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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 94-090 - Amending its General Plan of the COR by adopting the Air Quality Element RESOLUTION NO. 94- 90 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF REDDING BY ADOPTING AN AIR QUALITY ELFKKN'r. WHEREAS, following the required public hearings, the Planning Commission of the City of Redding recommended to the City Council that the City' s General Plan be amended by adopting an Air Quality Element; and WHEREAS, following the required notices in accordance with law, the City Council held a public hearing on the recommendation, and has carefully considered the evidence at said hearing; and WHEREAS, it is believed that the Air Quality Element is in compliance with the State of California Air Quality Management laws; the Shasta County Air Quality Attainment Plan of the Air Quality Management District; and the Shasta County Congestion Management Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Redding hereby adopts the Air Quality Element attached hereto, together with any additions or amendments that Council may direct in its Motion. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was, introduced, read, and adopted at a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 13th day of April, 1994, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Anderson, Kehoe and Moss NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Arness and Dahl ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None _ z pr ROBERT C. ANDERSON, Vice Mayor City of Redding AST: FO APPROVED: 1 CONNIE STROHMAYER, y Clerk RA6ALL A. HAYS, City Attorney r AIR UALITY LLEMENT ' OFTHE i A REDDING UENERAL, t ,L n sw iAQS_ i Department of Planning and Community Development- February evelopmentFebruary 1.994; Adopted by the Redding Planning Commission on February 8, 1994 Adopted by the'Redding City Council on'April 13, 1994 AIR QUALITY ELEMENT OF THE REDDING GENERAL PLAN 1 Department of Planning and Community Development January 1994 Adopted by the Redding Planning Commission on February 8, 1994 Adopted by the Redding City Council on April 13, 1994 RESOLUTION NO. 94- 90 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF REDDING BY ADOPTING AN AIR QUALITY Fr.tME:NT. 1 WHEREAS, following the required public hearings, the Planning Commission of the City of Redding recommended to the City Council that the City' s General Plan be amended by adopting an Air Quality Element; and WHEREAS, following the required notices in accordance with law, the City Council held a public hearing on the recommendation, and has carefully considered the evidence at said hearing; and WHEREAS, it is believed that the Air Quality Element is in compliance with the State of California Air Quality Management laws; the Shasta County Air Quality Attainment Plan of the Air Quality Management District; and the Shasta County Congestion Management Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Redding hereby adopts the Air Quality Element attached hereto, together with any additions or amendments that Council may direct in its Motion. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was introduced, read, and adopted at a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 13th day of April, 1994, by the following vote: ' AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Anderson, Kehoe and 19oss NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Arness and Dahl ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 1 This instrument is a correct copy of the original on file in this office. ATTEST: A.P R 13 1994 /s/ Robert C. Anderson CONN STROMMAVER ROBERT C. ANDERSON, Vice Mayor Cm CLURK Awo CI94K OF TMt Cnv COUNC-L City of Redding O/T C Oir..C�UNTi O :'..ASfq 1 aT�It C RNi PUTY ATTEST: FORM APPROVED: ' 1s/ rnnj3iP Stmhmayer• /s/ Randall A. Hays CON_NIE STROHMAYER, City Clerk RANDALL A. SAYS, City Attorney TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 A. Purpose and Summary of Air Quality Element Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 B. Air Pollution and Its Significance 3 1. Ozone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 3 2. Particulates (PM,o) . . . . . . . . . . . 6 C. Urbanization, Weather, and Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 II. STATUTORY AIR QUALITY STANDARDS/MANDATED REQUIREMENTS . 8 A. State-Mandated Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 B. Federally Mandated Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 III. RELATIONSHIP OF AIR QUALITY ELEMENT TO OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL PLANS AND STATE/FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS . . . 13 A. Congestion Management Plan (CMP) 13 B. Transportation Control Measure Plan of CMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ' C. City General Plan Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 D. Shasta County General Plan Air Quality Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 E. Shasta County Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 F. Impact of Air Quality Laws on Transportation Funds (ISTEA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 G. Summary Relationship of Traffic and Air Quality Planning Coordination and Consistency Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 IV. EMISSION INVENTORY, OZONE TRANSPORT, AND EMISSION REDUCTION SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 A. Emission Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 B. Ozone Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 C. Emissions Reduction Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 V. FUTURE OUTLOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 A. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 B. Air Quality and the Cost of Sprawl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 C. Future Technological Advancements in Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 VI. ISSUES, GOALS, POLICIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 iA. Communication, Cooperation, and Coordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 B. Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 B C. Fugitive Dust/PM,o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 D. Wood Burning . 38 i VII. AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND BEST AVAILABLE ' MITIGATION MEASURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 A. Categories of Mitigation Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 B. Project Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 C. Steps for Air Quality Analysis and Project Mitigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 D. Recommended Standard Mitigation Measures (SMM) Available to All Projects . . . . 41 E. Residential Projects: Recommended Best Available Mitigation Measures (BAMM) . 42 F. Commercial/Industrial Projects: Recommended Best Available Mitigation Measures 43 G. URBEMIS Computer Program Assumptions and Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 H. Sample Calculation of Emission Reduction from Application of Best Available Mitigation Measures (BAMM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 I. Sample List of Projects and Associated Air Pollution Mitigations Using Air r Quality Element Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 J. Sources for Other SMM and BAMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 VIII. TRACKING CUMULATIVE EMISSIONS OF ALL APPROVED PROJECTS . 