Item 28 - Public Hearing - ZOA No. 20204-01 South Coast Technology Center

Home Browse Search

South Coast Technology Center Project CEQA Exemption 15183 As noted in the Brief of Amicus Curiae by the SCAQMD, the SCAQMD acknowledged it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to quantify health impacts of criteria pollutants for various reasons including modeling limitations as well as where in the atmosphere air pollutants interact and form.' Further, as noted in the Brief of Amicus Curiae by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD), SJVAPCD has acknowledged that currently available modeling tools are not equipped to provide a meaningful analysis of the correlation between an individual development project's air emissions and specific human health impacts.' The SCAQMD acknowledges that health effects quantification from 03, as an example, is correlated with the increases in ambient level of 03 in the air (concentration) that an individual person breathes. SCAQMD's Brief of Amicus Curiae states that it would take a large amount of additional emissions to cause a modeled increase in ambient 03 levels over the entire region. The SCAQMD further states that based on their own modeling in the SCAQMD's 2012 Air Quality Management Plan, a reduction of 432 tons (864,000 pounds) per day of NOx and a reduction of 187 tons (374,000 pounds) per day of VOCs would reduce 03 levels at highest monitored site by only nine parts per billion. As such, the SCAQMD concludes that it is not currently possible to accurately quantify 03-related health impacts caused by NOx or VOC emissions from relatively small projects (defined as projects with regional scope) due to photochemistry and regional model limitations. Thus, as the Project would not exceed SCAQMD thresholds for construction and operational air emissions, the Project would have a less than significant impact for air quality health impacts. Impact Summary In conclusion, construction and operational impacts resulting from the proposed Project would not result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the Project region is nonattainment. Project impacts would be less than significant and less than the impacts disclosed in the GPU PEIR, which were determined to be significant and unavoidable despite inclusion of mitigation. As such, no new project -specific mitigation measures are required. LOCALIZED POLLUTANTS AND SENSITIVE RECEPTORS Sensitive receptors are defined as facilities or land uses that include members of the population that are particularly sensitive to the effects of air pollutants, such as children, the elderly, and people with illnesses. Examples of these sensitive receptors are residences, schools, hospitals, and daycare centers. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has identified the following groups of individuals as the most likely to be affected by air pollution: the elderly over 65, children under 14, athletes, and persons with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. The nearest sensitive receptor to the Project Site is the existing Calvary Chapel High School located approximately 100 feet to the east of the Project Site. South Coast Air Quality Management District, Application of the South Coast Air Quality Management District for Leave to File Brief of Amicus Curiae in Support of Neither Party and Brief of Amicus Curiae. In the Supreme Court of California. Sierra Club, Revive the San Joaquin, and League of Women Voters of Fresno v. County of Fresno, April 3, 2015. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Application for Leave to File Brief of Amicus Curiae Brief of San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District in Support of Defendant and Respondent, County of Fresno and Real Party In Interest and Respondent, Friant Ranch, L.P. In the Supreme Court of California. Sierra Club, Revive the San Joaquin, and League of Women Voters of Fresno v. County of Fresno, April 13, 2015. July 2024 Page 26