2014-028 - Approving General Plan Amendement No. 2014-01

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Climate City of Santa Ana -Park View at Town and Country Manor Draft EIR • A rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of coastal businesses and residences. During the past century, sea levels along California's coast have risen about seven inches. If heat - trapping emissions continue unabated and temperatures rise into the higher warming range, sea level is expected to rise an additional 22 to 35 inches by the end of the century. Elevations of this magnitude would inundate coastal areas with salt water, accelerate coastal erosion, threaten vital levees and inland water systems, and disrupt wetlands and natural habitats. • Damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment. • An increase in infections, disease, asthma, and other health - related problems. • A decrease in the health and productivity of California's forests. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are referred to as greenhouse gases. The effect is analogous to the way a greenhouse retains heat. Common greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrotluorocarbons, pertluorocarbons, sulfur hexatluoride, ozone, and aerosols. Natural processes and human activities emit greenhouse gases. The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere affects the earth's temperature. Without the natural heat trapping effect of greenhouse gas, the earth's surface would be about 340C cooler. However, it is believed that emissions from human activities, such as electricity production and vehicle use, have elevated the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere beyond the level of naturally occurring concentrations. The global warming potential (GWP) is the potential of a gas or aerosol to trap heat in the atmosphere. Individual greenhouse gas compounds have varying GWP and atmospheric lifetimes. Carbon dioxide, the reference gas for GWP, has a GWP of 1. The calculation of the carbon dioxide equivalent is a consistent methodology for comparing greenhouse gas emissions since it normalizes various greenhouse gas emissions to a consistent metric. Methane's warming potential of 21 indicates that methane has a 21 times greater warming affect than carbon dioxide on a molecule per molecule basis. A carbon dioxide equivalent is the mass emissions of an individual greenhouse gas multiplied by its GWP. Greenhouse gases that may be emitted by the project are summarized in Table 4.8 -1. Table 4.8.1: Greenhouse Gases reenh a Description and Physical Properties Sources Carbon Carbon dioxide is an odorless, colorless, natural Natural sources include decomposition dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide's GWP is 1. of dead organic matter; respiration of The concentration in 2005 was 379 parts per bacteria, plants, animals, and fungus; million (ppm), which is an increase of about 1.4 evaporation from oceans; and volcanic ppm per year since 1960. Carbon dioxide from outgassing. Anthropogenic sources are fossil fuels contributed 81% of greenhouse gas from burning coal, oil, natural gas, and emissions in 2004 in California (CEC 2006). wood. 4.8 -2 Michael Brandman Associates H t(PN Rnb327b32700M%DEnib32700306ee01 Clvre Ch ged