November 17, 1995

South Coast Air Quality

Management District Board

This report provides for the Governing Board's consideration a listing of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents received by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) between September 6, 1995 and October 3, 1995 and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

EIR and Document Log (Attachments A and B)

Each month, the AQMD receives numerous CEQA documents from other public agencies on projects which could adversely affect air quality. In the past, AQMD staff reviewed many of these documents and commented upon the air quality analyses and possible impacts on the air quality of the district.

Due to staffing constraints, the AQMD is no longer able to routinely comment on the CEQA documents received. The publication of the Board-approved CEQA Air Quality Handbook, however, has provided local governments and other public agencies with the necessary information to prepare appropriate air quality analyses on projects for which they act as lead agency. As resources permit, staff prepares comments for those projects which may have significant regional air quality impacts (e.g., special event centers, landfills) and those projects for which a lead or responsible agency has specifically requested AQMD review. Monthly listings which are shaded note those CEQA documents for which the AQMD staff has or will prepare and submit comments to the lead agency. A list of active projects from previous months upon which AQMD staff are continuing to comment is included as Attachment B. A new column has been added to this report in response to Board member request. The column captioned "contacts" identifies entities that have contacted the AQMD with comments about the proposed project. A notation of 1 following the contact indicates the contact was supportive of the proposed project. A notation of 2 indicates the party was opposed or expressed concerns about the project.

AQMD Lead Agency Projects (Attachment C)

Pursuant to CEQA, the AQMD periodically acts as lead agency on stationary source permit projects. 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.

Under CEQA the lead agency is responsible for determining whether an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or a Negative Declaration is necessary 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 a significant adverse effect on the environment. A Negative Declaration may be prepared if the AQMD determines that the proposed project will not generate significant adverse environmental impacts. The Negative Declaration is a written statement describing the reasons a proposed project will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment and, therefore, does not require the preparation of an EIR.

As noted in Attachment C, during September 1995, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for two (2) active projects. A request has been received by the AQMD to become lead agency for a proposed project at the Mobil Oil Refinery in Torrance. A determination of whether the AQMD will act as lead agency has not yet been made.

To date in 1995, the AQMD, as lead agency, has prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified four (4) CEQA documents.

THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD

--Receive and file the attached Report.

Respectfully,

James M. Lents, Ph.D.

Executive Officer

BRW:CSL:CG:JDN:li

Attachments

(novcqbl)