2014-069 - Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2014-01

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HARBOR BLVD. MIXED USE TRANSIT CORRIDOR PLAN FINAL FIR CITY OF SANTA ANA 5. Environmental Analysis AIR QUALITY 5.2.3 Environmental Impacts Methodology This air quality evaluation was prepared in accordance with the requirements of CEQA to determine if significant air quality impacts are likely to occur in conjunction with the type and scale of development within the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan. SCAQMD has published the CEQA Air Quality Handbook (Handbook) and updates on its website to provide local governments with guidance for analyzing and mitigating project specific air quality impacts. The Handbook provides standards, methodologies, and procedures for conducting air quality analyses in environmental impact reports and was used extensively in the preparation of this analysis. The SCAQMD has published two additional guidance documents Localised Significance Threshold Methodology for CEQA Evaluations (2003) and Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 Significance Thresholds and Calculation Methodology (2006) that are intended to provide guidance in evaluating localized effects from emissions generated by a project. These documents were also used in the preparation of this analysis. The analysis also makes use of the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2011.1.1, for determination of daily construction and operational emissions. The following impact analysis addresses thresholds of significance for which the Initial Study disclosed potentially significant impacts. The applicable thresholds are identified in brackets after the impact statement. Impact 5.2 -1: Construction activities associated with the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan would generate short-term emissions that exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District's VOC and NO. regional thresholds and would significantly contribute to the particulate matter (PM,o and PM2.5), ozone (03), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) nonattainment designations of the SoCAB. [Thresholds AQ -2 and AQ -3] ImpactAnalysis: A project would normally have a significant effect on the environment if it violates any air quality standard or contributes substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation. Construction activities produce combustion emissions from various sources, such as onsite heavy -duty construction vehicles, vehicles hauling materials to and from the site, and motor vehicles transporting the construction crew. Site preparation activities produce fugitive dust emissions (PM,o and PM25) from grading and excavation and from demolition. Exhaust emissions from construction onsite would vary daily. Construction activities would temporarily increase PM,o, PM? 5, VOC, NOx, Sox, and CO regional emissions within the SoCAB. Construction activities associated with buildout of the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan are anticipated to occur sporadically over an approximately 20 -year period or longer. Buildout would comprise multiple smaller projects, each having its own construction timeline and activities. Development of multiple properties could occur at the same time. However, there is no defined development schedule for these future projects at this time. For this analysis, the maximum emissions are based a very conservative worst case scenario, where overlap of all construction phases occur at the same time. An estimate of maximum daily construction emissions is provided in Table 5.2 -8. October 2014 Page 5.2 -15