50 GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 APPENDICES: Adopted Air Quality Goals and Policies of City and County Plans (Separately Bound) 1. Requirements of the County's Congestion Management Plan ' 2. Rule 3:24 of the County's Air Quality Attainment Plan 3. County Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) 4. Elements of the Redding General Plan , 5. Shasta County Air Quality Element of the General Plan 6. Work Program of the County's Regional Transportation Planning Agency ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ' The preparation of this element was made possible by a grant from the Shasta County Regional Transportation Agency and Air Quality Management District. The grant funds originated from a countywide motor vehicle registration fee authorized by AB 2766. The fees can only be used to fund programs and projects that will reduce air emissions from motor vehicles directly or indirectly. Work on the draft element began in April 1993 with the formation of an advisory committee authorized by the City Council and appointed by Mayor Carl Arness. The Mayor's charge to each committee member set the stage for what was to be several months of meetings and rewrites of the draft document. In brief, the Mayor's charge was: ". . .to study the past and present trends, imagine the future, and propose a policy that will maintain our air quality. All of this must be done without sacrificing jobs, and I encourage you to focus on air quality planning as an opportunity to attract industry by touting the quality of life and air quality we enjoy and plan on protecting. As you approach your charge, please keep in mind that planning means little unless the implementation measures are effective, affordable, and equitable. A strong economy that features clean air and good planning is no small challenge and will be a formidable political challenge for members of the City Council, unless there is a reasonably shared community consensus regarding issues, solutions, and an ultimate vision of the future. Whatever policy and shared vision is developed, it must not jeopardize State and Federal funds for local transportation projects which are keyed to government mandates for improved air quality. Based on the diverse interests and talents of the advisory committee, I feel confident that the draft recommended policy will be the best that we can produce. " The following individuals, representing the interests of their affiliated agencies and organizations, accepted this challenge by contributing their time, constructive criticism, and solutions, all of which were sprinkled with many compromises: tAdvisory Committee Shasta Builders Exchange Citizens at Large Kent Dagg Lou Gerard Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce Shasta County Board of Realtors ' Tom Semingson, Frank Strazzarino, Jr., Marie Whitacre Michael Green Sierra Club American Association of University Women Kelly Clark, Vi Klasseen Susan Turner, Judy Ceragioli League of Women Voters Shasta Business Council Ruth Wingate Lance Fredricksen Tourism and Convention Commission Sacramento River Council Commissioner Warren Lane Tryg Slettland, John Carr iii Staff of Reviewing Agencies Shasta County . Shasta County Regional Transportation Jim Cook, Deputy Planning Director Planning Agency Dick Curry, John Stokes City of Anderson Tom Hart, Planning Director Caltrans Jerry Severson City of Shasta Lake Joe Hunter, Planning Director Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau John Gorman Redding Area Bus Authority Ray Duryee Redding Housing Authority Larry Morgon, Sarah Haddox Redding Public Works Department Doug Will, Don Curtis Economic Development Corporation Jim Zauher Air Quality Management District Mike Kussow Shasta County Department of Resource Management t Russ Mull Redding g P Planning Department Jim King, Project Coordinator Judy Huskey, Joy Gaskey, Secretaries iv PREFACE Imagine Redding in the year 2040. Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta will be sharp, white silhouettes as clearly seen from many Redding vantage points 50 miles away. The urban area of Redding may be complemented by the new cities of Bella Vista, Happy Valley, and Palo Cedro; and of course, the cities ' of Anderson and Shasta Lake will have greatly expanded. The distant hillsides and mountain ranges will be clearly visible and still forested; and there will be rural open-space areas between the Redding metropolitan area and outlying satellite communities. The rural greenbelt areas will be divided up into large ranchettes, and there will be concentrated areas of high density surrounded by open land with forested stands of oaks fed by numerous storm-water detention ponds and seasonal creeks defined by riparian corridors. Envision that the urban areas have distinct places of employment, housing, and shopping; that there is a light rail system linked to major shopping areas of the metropolitan area and other urban areas of the County without being interrupted by automobile grade crossings; and that perhaps the bus system of the metropolitan area will have a 15-minute interval between each bus. Imagine that there are livable high- density neighborhoods laid out so residents can bicycle or walk to school and work or even to the shopping mall; yet there is still room for electric and conventional combustion vehicles provided one is willing to walk along well-designed pedestrian corridors leading to a parking lot. Now, imagine that in 45 years, the State's population will have doubled and Redding's will have tripled to 240,000; and the metropolitan population will be 340,000. This growth assumes a declining annual growth rate ending with 1.7 percent in the year 2040. Finally, can you imagine fitting 340,000 people into the picture painted in the beginning of this discussion, using today's transportation and land-use policies? Will the air be as clean as it is today, or will Redding have serious air quality problems and traffic gridlock like the cities of Fresno and Sacramento, which have populations near 340,000? Will views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen become rarities occasioned by a recent rain or strong north to south winds to carry the pollutants down the valley; and if this happens, will our less urban southern neighbors tolerate the pollutants? What is the vision for the next 45 years? Is it somewhere in between two extremes, or can we hope that technology will somehow, by itself, solve the projected air quality and transportation problems? Transportation experts agree that we have squeezed all the emission efficiency out of today's automobiles, yet the increase in number of miles driven has wiped out these gains; and although many commuters will own an electric car as a second vehicle, this will not be enough to solve our air quality problems. Technological advancements in fuel and electric vehicle production could help save us, but only if we plan differently than we do today—modify our behavior and provide for future transportation infrastructure. This policy document responds to these questions and rises to the challenge of air quality planning for the next 5 to 25 years based on an understanding of what the community's population and growth will be in 45 years and the implications of the growth relative to air quality. It will have a positive effect on ' the air that our children and future generations will breathe, but only if there are broad citizen support and regional government coordination. v AIR QUALITY PLANNING ELEMENT OF THE