3 - The Bowery_PUBLIC COMMENT_RAMSEY

Home Browse Search

5.0 Environmental Analysis 5.5 Air Quality Avion Project SEIR Page 5.5-8 Six criteria pollutants of primary concern have been designated: O3, CO, SO2, NO2, Pb, and PM10 and PM2.5. The primary NAAQS were established, with a margin of safety, considering long-term exposure for the most sensitive groups in the general population (i.e., children, senior citizens, and people with breathing difficulties). The NAAQS are presented above in Table 5.5-1. The current NAAQS are summarized in Table 5.5-1 above. An air basin is designated as either attainment or non-attainment for a particular pollutant. Once a non-attainment area has achieved the ambient air quality standards for a particular pollutant, it is redesignated as an attainment area for that pollutant. To be redesignated, the area must meet air quality standards for three consecutive years. After redesignation to attainment, the area is known as a maintenance area and must develop a 10-year plan for continuing to meet and maintain air quality standards, as well as satisfy other requirements of the federal CAA. As mentioned above, the SDAB is a non-attainment area for the federal O3 standard. 5.5.3.2 State Regulations a. California Air Resources Board The CARB has developed the CAAQS and generally has set more stringent limits on the criteria pollutants than the NAAQS (see Table 5.5-1). In addition to the federal criteria pollutants, the CAAQS also specify standards for visibility-reducing particles, sulfates, hydrogen sulfide, and vinyl chloride. Similar to the federal CAA, the state classifies as either “attainment” or “non-attainment” areas for each pollutant based on the comparison of measured data with the CAAQS. The SDAB is a non- attainment area for the state O3 standards, the state PM10 standard, and the state PM2.5 standard. b. State Implementation Plan The State Implementation Plan (SIP) is a collection of documents that set forth the state’s strategies for achieving ambient air quality standards. The SDAPCD is responsible for preparing and implementing the portion of the SIP applicable to the SDAB. The SDAPCD adopts rules, regulations, and programs to attain state and federal air quality standards, and appropriates money (including permit fees) to achieve its objectives. 5.5.3.3 San Diego Air Pollution Control District The SDAPCD prepared the original 1991/1992 Regional Air Quality Strategy (RAQS) in response to requirements set forth in the California CAA. The California CAA requires areas that are designated state non-attainment areas for O3, CO, SO2, and NO2 prepare and implement plans to attain the standards by the earliest practicable date. The California CAA does not provide guidance on timing or requirements for attaining the state PM10 and PM2.5 standards. Attached as part of the RAQS are the Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) adopted by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). Updates of the RAQS and corresponding TCM are required every three years. The RAQS and TCM set forth the steps needed to accomplish attainment of state and federal AAQS. The most recent update of the RAQS and TCM occurred in 2016.