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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 November 7, 1997 and December 2, 1997, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, December 11, 1997, received and filed.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D. Env.
Acting Executive Officer

Background

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. A listing of all documents received for review during the past month is contained in Attachment A. 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 for which AQMD staff is continuing to evaluate or prepare comments is included as Attachment B. 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.

Consistent with the Board’s Environmental Justice Guiding Principles and Initiative #4, the AQMD has reconstructed its CEQA Intergovernmental Review and commenting function as a responsible/commenting agency. The Intergovernmental Review function of commenting on CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies will become the responsibility of the Transportation Programs Division. As intended by Initiative #4, the AQMD will begin to pursue a more active role in evaluating CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies. In particular, staff will evaluate and may prepare 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.

Planning and Policy staff, who formerly performed the Intergovernmental Review function, will continue to prepare CEQA documents for permit projects, as necessary, and other projects where the AQMD is determined to be the lead agency. Further, Planning and Policy staff will continue to be responsible for revising and updating the Board-approved CEQA Air Quality Handbook.

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 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 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 November , the AQMD received a request to be lead agency for two new projects. As noted in Attachment C, through November 1997, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for four active projects.

To date in 1997, the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified six CEQA documents for stationary source permit projects.

Attachments

A. Environmental Impact Report and Document Log

B. Active Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Submit Comments

C. Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects

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