REDDING GENERAL PLAN I. INTRODUCTION According to the Air Resources Field Research Office in North Carolina, the Sacramento Valley Air Basin has the highest air pollution potential in the United States because the area has over 70 air inversion days per year. The air basin, comprising 13 counties, is classified as being in violation of State ambient air quality standards. A violation of any one standard is termed "nonattainment." The limits of the air basin are determined by meteorological conditions, emission transport, and ' topography. The State Air Resources Board (ARB) has further divided the basin into two planning units called the Northern Sacramento Valley Planning Area and the Broader Sacramento Planning Area. These divisions are based on the degree of pollutant transport from one area of the basin to another and the varying degrees of emissions within each area. The northern area, which affects seven counties including Shasta County, is classified as "moderately" nonattainment for ozone and particulates. The southern area affects six counties and is classified as being a "serious" nonattainment area. The air pollution districts of each planning area have different State-mandated planning restrictions which must collectively reduce locally produced pollutants to levels of attainment for the planning areas. The map on the next page depicts the air basin and planning areas. On a local level, air quality in the Redding metropolitan area of Shasta County is a reflection of the population growth of the region and the surrounding counties and the fact that Redding is a central 11 place for urban demands including medical, retail, government, education, employment, housing, and transportation. The metropolitan area also draws customers from well beyond adjoining counties because of the outdoor recreational attractions of the North State. It should also be noted that the northern part of the valley is subject to significant ozone transport from the Broader Sacramento Planning Area. These factors, coupled with the region's climate, topography, and vast hydrocarbon- rich forest, have caused the air quality of the metropolitan area to become "moderately" polluted with ozone (smog) and particulates (dust and smoke). The "moderate" pollution standard is based on health criteria established by the California Clean Air Act. If nothing is done to decrease pollution levels, then the region will be subject to expensive and punitive mandates of the Federal Clean Air Act including the denial of Federal grants and highway funds for transportation, transit, and sewerage projects. ' The primary source of ozone pollution is vehicles which account for about 70 percent of the emissions. The remaining 30 percent is due to stationary land-use sources. Another significant County pollutant is particulates. The use of wood heating devices, open burning practices, and road dust all contribute to high particulate levels, especially in the winter months. Based on this, it makes sense to integrate air quality planning from the perspective of the Circulation and Land Use Elements of the City's General Plan. A. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY OF AIR QUALITY ELEMENT GOALS This element provides a program to control or reduce emissions associated with new and modified indirect sources of air pollution. Indirect sources include employment sites, shopping centers, sports facilities, housing developments, airports, places of business, etc. An indirect source control program or rule incorporates strategies to reduce emissions including goals, policies, standards, and implementation measures related to land use and traffic circulation. 1 AREA DESIGNATION UPPER SACRAMENTO VALLEY FOR STATE AMBIENT PLANNING AREA OF THE AIR QUALITY STANDARD SAC VALLEY AIR BASIN OZONE / 000, / SHASTA / .101 / *REDDING 0RmBWFF / / / / TEHAMA .101 oo 10, GLENN BUTTE CHICO SACRAMENTO VALLEY COLUSA `PG UBA BROADER SACRAMENTO LAKE TAHOE — — — ' PLANNING AREA SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NORTH CENTRAL COAST SOUTHEAST. SOUTH CENTRAL DESERT COAST ® SACRAMENTO VALLEY SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN NON—ATTAINMENT AREAS FOR STATE OZONE STANDARD SAN DIEGO This policy is intended to substitute as one of 31 rules mandated for adoption by the Shasta County Air ' Quality Attainment Plan (AQAP). Thus, this air quality policy is part of a comprehensive emissions reduction program which has a goal of achieving air quality attainment by 1997. Methods of implementation must focus on threshold standards of pollution from land use and the application of best available mitigation measures(BAMMs) to reduce emissions. In a larger sense, this air quality policy is part of the regional strategy for improving air quality in the northern Sacramento ' Valley planning area, which includes seven counties. While air quality is often regarded as a regional problem, local land-use and growth decisions by the Cities of Anderson, Shasta Lake, and Redding and the unincorporated area of the County will profoundly affect the success of whatever technology is available regionally to combat air pollution with this in mind: It is the purpose of this air quality policy to protect the health and welfare of our residents, businesses, and industries by promoting development that is compatible with air quality standards of the policy and the County's AQAP. This is to be accomplished by the goals, policies, and implementation strategies of Chapter VI, which are summarized below: P. Applying transportation control measures (TCMs) and BAMMs through planning to augment the ' rules of the County's AQAP which are aimed at substantially reducing growth in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and vehicles trips as required by the California Clean Air Act. ' ► Ensuring that Federal and State entitlement funds and grants for local transportation projects will not be lost, which will happen if the air quality declines to the point where the region becomes ' nonattainment under the Federal Clean Air Act, and ensuring that industries of the County are not unnecessarily forced to install expensive retrofit equipment to reduce emissions. ► Providing the planning process with necessary guidance to review proposed projects relative to stationary indirect sources of air pollution and guidance in applying mitigation measures to reduce the pollution. ► Planning for advancements in transportation technology so that land use and the transportation systems can more easily adapt to the technology. ► Supporting a communitywide program of the Air Pollution Control District aimed at educating developers and the citizenry regarding the need to modify our behavior in order to improve the air quality. P. Focusing community attention on the need to create a vision of what the metropolitan area should be and look like in the next 45 years relative to air quality, transportation, and land-use patterns. ► Integrating the policies, standards, and implementation measures of the Air Quality Policy into the Land Use and Circulation Elements of the Redding General Plan. ► The specific standards for measuring the success of the element may be summarized as follows: 1. Strive to achieve 5 percent reduction in emissions per year for NO,, and PM,o averaged over a three-year period. 2. Substantially reduce rate of increase in passenger vehicle trips and miles per trip. 2 i 3. Achieve State ozone standards by 1997 to avoid being reclassified to a "serious" category of nonattainment. 