South Coast Air Quality Management District

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 16, 2001, and April 15, 2001, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE: 

Mobile Source, May 25, 2001

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 16, 2001, through April 15, 2001, 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.

The Intergovernmental Review function, which consists of reviewing and commenting on CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies, is consistent with the Board’s Environmental Justice Guiding Principles and Initiative #4. 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 16, 2001, through April 15, 2001, the AQMD received 52 CEQA documents. Of the total of 69 documents listed in Attachments A and B:

• 13 comment letters were sent;
•   7 documents were reviewed, but no comments were warranted;
• 24 documents are currently under review;
• 10 documents did not require comments (e.g. public notices, plot plans, Final EIRs); and
• 15 documents were not reviewed.

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, in April the AQMD received no requests to be lead agency for any projects. Through the end of April, 2001, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for six active projects. The CEQA document for one project was certified during this time.

To date in 2001, the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified five CEQA documents for stationary source permit projects.

Attachments

1. Incoming CEQA Documents Log
2. Continuing Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Submit Comments
3. Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects

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