BOARD MEETING DATE: May 3, 2002
AGENDA NO. 19

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 February 1, 2002, and February 28, 2002, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.

COMMITTEE: 

Mobile Source, March 22, 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 February 1, 2002, through February 28, 2002, 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 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 February 1, 2002, through February 28, 2002, the AQMD received 57 CEQA documents. Of the total of 80 documents listed in Attachments A and B:

• 10 comment letters were sent;
• 28 documents were reviewed, but no comments were made;
• 27 documents are currently under review;
• 12 document did not require comments (e.g. public notices, plot plans,
      Final EIRs); and
•   3 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 February the AQMD did not certify any CEQA documents for stationary source permit application projects. The AQMD received one new request to be lead agency for a permit application project. Through the end of February, 2002, the AQMD continued working on CEQA documents for three active projects.

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

1. Incoming CEQA Documents Log
2. Ongoing Active Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Conduct a CEQA Review
3. Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects

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