4. Avoid mandate of applying emission devices to new sources based on an emissions output of 10 lbs/day. The current standard is 25 lbs/day. 5. Avoid application of expensive retrofit emission technology to existing industries and businesses. 6. Avoid requirement of reducing countywide vehicle miles traveled to 2.8 percent growth per Past growth has been 5.6 percent per year. 7. Avoid Federal sanctions by being classified as nonattainment under the Federal Clean Air Act. 8. Avoid Federal requirement of 1.15 emission offsets for new industries. 9. Avoid Federal requirement of 15 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds over a six-year period. 10. Avoid the loss of State and Federal transportation funds for local projects. Last year, the ' County's allocation was $5 million. 11. Avoid development moratorium caused by noncompliance with County's Nona ttainment Plan and ' California Clean Air Act. 12. Avoid reduction in tourism and sales tax due to deterioration of our air quality. 13. Maintain community health through improved air quality. 14. Provide a strong basis to justify that the County not be reclassified to a "serious" nonattainment category in 1997, even if the County still exceeds State ozone standards. This can be done by demonstrating that the County and its cities have adopted and implemented air quality elements that apply best available mitigations to new projects which reduce vehicle emissions and that ' continued violation of the State standard is due to ozone transport from Sacramento, which currently is responsible for 90 percent of the days of violation. 15. Because of improvements in today's vehicles, the County will likely achieve the 1994 emission reduction schedule of 12.4 tons per day (NOJ, but after this time, the number of vehicle miles driven will increase and wipe out this advantage. By 1997, the County's target goal is to ' achieve a NOX reduction of 17.71 tons per day. B. AIR POLLUTION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE There are nine pollutants for which California has established ambient standards. Six of these are also regulated by the Federal government, except that the Federal standards are less restrictive than the State's standard. For Shasta County, the applicable pollutants are ozone (03) and particulates (PM,o). Ozone Ozone, commonly called smog, is created by a combination of chemical interactions which can concentrate the pollutant low to the ground by the force of inversion or air pressure. Ozone has a slightly pungent, irritating odor. In general, smog may be defined as: Oxides of Nitrogen + Hydrocarbons + Sun = Smog 3 The County's Air Quality District monitors ozone at monitoring stations located in South Redding and in Anderson. .Ground-level ozone is distinct from the layer of ozone that is seven or more miles above the earth's surface in the stratosphere and protects the earth from the sun's harmful ultra-violet radiation. Moderate concentrations of ozone can damage materials. For example, it can cause fading in textile materials and will cause rubber products to crack and lose elasticity and strength. ' Recent clinical studies show that chronic exposure to smog irreversibly reduces lung capacity, lowers stamina, and leaves people more vulnerable to long-term respiratory problems. Smog is especially , harmful for children, senior citizens, and those who suffer from heart or lung disease. At high concentrations, ozone causes significant health and environmental problems. It can irritate the respiratory tract; produce impaired lung function such as inability to take a deep breath; and cause throat irritation, , chest pain, cough, lung inflammation, and possible susceptibility to lung infection. Smog aggravates existing respiratory conditions like asthma. Smog can reduce the yield of agricultural crops and injure forests and other vegetation. Ozone is the most injurious pollutant to plant life, but oddly enough, plants can assist in the production of ozone through the emission of hydrocarbons which interact with NO,, to create smog. The table below illustrates the effects of ozone on selected plants at various concentrations. While Shasta County is not , an intense farming region, the table is pertinent because it illustrates the effects of ozone on plant life, which is abundant in the County. For reference purposes, the California standard for ozone is .09 ppm = 176.6 ,ug/m"3: phm = parts per million; µg/m^3 = micrograms per cubic meter. The Redding ' Metro area has exceeded ozone concentrations of 200 µg/m"3 on many occasions in the last six years. TABLE 1 , POLLUTION EFFECTS OF OZONE ON PLANTS .XxAmount` Duration Effect 54 µg/m'3 2 hr 38% leaf damage to some sensitive plants 200 µg/m"3 1 hr minimal visible injury to spinach, radish, oak, and white pine 400 µg/m"3 4 hr 79% leaf injury in pinto bean t560 µg/m^3 4 hr 75% leaf damage to some sensitive plants ' 700 µg/m"3 2 hr 90% leaf injury in pinto bean Source: Jones & Stokes Assoc. Inc., 1980, Volume I, Basic Ecological Concepts, FWS/OBS-80/45. As noted in the table above, plants have different thresholds of sensitivity to ozone. In general, high and moderately sensitive plants experience visible injury from ozone based on the following concentrations: 4 ' TABLE 2 HIGH AND MODERATE PLANT SENSITIVITY TO OZONE Exposure Period High Senslttvify (in ppm) Moderate Sensitxvlty (in ppm) 0.5 hour .25 - .40 4.0 - 5.5 1.0 hour .10 - .25 2.5 - 4.0 2.0 hours .07 - .15 1.5 - 2.5 4.0 hours .04 - .10 1.0 - 2.0 8.0 hours .03 - .07 0.7 - 1.5 Source: IBID. California established the new health advisory level after medical research showed that ozone posed a health threat at a lower concentration than the Federal standard, especially for children, the elderly, persons with heart or lung disease, and during strenuous exercise. California's ozone standard (9 pphm or .09 ppm) has always been more protective of public health than the Federal standard of 12 pphm (0.12 ppm) or 100 PSI (Pollutant Standards Index). The worst concentration of ozone in the Redding area (attributed to local sources) occurred in 1987 and in 1990 with a reading of 0.13 ppm. The figure below provides some insight into the significance of various levels of pollution based on a standard index. The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency to standardize reporting and to convert air pollution concentrations to a simpler scale. The figure shows how intervals on the PSI scale relate to the potential health effects of ozone at the measured concentrations. FIGURE "A" POLLUTANT STANDARDS INDEX FOR OZONE (PSI scale is a relative number without units) F.H• . .. over. •• 275 - Stage II Alert (35 parts per hundred million) 0. e • Everyone should remain indoors. (20 Stage 1 Alert parts per hundred million) General public should avoid strenuous outdoor activities. e • 138 - Health Advisory (15 parts per hundred on) 0.1 3 ppm or 1 3 pphm Athletes avoid strenuoumi is outdoor activities. (worst recorded pollution ; 100 - Federal Standard o i II it (12 parts per hundred million) days In Redding) .} 75 - State Standard " # (9 parts per hundred million) Sensitive persons should reduce strenuous outdoor activities. limi f r air is 0 to 6 Normal ozone t o dry pphm. ................................................ 