HUD Region IX Environmental Review Training April 20, 2016 Jillian Wong & Jack Cheng South Coast Air Quality Management District South Coast Air Quality Management District SCAQMD is a multi-county agency responsible for achieving state and federal air quality standards 1
Background South Coast Air Basin currently exceeds federal air quality standards for: Ozone PM2.5 Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study IV http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/air-quality-datastudies/health-studies/mates-iv Substantial progress in reducing exposure to air toxics Diesel particulate exposure still the major contributor to air toxics risk Ports Transportation corridors 2
SCAQMD s CEQA IGR Program Receive ~100 CEQA/NEPA documents per month Review air quality and GHG analyses, and HRAs Consistency with project description and completeness, review land use compatibility Emissions calculations, methodology of analysis, and correct use of models Review other sections (traffic/transportation, noise, and energy) that may affect air quality for consistency Ensure sufficient mitigation measures for significant air quality impacts All comment letters published online at: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/ceqa/commentingagency/comment-letter-year-2016 Determining Significance of Air Quality Impacts SCAQMD s Significance Thresholds SCAQMD s CEQA guidance is available at: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/ceqa/airquality-analysis-handbook http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/defaultsource/ceqa/handbook/scaqmd-air-qualitysignificance-thresholds.pdf Regional and Localized Air Quality Thresholds Toxic Air Contaminant Thresholds Air Quality Conformity 3
Regional Significance Thresholds Peak daily emissions all offsite & onsite sources Conformity annual emissions by calendar year Pollutant Construction (lb/day) Operation (lb/day) De Minimis Level (tpy) NOx 100 55 10 VOC 75 55 10 PM10 150 150 100 PM2.5 55 55 100 SOx 150 150 100 CO 550 550 100 Lead 3 3 25 Localized Significance Thresholds LSTs established by SCAQMD Board as voluntary guidance Limited to onsite sources LSTs based on daily emissions levels LST tables provide the threshold value for each criteria pollutant for projects <5 acres in SCAQMD at distances out to 500 m (available at: http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/defaultsource/ceqa/handbook/localized-significancethresholds/appendix-c-mass-rate-lst-look-up-tables.pdf) 4
Project Emission Sources and Data Emission Sources Short-term Construction Long-term Operation Emission Factors EPA AP-42 CARB EMFAC2014 Emission factors change over time CalEEMod Calculates criteria pollutant and GHG emissions from construction and operation of most land use projects Does not assess toxic emissions or industrial processes Emissions must be calculated outside of CalEEMod Calculates the benefits from mitigation measures Training materials, user guide, etc. available at: www.caleemod.com Technical questions can be emailed to: inquiry@caleemod.com 5
CalEEMod Demonstration Air Quality Mitigation Measures Dust Mitigation Rule 403 measures and other onsite measures http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/ceqa/air-quality-analysishandbook/mitigation-measures-and-control-efficiencies Tailpipe Exhaust Mitigation Reduction in travel Cleaner off-road equipment Green Policies approved by LA Metro, Ports of LA & LB http://media.metro.net/projects_studies/sustainability/images/gree n_construction_policy.pdf 6
Health Risk Assessment (HRA) HRAs evaluate the chance or probability that a person will experience a health effect SCAQMD methodology for conducting a HRA is available here: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/permits/risk-assessment SCAQMD methodology for conducting a mobile source HRA is available here: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/ceqa/air-quality-analysishandbook/mobile-source-toxics-analysis CAPCOA methodology for HRAs for land use projects is available here: http://www.capcoa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/03/capcoa_hra_lu_guidelines_8-6-09.pdf Updated OEHHA Guidance for HRA is available here: http://oehha.ca.gov/air/hot_spots/hotspots2015.html Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC) Thresholds Maximum incremental cancer risk of 10 in 1 million Chronic & Acute Hazard Index of 1 Cancer burden of 0.5 within the 1 in 1 million contour Must consider the health risks to receptors (residential and worker) from all TACs emitted by the project Stationary sources - power plants, refineries, dry cleaners, gas stations, and spray booths. Mobile sources - diesel trucks, trains, ships, and off-road equipment. 7
Siting of Incompatible Land Uses Consider health risk of placing sensitive receptors near TAC sources (i.e. roadways, warehouses, etc) Recent Court Ruling on Reverse CEQA: California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015) 62 Cal.4th 369, Case No. S213478. CEQA lead agencies retain the authority to include additional information SCAQMD staff recommends that air quality impacts on new receptors be analyzed & disclosed CARB Land Use Recommendations Avoid siting sensitive receptors within: 500 feet of a freeway, urban roads with 100,000 vehicles/day, or rural roads with 50,000 vehicles/day 1,000 feet of a distribution center 1 mile of a rail yard 1,000 feet of a chrome plater 300 feet of a dry cleaner or large gas station Downwind of ports or refineries California ARB Land Use Handbook available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/ch/handbook.pdf 8
Limitations of TAC Mitigation Measures High Efficiency HVAC Filters (MERV 15+) Higher costs than typical filters HVAC system must be running, increasing energy costs Do not filter out toxic gases Do not reduce exposure when windows are open or outdoors Vegetative Barriers Effectiveness depends on meteorological conditions Some configurations may result in an increase in TAC concentrations Jillian Wong, Ph.D., Program Supervisor jwong1@aqmd.gov; 909-396-3176 Jack Cheng, Air Quality Specialist jcheng@aqmd.gov; 909-396-2448 South Coast Air Quality Management District 21865 Copley Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 9