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Cabrillo at First Mixed-Use Residential
<br /> Air Quality, Global Climate Change, HRA, and Energy Impact Analysis
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<br />legislation, regulations, planning, policy-making, education, and a variety of programs. The agencies
<br />responsible for improving the air quality are discussed below.
<br />
<br />Federal – United States Environmental Protection Agency
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<br />The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting and enforcing the National
<br />Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for atmospheric pollutants. It regulates emission sources that are
<br />under the exclusive authority of the federal government, such as aircraft, ships, and certain locomotives. The
<br />National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) pollutants were identified using medical evidence and are
<br />shown below in Table 2.
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<br />The EPA and the California Air Resource Board (CARB) designate air basins where ambient air quality
<br />standards are exceeded as “nonattainment” areas. If standards are met, the area is designated as an
<br />“attainment” area. If there is inadequate or inconclusive data to make a definitive attainment designation, they
<br />are considered “unclassified.” National nonattainment areas are further designated as marginal, moderate,
<br />serious, severe, or extreme as a function of deviation from standards. Each standard has a different definition,
<br />or ‘form’ of what constitutes attainment, based on specific air quality statistics. For example, the Federal 8-
<br />hour CO standard is not to be exceeded more than once per year; therefore, an area is in attainment of the
<br />CO standard if no more than one 8-hour ambient air monitoring values exceeds the threshold per year. In
<br />contrast, the Federal annual PM2.5 standard is met if the three-year average of the annual average PM2.5
<br />concentration is less than or equal to the standard. Attainment status is shown in Table 3.
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<br />As part of its enforcement responsibilities, the EPA requires each state with federal nonattainment areas to
<br />prepare and submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that demonstrates the means to attain the national
<br />standards. The State Implementation Plan (SIP) must integrate federal, state, and local components and
<br />regulations to identify specific measures to reduce pollution, using a combination of performance standards
<br />and market-based programs within the timeframe identified in the State Implementation Plan (SIP).
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<br />As indicated below in Table 3, the Basin has been designated by the EPA as a non-attainment area for ozone
<br />(O3) and suspended particulates (PM10 and PM2.5). Currently, the Basin is in attainment with the ambient air
<br />quality standards for carbon monoxide (CO), lead, sulfur dioxide (SO2), suspended particulate matter (PM-2.5),
<br />and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
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<br />State – California Air Resources Board
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<br />The California Air Resources Board (CARB), which is a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency,
<br />is responsible for the coordination and administration of both federal and state air pollution control programs
<br />within California. In this capacity, the CARB conducts research, sets the California Ambient Air Quality
<br />Standards (CAAQS), compiles emission inventories, develops suggested control measures, provides oversight
<br />of local programs, and prepares the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The California Ambient Air Quality
<br />Standards (CAAQS) for criteria pollutants are shown in Table 2. In addition, the CARB establishes emission
<br />standards for motor vehicles sold in California, consumer products (e.g., hairspray, aerosol paints, and
<br />barbeque lighter fluid), and various types of commercial equipment. Furthermore, the motor vehicle emission
<br />standards established by CARB include compliance with the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles (SAFE)
<br />Rule, issued by NHTSA and EPA in March 2020 (published on April 30, 2020 and effective after June 29,
<br />2020). The SAFE Rule sets fuel economy and carbon dioxide standards that increase 1.5 percent in stringency
<br />each year from model years 2021 through 2026, and apply to both passenger cars and light trucks. CARB. It
<br />also sets fuel specifications to further reduce vehicular emissions.
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<br />The South Coast Air Basin has been designated by the CARB as a nonattainment area for ozone, PM10 and
<br />PM2.5. Currently, the South Coast Air Basin is in attainment with the ambient air quality standards for CO,
<br />lead, SO2, NO2, and sulfates and is unclassified for visibility reducing particles and Hydrogen Sulfide.
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<br />116/27/2022
<br />Planning Commission 2 –64
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