5 Particulates (PM,d ' Suspended particulate matter 10 micrometers (millionths of a meter) or less in diameter is referred to as ' PM,o, which consists of a mixture of manmade and natural substances including wood smoke, dust from unpaved roads, construction, and agricultural activities. It comes from a variety of residential, industrial, and mobile sources and may be emitted directly or formed in the air by transformations of gasses. These tiny particles are a potential cause of significant health effects since they can more easily bypass the respiratory tract's natural filtering system and can lodge deep in the lungs. The microscopic particles can affect breathing and respiratory symptoms, causing increased respiratory , disease and lung damage and possibly premature death. Children, the elderly, and people suffering from heart or lung disease (like asthma) are especially at risk. The particles also damage paint, soil clothing, and reduce visibility. Federal standard for PM,o is 150 micrograms/cubic meter; the State standard is 50 micrograms/cubic meter. For the Redding area, the highest concentrations of PMj0 were 85 micrograms/cubic meter, which occurred in November and December, 1987 and 1990. These concentrations were attributed to wood smoke from home heating and agricultural burning. C. URBANIZATION,WEATHER,AND AIR QUALITY The foregoing discussion focused on the effects of ozone and particulates because Shasta County exceeds the State's threshold standards of these pollutants. In reality, the effects of air pollution on the County , ought to include all categories of pollution, even those for which the State and Federal governments do not have standards. The idea is to develop programs to reduce emissions and threshold violations while ensuring that other pollutants do not exceed threshold levels. If the rate of emissions remains the same , for the County relative to the rate of growth, the County will eventually violate all pollutant thresholds of the State and Federal governments. This is because urbanization can increase the volume and concentration of emissions. The table below emphasizes how urbanization can affect weather and increase , pollution, urban temperatures, etc. TABLE 3 WEATHER CHANGES CAUSED BY INTENSE URBANIZATION AveraXXXge Changes Expressed as Percent oz Magnitude of Rural Conditions Weather &Climate Elements Annual Cold SeasonWarm Season Contaminants (Volume) +1000% +2000% +500% Solar Radiation (Langleys) -22% -34% -20% Temperature (°F) +20 +40 +10 Humidity (Relative) -6% -2% -8% Visibility (Frequency) -26% -34% -17% Fog (Frequency) +60% +100% +30% Wind Speed (mph) -25% -20% -30% Cloudiness (Frequency) +8% +5% +10% Rainfall (Amount) +14% +13% +15% Snowfall (Amount) ±10% ±10% --- , Thunderstorms (Frequency) +16% +5% +29% Source: Urban-Industrial Effects on Clouds and Precipitation, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 1973, , p 135. 6 ' Generalized direct and indirect effects of urbanization are outlined below: ' P. Effects on meteorology: 1. Visibility 2. Cloud/haze/fog formation 3. Urban heat islands P. Effects on materials: 1. Corrosion, pitting, and chemical disintegration ' 2. Discoloration and fading 3. Embrittlement, cracking, and reduced tensile strength P. Effects on plants: 1. Growth and yield reductions 2. Tissue damage 3. Increased sensitivity to pathogens ' 4. Altered susceptibility to environmental stresses ► Effects on fish, wildlife, and domestic animals: 1. Direct toxicity and metabolic disruptions 2. Respiratory problems 3. Increased susceptibility to disease 4. Reproductive disruptions or failure 5. Behavioral changes P. Effects on ecosystems: 1. Changes in vegetation composition 2. Changes in fish or wildlife abundance 3. Changes in successional patterns 4. Changes in microclimates and geophysical processes 5. Changes in soil or water chemistry 6. Changes in litter decomposition rates or products 7. Changes in productivity, energy flow, and nutrient cycling P. Effects on human health: 1. Respiratory problems 2. Eye irritation 3. Increased susceptibility to bacterial or viral infections 4. Direct toxicity and metabolic problems 5. Carcinogenic effects 6. Reproductive problems ► Economic Effects: 1. Require industry to retrofit equipment 2. Influence on technological change 3. Creation of the air pollution control industry 4. Influence on site selection and site design for development projects 5. Unmitigated impacts will cause the City/County to lose State and Federal funding for transportation projects. r 7 r r II. STATUTORY AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND MANDATED REQUIREMENTS rCalifornia began setting air quality standards in 1969 under the provisions of the Mulford-Carrell Act. With the passage of amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1970, the Federal government began adopting such standards for the entire country. As stated by former President Bush, the promise of the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act is "Every American expects and deserves to breathe clean air. . ." Air quality standards define the levels of various types of air pollutants that may not be exceeded for certain periods of time in defined areas. There are State and Federal ambient air quality standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, PM,o, and lead. If standards are met, eye and throat irritation—and more serious health effects—are not expected to appear among even the most sensitive members of the public. Table 4 provides a comparison of State and Federal standards. TABLE 4 COMPARISON OF FEDERAL AND STATE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS . vFe<era .....State JPollutant Ozone 1-hour 0.12 ppm** 0.09 ppm To prevent eye irritation, breathing difficulties. 240 µg/m3 180 µg/m3 Carbon Monoxide r 8-hour 9.3 ppm 9.0 ppm To prevent carboxyhemo-globin levels greater 10 mg/m3 10 mg/m3 than 2 percent. 1-hour 35 ppm 20 ppm 40 mg/m3 23 mg/m3 Nitrogen Dioxide Annual 0.05 ppm — To prevent health risk and improve visibility. 100 µg/m3 1-hour — 0.25 ppm 470 µg/m3 Sulfur Dioxide Annual 0.03 ppm — To prevent increase in respiratory disease, crop 80 µg/m3 damage, and odor problems. 24-hour 0.14 ppm 0.05 ppm 365 µg/m3 131 µg/m3 1-hour — 0.25 ppm 665 µg/m3 ' Sulfates 24-hour — 25 µg/m3 To improve visibility and prevent health problems. r P Annual mean 50 µg/m3 30 µg/m3 To improve visibility and prevent health problems. 24-hour average 150 µg/m3 50 µg/m3 Lead — 30-day 1.5 µg/m3 To prevent health problems. Calendar quarter 1.5 µg/m3 — Hydrogen Sulfide 1-hour — 0.03 ppm To prevent odor problems. 42 µg/m3 Vinyl Chloride ' (Chloroethene) — 0.010 ppm To prevent health problems. 26 µg/m3 Visibility-reducing State Standard: One Observation. In sufficient amount to reduce the prevailing particles visibility to less than ten miles when the relative humidity is less than 70 percent. ' Particulate matter ten microns or less to size. Parts per million. 