2009-025 - Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2004-02

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II. Air Quality • The Air Quality analysis in the EIR was based on CEQA Guidelines thresholds. Short-term construction activity impacts exceeded significance thresholds for ROG due to the application of architectural coatings. Mitigation measures were included to minimize these unavoidable adverse impacts. The EIR analysis determined that project-related operational emissions will exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) significance thresholds for CO, ROG and NOX primarily due to area source (consumer product) emissions. Mitigation measures were proposed to minimize the long-term unavoidable adverse impacts. Cumulative air quality impacts from the MacArthur Place South project were analyzed in the EIR and were determined to be significant and adverse when added to the existing non-attainment levels of the South Coast Air Basin. A statement of overriding considerations was adopted. Since the certification of the EIR, the state legislature passed AB 32 known as the Global Warming Solutions Act. This Addendum provides informa- tion related to greenhouse gas emissions impacts. An updated Trip Generation Evaluation (Traffic Evaluation), dated April 1, 2009, was prepared by Urban Crossroads. This evaluation is included herein as Appendix A. For purposes of air quality impacts, the Traffic Evaluation concludes that the elimination of the identified project components, the addition of the hotel and the conversion of the Lake Towers and low-rise Montage condominiums to apartment uses will result in a total of 83 fewer trips in the AM peak hour, 105 trips in the PM peak hour and 758 fewer trips on a daily basis. The revised project will result in less air quality impacts due to traffic emissions than the project approved in the EIR. a) Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? (No • Substantial Change from Previous Analysis) Since the certification of the EIR, additional legislation requires the analysis of potential greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts due to development. State of California Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), known as the Global Warming Solutions Act, was passed in August 2006. AB 32 requires that levels of GHG be reduced to1990 levels by the year 2020. There are currently no federal regulations on the reduction of GHG to reduce their effects on global climate changes. Senate Bill 97 (SB 97) requires that the Governor's Office of Planning and Research develop guidelines for CEQA compliance related to GHG emissions, including mitigation measures for the reduction of GHG. The guidelines are required to be prepared on or before July 1, 2009. Global climate change in the weather of the earth can be measured by wind patterns, storms, precipita- tion and temperature. Climatic factors are divided between those caused primarily by human activity (such as greenhouse gas emissions and aerosol emissions) and those caused by natural forces (such as solar irradiance). A primary cause of greenhouse gas emissions is the burning of fossil fuels. There is currently no single model that is capable of estimating all of a project's direct and indirect GHG emissions.' The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association whitepaper notes that one of the most consistently used models for emissions estimates is the Urban Emissions Model (URBEMIS).z The URBEMIS model was used in the EIR to assess emissions for the project. URBEMIS is designed to model emissions associated with development of urban land uses. URBEMIS attempts to summarize criteria air pollutants and COZ emissions that would occur during construction and operation of new development. This model was developed and approved by the California Air ' California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, CEQA & Climate Change (Evaluating and AddressiQQng • z Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Projects Subject to the California Environmental Quali est Put on ZZ~9-025 Ibid. ~ ~ moo. Page 31 of 95 MacArthur Place South EIR Addendum 33