Draft Environmental Impact Report - East Bay Municipal Utility District

Estates Reservoir Replacement Draft Environmental Impact ReportAir QualityThe San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin is in NAAQS attainment except for 9-hourozone, 24-hour PM 10 , and 24-hour PM 2.5 , as shown in Table 3.7-1. In general, theBay Area experiences low concentrations of most pollutants when compared to federalstandards, except for ozone and particulate matter, for which standards are exceededperiodically.State StandardsIn 1988, the state legislature passed the California Clean Air Act (California Health andSafety Code Section 39600 et seq.), which, like its federal counterpart, called fordesignations of areas as attainment or nonattainment, based on state rather than federalstandards. As shown in Table 3.7-2, CAAQS tend to be at least as protective asNAAQS and often more stringent. The San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin is in CAAQSattainment except as listed in Table 3.7-2. In general, the Bay Area experiences lowconcentrations of most pollutants when compared to state standards, except for ozoneand particulate matter, for which standards are exceeded periodically. However,localized concentrations of carbon monoxide, also known as carbon monoxide“hotspots” may occur at heavily traveled roadways, particularly at intersections or otherlocations where the traffic is congested and vehicles idle for prolonged periods. Carbonmonoxide concentrations exceeding the existing standard may occur at intersections thatoperate at a LOS D or worse. Similar to the federal Clean Air Act, the California CleanAir Act also classifies areas according to pollution levels. Under the California CleanAir Act, the Bay Area is a “Serious” ozone nonattainment area and a state PM 10 andPM 2.5 nonattainment area.The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the state agency responsible forregulating air quality. CARB responsibilities include establishing CAAQS, emissionsstandards, and regulations for mobile emissions sources (e.g., autos, trucks, etc.) aswell as overseeing the efforts of countywide and multicounty air pollution controldistricts, which have primary responsibility over stationary sources. The emissionstandards most relevant to the proposed Project are those related to automobiles, lightandmedium-duty trucks, and California heavy-duty truck and construction equipmentengines. CARB also regulates vehicle fuels with the intent to reduce emissions.The BAAQMD is the regional agency responsible for air quality regulation within theSan Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. The BAAQMD regulates air quality through itsplanning and review activities. The BAAQMD has permit authority over most typesof stationary emission sources and can require stationary sources to obtain permits; itcan also impose emission limits, set fuel or material specifications, or establishoperational limits to reduce air emissions. The BAAQMD regulates new or expandingstationary sources of toxic air contaminants.For state air quality planning purposes, the Bay Area is classified by the CaliforniaClean Air Act as a nonattainment area for ozone. The “Serious” classification triggersthe requirement that the Bay Area update the Clean Air Plan (CAP) to reflect progressin meeting the air quality standards and to incorporate new information regarding thesb09_001.doc 3-7.6 7/22/2009