8 e A. STATE-MANDATED REQUIREMENTS The ambient air quality standards of the foregoing section for the California Clean Air Act must be ' achieved through a variety of actions by local governments. The scope of this air quality policy focuses on two of many requirements of the County's Air Quality Attainment Plan (AQAP) as discussed below. ' To assist local governments in meeting ambient air quality standards, the California Clean Air Act of 1988 gave regional air quality management districts new authority to design, adopt, implement, and enforce comprehensive plans for attaining and maintaining both the Federal and the more stringent State ' air quality standards by the earliest practical date. Among its provisions, the California Clean Air Act provides air quality management districts with the authority to establish controls on mobile and stationary sources of pollution. ' Each nonattainment district is required to adopt an attainment plan with rules to achieve attainment. For the Northern Sacramento Valley planning area of the air basin, the plans for each of the six counties, including Shasta County, are basically the same and require each district to adopt transportation control measures (TCMs) and an indirect source control program. The 1988 Clean Air Act requires that the County's air quality district adopt a program or air quality 1 attainment plan that will strive to achieve a 5 percent reduction in emissions per year for each nonattainment pollutant averaged every consecutive three-year period. The second mandated requirement occurred as the result of a 1992 amendment to the Clean Air Act (AB 2783, Sher). The amendment requires areas with moderate air pollution that contain an urbanized area of 50,000 people or more to "substantially reduce the rate of increase in passenger vehicle trips and miles traveled per trip" by the earliest practicable date [H&SC 40918(c)]. The State Air Resources Board (ARB) has interpreted this requirement to mean having TCMs sufficient to hold the growth in vehicle miles traveled equal to the population growth rate. In the 1980s, Shasta County averaged annual growth rates of 5.5 percent for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) (Caltrans). Recent VMT trends indicate that growth in VMT is slowing down, which is probably due to the recession; however, TCMs are still needed to achieve ambient air quality standards. ' This requirement is only applicable to the urbanized area of the County, but may be expanded to include the whole County or district later on if standards are not met. For now, the severity of the TCMs necessary to meet this requirement are left to the discretion of the air district, although the State does have performance standards. The table following this section provides a summary of the various required actions based on the severity of nonattainment. For purpose of this policy, only the required actions dealing with transportation control measures and indirect source control programs will be addressed with the understanding that the other measures are being addressed on a regional level by enforcement actions of the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) based on the County's AQAP. ' Shasta County Air Quality Attainment Plan (AQAP) The goal of the plan is to achieve the State's ambient air quality standard for ozone at the earliest possible date. The County's AQAP cannot demonstrate a 5 percent reduction of nonattainment pollutant emissions since the emission inventory is incomplete for many emission sources in Shasta County. This is because a ' complete emissions inventory by the State ARB is needed in order to establish the existing condition and source of local air pollution. Also, the efficiency of emission reduction measures for Shasta-County 9 needs to be documented. However, the State Air Resources Board has accepted the plan because it ' includes every feasible control measure and a schedule of adoption of the control measures as per Section 40914(a)(2) of the California Health and Safety Code. The control measures include 31 rules, one of which is the Indirect Source Review Rule and its associated Transportation Control Measures. , If the County does not meet State ozone standards by 1997, the County will be "bumped" to a serious category of violation and a major revision of the County's AQAP must be accomplished under State law. The ramifications of this action are briefly noted in the following table. 10 , . TABLE 5 CALIFORNIA CLEAN AIR ACT SUMMARY MAJOR PLANNING REQUIREMENTS Ozone Classification Moderate Serious Severe Extreme ' 09 12 ppm 13 15 pprn 16 20 ppm 20 .................... :Mandated Date to Achieve Attainment 1997 1997 1997 1997 MANDATED ACTIONS: Attainment Demonstration Air quality plans must demonstrate attainment of the State standards by the earliest practicable date X X X X Transportation Control Measures P. TCMs required in urbanized areas with populations of >_ 50,000 to substantially reduce growth in X X X X VMT and vehicle trips P. Prescribed average vehicle ridership (AVR) by 1999 and no net increase in vehicle emissions after 1997 if the district contains Standard Metropolitan Statistical N/A 1.4 AVR 1.5 AVR 1.5 AVR Area of >_ 250,000 population (see note) ' New Source Review No net increase permitting program for new/modified sources with prescribed levels (tons/year) of emissions 25 tons/year 15 tons/year 10 tons/year All sources P. Best available control technology (BACT) for new sources with 25 lb/day 10 lb/day 10 lb/day 10 lb/day emissions output as prescribed ' Retrofit Controls (existing stationary sources) ► Reasonably available control technology (RACT) for MODERATE areas (sources > RACT BARCT BARCT BARCT 250 tons/year must apply BARCT) ' ► Best available retrofit control technology (BARCT) for SERIOUS and ABOVE areas Area and Indirect Source Control Programs (i.e., Air Quality Policy of General Plan) X X X X Note: Shasta County is a "moderate" nonattainment area under the California Clean Air Act. State law [Health and Safety Code Section 40918(g)] requires "bump-up" to a serious classification if ozone levels are not reduced sufficiently by December 31, 1997 (i.e., no more than three exceedances per year at any monitor). Shasta County's standard metropolitan population in 1993 was approximately 161,000 and projected to reach 250,000 in less than 20 years. ppm = parts per million VMT = vehicle miles traveled ' 11 B. FEDERALLY MANDATED ACTIONS It should be reiterated that Shasta County has not been classified as nonattainment for any Federal ' ambient air quality standard, including ozone; but unless improvements are made coincident with the projected population growth and trend in vehicle miles traveled, violations may soon occur according to the Air Quality Management District (AQMD). If the standards are exceeded, then the County will be subject to Federal requirements, which vary in severity of nonattainment, as noted below: TABLE 6 FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT ' MAJOR PLANNING REQUIREMENTS AND MANDATED ACTIONS Ozote Classification Marginal Moderate'; Serious Severe Extreme -XXXXX12-.14' .14 16 .16 1$ 18-.28 .28 & Ppm Rpm Ppm ppm uP PPm ' Mandated Date to Achieve Attainment 1993 1996 1999 2,00720IG SOME OF THE CUMULATIVE MANDATED ACTIONS: e Maintain a comprehensive emissions inventory X X X X X New and modified sources require emission 1.1 to 1 1.15 to 1 1.2 to 1 1.3 to 1 1.5 to 1 ' offsets Demonstrate voc emissions reduction of , 15 percent for first six years from baseline X X X X Clean fuel fleet required X X X Demonstrate voc (3 percent) emissions X X X ' reduction each year Employers must reduce work related to vehicle travel through commute options X X Transportation control measures must be adopted which include economic incentives to X not use vehicle Boilers which produce 25 tons/year of emission must burn clean fuels X , ppm = parts per million voc = volatile organic compound e 12 III. RELATIONSHIP OF AIR QUALITY ELEMENT TO OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL PLANS AND FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS Several recent State and Federal laws have caused the development of local plans which must be consistent with laws dealing with land use, traffic congestion, and air quality. This chapter