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City of Santa Ana <br />Methodology <br />Environmental Checklist <br />Section 15064.4 of the State CEQA Guidelines establishes a two -step process for the determination <br />of significance of greenhouse gas emissions. First, it requires lead agencies to calculate or estimate <br />the overall magnitude of a project's greenhouse gas emissions. Second, once the magnitude of <br />emissions has been estimated, it must analyze those emissions using applicable factors (i.e., does the <br />project increase or decrease emissions; does project emissions exceed an applicable threshold; does <br />the project comply with applicable regulations or an applicable plan). <br />Project - related GHG emissions were estimated using the CalEEMod software program, which <br />calculates CO2, CH¢ and N2O emissions, and presents said emissions in terms of CO2e. <br />Following the methodology prescribed by the SCAQMD CEQA Significance Threshold Working <br />Group, project emissions calculated include direct and indirect emissions during short -term <br />construction and long -term project operations. Construction emissions were amortized over the life <br />of the project, defined as 30 years, and added to the operational emissions to obtain total annual <br />GHG emissions. In order to accurately reflect the respective emissions profile from the different <br />operational footprints (Phase I for the first 5 years of operation, and then the completed project), <br />the operational emissions for Phase I and the completed project were weighted accordingly. <br />Thresholds of Significance <br />CEQA Guidelines do not provide numeric or qualitative thresholds of significance for GHG. However, <br />AB 32 requires that greenhouse gases emitted in California be reduced to 1990 levels by the year <br />2020 and 80 %t below 1990 levels by 2050. The 2020 reduction target equates to a decrease of <br />approximately 28.5% below the business -as -usual GHG emissions. Business -as -usual is defined as <br />the emissions that would be expected to occur in the absence of any GHG reduction measures. <br />The OPR Technical Advisory on CEQA and Climate Change suggests that in absence of regulatory <br />guidance or standards, lead agencies such as the City of Santa Ana must undertake a project -by- <br />project analysis that is consistent with available guidance and current CEQA practice to ascertain <br />project impacts under CEQA. As such, for determining whether the project will generate GHG <br />emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant effect on the environment, the <br />overall AB 32 target reduction goal of 28.5% below business -as -usual at the year 2020 threshold <br />will be used. <br />Impacts and Mitigation Measures <br />a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a <br />significant impact on the environment? <br />Less - than - Signifi cant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. Construction of the proposed project <br />would generate GHG emissions through the use of onsite heavy -duty construction equipment and <br />offsite vehicle trips generated from construction workers, as well as haul /delivery trucks that travel <br />to and from the project site. Mobile source emissions would result from the use of construction <br />equipment such as graders, scrapers, bulldozers, wheeled loaders, cranes, etc. Construction of the <br />proposed project would take approximately 24 months to complete, over two phases (Phase 1 -13 <br />months, and Phase 11 -12 months). Operation of the proposed project is expected to result in <br />emissions of GHG emissions related to vehicular trips (i.e., mobile - source emissions) and energy <br />I ne Acaaemy Charter High School 3 45 June 2012 <br />Initial5tudy /Mitigated Negative Declaration ICF00914.11 <br />31 B -121 <br />