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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 2, 1998, and December 1, 1998, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, November 17, 1998, Received and Filed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

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 November 2, 1998, through December 1, 1998, is contained in Attachment A. Listings which are shaded note those CEQA documents for which the AQMD staff has or intends to prepare and submit comments to the lead agency. 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 for which AQMD staff is continuing to evaluate or prepare comments is included as Attachment B.

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 as a first priority and provide more general comments for other projects.

During the period November 2, 1998, through December 1, 1998, Planning and Policy received 44 CEQA documents. Of these documents, no agencies requested AQMD comments. A review has been, or will be, conducted for 28 (64%) of these documents. Staff intends to provide comments for 7 (25%) of the 28 documents. Within this current reporting period, four comment letters were sent by the AQMD.

Planning and Policy staff is also continuing to prepare CEQA documents for permit projects, as necessary, and other projects where the AQMD is determined to be the lead agency.

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. As noted in Attachment C, through the end of November 1998, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for three active projects.

As of December 1, 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. Active Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Submit Comments
C. Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects

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