provides an abbreviated summary of these plans and laws so that the reader can better understand that air quality ' planning is more than an isolated single-purpose planning activity of a local agency. Appendix "C" at the conclusion of the report provides a comparison of excerpted goals of each plan. ' A. CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PLAN (CMP) Thirty-one counties in California are required to adopt congestion management plans (CMPs) in order to qualify for additional State funds under Proposition 111, the gas-tax increase passed by the State's voters in 1991. Together, the 31 CMPs represent the largest vehicle trip-reduction effort ever undertaken in the State and perhaps the country. The CMP program calls for all urbanized counties to create trip-reduction plans; subsequently, cities are required to adopt trip-reduction ordinances in conformance with the County's plan. Local governments whose CMPs do not meet approval of the California Transportation Commission face the loss of State transportation aid as well as "ISTEA," or Federal transportation funds. For reference purposes, ISTEA stands for Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. CMPs represent a direct link, which has never been done before, between land-use and air quality policies. The County CMP only affects the highway network and principal arterials as opposed to local arterials and streets. For developers and local governments, CMPs will create a new layer of transportation planning. Although developers already prepare traffic-impact studies and EIRs,they may now be asked by local agencies to prove that their projects will not worsen the traffic regionally or adversely affect air quality. Under the terms of Proposition 111, each CMP must contain five elements: standards for traffic levels on designated streets and highways; coordination of public transit, including routing and frequency; trip- reduction strategies, including transportation alternatives; a program to measure the regional impact of development; and a seven-year, capital-improvement program. ' With regard to consistency, the County's CMP must be consistent with the County's Air Quality Attainment Plan (AQAP). In this sense, the County's AQAP controls the CMP. Since the City's air quality element implements a portion of the County's AQAP, it too must be consistent with the CMP, particularly as it relates to policies affecting air quality, the balance of housing and jobs relative to the 1 highway network, and the expansion of transit. Two implementation measures that must be consistent and measurably effective are the trip-reduction ' ordinance and employer trip-reduction rule. The County's CMP requires that each city must adopt separate and consistent trip-reduction ordinances that help decrease congestion and maintain acceptable levels of traffic flow on the highway and arterial network. The employer trip-reduction rule applies countywide and is enforced by the County AQMD. This rule requires businesses with 100 or more employees to implement a program that encourages employees to reduce single-occupancy vehicle commuter trips. The law requires that the trip-reduction ordinance must not increase or make air quality ' conditions worse, even if the measure decreases traffic congestion. ' 13 eB. TRANSPORTATION CONTROL MEASURE PLAN (TCM) ' This plan is a component of the County's AQAP and has five major programs: P. Traffic Flow Improvements ► Transit Improvement Program ' P. Employer-Based Commuter Reduction P. Indirect Source Review ► Public Information Program ' The first two TCM programs involve transportation system management programs and expanded transportation improvement programs. These efforts include programs for parking management, car ' pooling, road and traffic-flow improvements, increased use of transit,bicycle and pedestrian accessibility, and park and ride facilities. The key to the air quality success of these programs is in either increasing the efficient use of motor vehicles or finding desirable substitutes to their use. Commuter travel produces one-quarter of the County's total on-road transportation emissions. It is the objective of the TCM Plan's commuter reduction program to get major employers to reduce commuter vehicle miles traveled per employee. Indirect source review programs—the subject of this air quality policy—involve development projects that generate or indirectly attract mobile air emissions. The objective of an indirect source review TCM is to reduce indirect sources of emissions from new or modified development projects by reducing the pollution volume or altering the critical time when emissions are released and have the most impact on air quality. Finally, an important part of encouraging the County's TCM planning is through public information programs about the air quality benefits associated with using transportation more efficiently. C. CITY GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS State General Plan guidelines for the Conservation and Open Space, Land Use, and Circulation Elements touch upon several areas of air quality planning which must be addressed if the four elements are to be internally consistent and mutually consistent with the County's AQAP. For example, if a revised land-use plan substantially alters the amount of land reserved for residential use, original assumptions must be revisited. When this occurs, projections should be revised accordingly. Conversely, if new growth projections exceed assumptions used in the County's AQAP, the impact on regional air quality should be evaluated and additional measures developed to maintain consistency with the County's AQAP. General Plan guidelines also require that air quality impacts of the Conservation and Land Use Elements be addressed as well as measures that will reduce air quality impacts of motor vehicle trips. The ' guidelines suggest that this be accomplished by: ► Estimation of air quality impacts of projects ► Analysis of air quality trends ' ► Assessment of existing air quality ► Estimation of air quality impacts of motor vehicle trips generated by land-use changes and new thoroughfares With regard to the Open Space Element, Government Code Section 65560(b)(4) calls for the establishment of open-space policies and programs designed to protect "open space for public health and safety, including, but not limited to . . . areas required for the protection and enhancement of air 14 quality." The State's General Plan guidelines suggest that potential impact of project alternatives on air , quality be studied. Finally, the guidelines cross-reference the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, , which requires that significant adverse environmental effects of proposed projects and alternatives be analyzed and mitigation measures be developed to reduce air quality impacts to less than significant. D. SHASTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN AIR QUALITY ELEMENT Shasta County has adopted an Air Quality Element of its General Plan. The element is intended to substitute as an indirect source control program which is a requirement of the County's AQAP. It is important that the City's air quality policy be coordinated with the County's Element since both accomplish the same purpose. The County's element contains many noteworthy objectives and policies. The element references that the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) should coordinate the development of the list of BAMMs ' for development