, the construction and operational emissions are <br /> <br />2 CAPCOA (November 2017) CalEEMod User’s Guide, http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default- <br />source/caleemod/01_user-39-s-guide2016-3-2_15november2017.pdf?sfvrsn=4, p. 1, 9. <br />3 CAPCOA (November 2017) CalEEMod User’s Guide, http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default- <br />source/caleemod/01_user-39-s-guide2016-3-2_15november2017.pdf?sfvrsn=4, fn 1, p. 11, 12 – 13. A key feature <br />of the CalEEMod program is the “remarks” feature, where the user explains why a default setting was replaced by <br />a “user defined” value. These remarks are included in the report. <br />4 “CalEEMod User’s Guide.” CAPCOA, November 2017, available at: http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default- <br />source/caleemod/01_user-39-s-guide2016-3-2_15november2017.pdf?sfvrsn=4, p. 18.