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REPORT:

Lead Agency Projects and Environmental Documents Received by the AQMD

SYNOPSIS: 

This report provides, for the Board’s consideration, a listing of CEQA documents received by the AQMD between August 2, 1999, and September 1, 1999, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE: 

Mobile Source, September 24, 1999, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

CEQA Document Receipt and Review Logs (Attachments A and B) - Each month, the AQMD receives numerous CEQA documents from other public agencies on projects that could adversely affect air quality. A listing of all documents received during the reporting period of August 2, 1999, through September 1, 1999, is contained in Attachment A. The column captioned "Public Concerns" indicates whether or not the public has contacted the AQMD with concerns or issues about the proposed project. A notation of 1 in this column indicates the contact was supportive of the project noted. A notation of 2 indicates the party was opposed or expressed concerns about the project. A notation of 3 indicates that no one contacted the AQMD about that project. A list of active projects from previous reporting periods for which AQMD staff is continuing to evaluate or prepare comments is included as Attachment B.

Consistent with the Board’s Environmental Justice Guiding Principles and Initiative #4, the AQMD reconstructed its CEQA Intergovernmental Review and commenting function as a responsible/commenting agency in January 1998. The Intergovernmental Review function consists of reviewing and commenting on CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies. The Intergovernmental Review function is the responsibility of the CEQA section in Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources. As resources permit, staff will focus on reviewing and preparing comments for projects: where the AQMD is a responsible agency; that may have significant adverse regional air quality impacts (e.g., special event centers, landfills, etc.); and those projects for which a lead or responsible agency has specifically requested AQMD review.

During the period August 2, 1999, through September 1, 1999, the AQMD received 65 CEQA documents. Of the total of 84 documents listed in Attachments A and B, a review has been, or will be, conducted for 62 (73 percent) of these documents. Staff currently intends to provide comments for 38 (45 percent) of the 84 documents. Within this current reporting period, 24 comment letters were sent by the AQMD.

Staff is continuing its responsibilities for revising and updating the AQMD CEQA Air Quality Handbook. Staff has prepared a first draft of the revised Handbook. The revised Handbook was distributed for review to the Handbook Revision Working Group in November 1998. Staff has incorporated Working Group members’ comments into the draft revised Handbook. The second version of revised chapters 2-4 was distributed to Working Group members on July 21, 1999.

AQMD Lead Agency Projects (Attachment C) - Pursuant to CEQA, the AQMD periodically acts as lead agency for stationary source permit projects. Under CEQA, the lead agency is responsible for determining whether an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or a Negative Declaration is appropriate for any proposal considered to be a "project" as defined by CEQA. An EIR is prepared when the AQMD as lead agency finds substantial evidence that the proposed project may have significant adverse effects on the environment. A Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration may be prepared if the AQMD determines that the proposed project will not generate significant adverse environmental impacts or it can be modified such that it does not generate significant adverse environmental effects. The Negative Declaration is a written statement describing the reasons why a proposed project will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment and, therefore, does not require the preparation of an EIR.

Attachment C to this report summarizes the active projects for which the AQMD is lead agency and is currently preparing or has prepared environmental documentation. In July, the AQMD did not receive any requests to be the lead agency for any stationary sources permit projects. As noted in Attachment C, through the end of August 1999, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for four active projects. No CEQA documents for stationary source projects have been certified to date in 1999.

For 1998, the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified six CEQA documents for stationary source permit projects.

Attachments

A. Incoming CEQA Documents Log
B. Continuing Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Submit Comments
C. Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects

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