Packet_6.27.22 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Cabrillo at First Mixed-Use Residential Air Quality, Global Climate Change, HRA, and Energy Impact Analysis 39 19386 CUMULATIVE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS There are a number of cumulative projects in the project area that have not yet been built or are currently under construction. Since the timing or sequencing of the cumulative projects is unknown, any quantitative analysis to ascertain daily construction emissions that assumes multiple, concurrent construction projects would be speculative. Further, cumulative projects include local development as well as general growth within the project area. However, as with most development, the greatest source of emissions is from mobile sources, which travel well out of the local area. Therefore, from an air quality standpoint, the cumulative analysis would extend beyond any local projects and when wind patterns are considered would cover an even larger area. The SCAQMD recommends using two different methodologies: (1) that project-specific air quality impacts be used to determine the potential cumulative impacts to regional air quality;8 and (2) that a project’s consistency with the current AQMP be used to determine its potential cumulative impacts. Project Specific Impacts The project area is out of attainment for ozone, PM10, and PM2.5. Construction and operation of cumulative projects will further degrade the local air quality, as well as the air quality of the South Coast Air Basin. The greatest cumulative impact on the quality of regional air cell will be the incremental addition of pollutants mainly from increased traffic volumes from residential, commercial, and industrial development and the use of heavy equipment and trucks associated with the construction of these projects. Air quality will be temporarily degraded during construction activities that occur separately or simultaneously. However, in accordance with the SCAQMD methodology, projects that do not exceed the SCAQMD criteria or can be mitigated to less than criteria levels are not significant and do not add to the overall cumulative impact. A significant impact may occur if a project would add a cumulatively considerable contribution of a federal or state non-attainment pollutant. Project operations would generate emissions of NOx, ROG, CO, PM10, and PM2.5, which, would not exceed the SCAQMD regional or local thresholds and would not be expected to result in ground level concentrations that exceed the NAAQS or CAAQS. Since the project would not introduce any substantial stationary sources of emissions, CO is the benchmark pollutant for assessing local area air quality impacts from post-construction motor vehicle operations. As indicated earlier, no violations of the state and federal CO standards are projected to occur for the project, based on the magnitude of traffic the project is anticipated to create. Therefore, operation of the project would not result in a cumulatively considerable net increase for non- attainment of criteria pollutants or ozone precursors. As a result, the project would result in a less than significant cumulative impact for operational emissions. Air Quality Compliance The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a discussion of any inconsistencies between a proposed project and applicable General Plans and Regional Plans (CEQA Guidelines Section 15125). The regional plan that applies to the proposed project includes the SCAQMD Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). Therefore, this section discusses any potential inconsistencies of the proposed project with the AQMP. The purpose of this discussion is to set forth the issues regarding consistency with the assumptions and objectives of the AQMP and discuss whether the proposed project would interfere with the region’s ability to comply with Federal and State air quality standards. If the decision-makers determine that the proposed project is inconsistent, the lead agency may consider project modifications or inclusion of mitigation to eliminate the inconsistency. 8 South Coast Air Quality Management District, Potential Control Strategies to Address Cumulative Impacts from Air Pollution White Paper, 1993, http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/ceqa/air-quality-analysis-handbook. 396/27/2022 Planning Commission 2 –92