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 1, 2002, and March 31, 2002, and April 1, 2002 through April 30, 2002, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE: 

Mobile Source, May 24, 2002

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 1, 2002, through March 31, 2002 is contained in Attachment A. Because of the change in Board Hearing Dates that began in 2002 and to reduce the lag time between the Board Hearing date and the most recent monthly listing of CEQA documents received by the AQMD, CEQA documents received for review by the AQMD in April are also included in this Board agenda title. A listing of all documents received during the reporting period of April 1, 2002, through April 30, 2002 is contained in Attachment A-1. 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 focuses 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 1, 2002, through March 31, 2002, the AQMD received 65 CEQA documents. Of the total of 65 documents listed in Attachment A:

• 15 comment letters were sent;
• 32 documents were reviewed, but no comments were made;
• 26 documents are currently under review;
• 14 documents did not require comments (e.g. public notices, plot plans, Final EIRs); and
•   9 documents were not reviewed.

During the period April 1, 2002, through April 30, 2002, the AQMD received 44 CEQA documents. Of the total of 44 documents listed in Attachment A-1:

• 10 comment letters were sent;
• 39 documents were reviewed, but no comments were made;
• 24 documents are currently under review;
•   4 document did not require comments (e.g. public notices, plot plans, Final EIRs); and
•   0 documents were reviewed.

Attachment B lists documents currently under review from previous reporting periods. Of the total of 64 documents listed in Attachment B:

•   7 comment letters were sent;
• 50 documents were reviewed, but no comments were made;
•   4 documents are currently under review;
•   0 documents required comments (e.g. public notices, plot plans, Final EIRs); and
•   0 documents were 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 (ND) 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 (MND) may be prepared if the AQMD determines that the proposed project will not generate significant adverse environmental impacts, or the air quality impacts can be mitigated to less than significance. 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 March the AQMD certified one CEQA document for stationary source permit application project. Through the end of March, 2002, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for two active projects. . As noted in Attachment C-1, in April the AQMD certified one CEQA document for stationary source permit application project. Through the end of April, 2002, the AQMD continued working on the CEQA document for one active project.

In 2001, the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified a total of 11 CEQA documents for stationary source permit projects. To date in 2002 the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified one CEQA document for a stationary source permit project.

Attachments

A. Incoming CEQA Documents Log
A-1 Incoming CEQA Documents Log
B. Continuing Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Submit Comments – Not Included
C. Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects

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