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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 March 2, 2000, and April 1, 2000, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE: 

Mobile Source, April 28, 2000, 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 March 2, 2000, through April 1, 2000, is contained in Attachment A. 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 March 2, 2000, through April 1, 2000, the AQMD received 60 CEQA documents. Of the total of 78 documents listed in Attachments A and B, a review has been, or will be, conducted for 33 (42 percent) of these documents. Staff currently intends to provide comments for 30 (38 percent) of the 78 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, which is considered a final version, was distributed to Working Group members on July 21, 1999. All work on the Handbook has been suspended because staff is working on other AQMD and non-AQMD permit projects.

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 March, the AQMD received two requests to be lead agency for permit application projects. As noted in Attachment C, through the end of March 2000, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for eight active projects. One project is still on hold at the project proponent’s request.

For 1999, the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified one CEQA document for a stationary source permit project. To date in 2000, no CEQA documents have been certified.

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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