BOARD MEETING DATE: June 6, 2003
AGENDA NO. 21
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 April 1, 2003, and April 30, 2003, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency pursuant to CEQA.
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 April 1, 2003, through April 30, 2003, 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 the adequacy of the air quality analysis in CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies, is consistent with the Governing Board’s 1997 Environmental Justice Guiding Principles and Initiative #4. Consistent with the Environmental Justice Program Enhancements for Fiscal Year 2002-2003 approved by the Governing Board in September 2002, each of the attachments notes those proposed projects where the AQMD has been contacted regarding potential air quality-related environmental justice concerns. The AQMD has established an internal central contact to receive information on projects with potential air quality-related environmental justice concerns. The public may contact the AQMD about projects of concern by the following means: in writing via fax, e-mail, or standard letters; through telephone communication; as part of oral comments at AQMD meetings or other meetings where AQMD staff is present; or submitting newspaper articles. With input from the public, the AQMD will identify in the future types of projects or projects in specific geographical areas that will automatically be highlighted. The attachments also identify for each project the dates of the public comment period and the public hearing date, if known at the time the CEQA document is received by the AQMD.
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.); that may have localized or toxic air quality impacts (e.g., warehouse and distribution centers); where environmental justice concerns have been raised; and those projects for which a lead or responsible agency has specifically requested AQMD review.
During the period April 1, 2003, through April 30, 2003, the AQMD received 53 CEQA documents. Of the total of 78 documents listed in Attachments A and B:
- 14 comment letters were sent;
- 28 documents were reviewed, but no comments were made;
- 31 documents are currently under review;
- 4 documents did not require comments (e.g., public notices, plot plans,
Final Environmental Impact Reports); and - 1 document was not reviewed.
Copies of all comment letters sent to lead agencies can be found on the AQMD's CEQA webpage at the following internet address: www.aqmd.gov/ceqa/letters/html.
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 ND 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 impacts can be mitigated to less than significance. The ND 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 April the AQMD received one request to be the lead agency for a stationary source permit application project. In April, the CEQA documents for two permit application projects were certified. As noted in Attachment C, through the end of April 2003, the AQMD continued working on the CEQA documents for four active projects.
To date in 2003, the AQMD, as lead agency, has prepared or contracted for the preparation of and certified three CEQA documents for stationary source permit projects.
- Incoming CEQA Documents Log
- Ongoing Active Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Conduct a CEQA Review
- Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects
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