projects to be adopted by cities and the County. This will ensure that there is a level playing field for developers between city/county jurisdictions. Another critical policy that must be coordinated is the threshold of air quality analysis for development ' projects. The planning jurisdictions within the County should have comparable environmental analysis thresholds included in their air quality elements and policies. The County references the need for such coordination as noted in the attached list of policies in Appendix "C." ' E. SHASTA COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN (RTP) Aside from fulfilling the above Federal and State legal requirements regarding traffic planning for the , County's highway network, the RTP is a coordinated approach to meeting the transportation needs of the County, the State, and the cities of Redding, Anderson, and Shasta Lake. The RTP and the Regional , Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) represent a transportation plan and improvement program with specific projects for a five-year, short-range period. The RTP presents regional goals, objectives, and policies. It discusses issues, needs, alternatives, and impacts. The RTP serves both as a decision- making tool and a future guide to regional transportation planning and programming in the County, including the development of short- and long-term plans for transit. It is important to note that a finding of consistency with the RTP is a prerequisite for approval of all regional transportation programs and I projects. The RTP contains several air quality policies as listed in Appendix "C." F. IMPACT OF AIR QUALITY LAWS ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDS (ISTEA) When the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) was signed into law on December 18, 1991, the Federal government affirmed its commitment to a balanced investment in transportation and air quality goals of the nation. Both the ISTEA of 1991 and the Federal Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 impose new planning requirements on metropolitan areas and states. States and local agencies now need to cooperate closely ' in spending ISTEA funds to integrate transportation investments with Clean Air Act requirements. Metropolitan planning requirements are not new in Federal transportation law, and Federal funds have been available for both metropolitan and State planning in the past. However, ISTEA creates a framework in which planning is focused on overall mobility, community, and State air quality goals rather than on capital investment. ISTEA requires planning at the State level for the first time and introduces financial considerations which increase the likelihood that metropolitan and State plans will be fully implemented. 15 ' Highway and transit legislation is renewed every four to five years. This act expands the transit and highway trust funds collected from the Federal 14.2-cent-per-gallon gas tax and defines primarily the ' highway and transit program. Nationally, the total funding of about $155 billion will be available for the six-year period the act covers from October 1, 1991, to September 30, 1997. For 1993, the County's share of these funds was $5 million. Congress is expected to renew the multibillion dollar ISTEA bill at the end of 1997. There is nothing strictly punitive in ISTEA, but if the County's overall transportation system is making air quality problems worse, then the Federal Clean Air Act requires the U. S. Department of Transportation to withhold Federal matching funds from road and sewer projects in metropolitan areas that have not attained the ambient air quality standards of the act. Essentially, ISTEA is the "carrot" and the Clean Air Act is the "stick." ' The "carrot and stick" approach to regional planning requires that city and county agencies work cooperatively to decrease traffic congestion and improve the quality of the air; otherwise, there is a real possibility of jeopardizing millions of dollars in funds which are needed to accommodate the infrastructure needs and growth of the region. G. SUMMARY RELATIONSHIP OF TRAFFIC AND AIR QUALITY PLANNING ' COORDINATION AND CONSISTENCY REQUIREMENTS The figures on the following page depict the change in managing air quality and traffic congestion on the County's highway network based on the requirements of the Congestion Management Plan (Proposition 111) and the County's AQAP. The key difference is that local agencies are now required to meet certain threshold requirements for air quality and traffic congestion. This mandate must be accomplished by making local General Plans and the RTP consistent with the CMP. The CMP must be consistent with the County's AQAP. The CMP must not let the level of service of the County's State-highway network fall below Level of Service "E" or reach a point of failure. The County's AQAP must work to produce no net gain in air pollution emission; and in fact, local County Governments must try to reduce air pollution levels by applying the "Best Available Mitigation Methods" using the "Best Available Technology." The CMP requires annual traffic monitoring of the cumulative effects of all projects as does the County's ' AQAP. Both plans require mitigation of effects if deficiencies are identified. The figure illustrates that if the goals of the plans are not met, then State and Federal (ISTEA) funds for ' the highway network and local arterial streets and transit may be withheld. Both plans also make it easier for the courts to impose moratoriums on development. If monitoring by the Regional Transportation Planning Agency and/or the Air Quality Management District demonstrates threshold violations, then ' additional and more expensive mitigation measures may be imposed on local agencies as well as project developers. ' In short, local agencies in our air basin must now be very careful of how air quality and traffic congestion are affected by development—directly, indirectly, and cumulatively. 16 LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANDATED MANAGEMENT OF AIR QUALITY ------ --- - AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON THE STATE AIR COUNTY'S HIGHWAY NETWORK RESOURCES BOAR® ---------AIR QUALITY ---- MANAGEMENT DIST. STAFF (AIR POLLUTION f CALIFORNIA CONTROL OFFICER) SHASTA COUNTY L-- -- _ __ _ __ _- TRANSPORTATION T Y AIR POLLUTION COMMISSION CONTROL BOARD (COUNTY BOARD OF jm* CONSISTENT — ----- -- ---— — -- --- -— --- SUPERVISORS) SHASTA COUNTY --- -- AIR QUALITY CONGESTION ATTAINMENT PLAN MANAGEMENT - --- PLAN (CMP) ---- . . ... . . . . . . . . REGIpNAL RETRANSPORTATION SHASTA COUNTY DUCE:TRAFFIC ® PLANNING AGENCY (RTPA BOARD OF ' : : : . . . . . . . . . . . . . & CMA) EFFIECT CONGESTION : SUPERVISORS ON :HWY :NETWORK : : : EFFE11T RTPA IS MADE UP OF: & w ® & ® 3 COUNTY SUPERVISORS, CITY COUNCILS OF ® REDUCE:VE:HICLE 2 REDDING COUNCIL. ANDERSON REDDING z . . . .zMa58I0NS � MEMBERS, 01 ANDERSON COUNCIL AND SHASTA LAKE AND POLLUTION: FROM I:ANDLISE MEMBER & ® 1 RABA MEMBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHASTA COUNTY REGIONAL_ CITY AND COUNTY 'TRANSPORTATION LO CAL AGENCY GENERAL PLANS PLAN (RTPA) PLANNING COMMISSIONS MUTUALLY CONSISTENT EFFECTS OF MANDATED MANAGEMENT OF COUNTY AIR QUALITY AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON CITIES AND COUNTIES MUST BE CONSISTENT REGIONAL EFFECT SHASTA COUNTY CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PLAN (CMP) SHASTA COUNTY AIR OUAUTY J�`4 REDUCE TRAFFIC:;: 0::::. ATTAINMENT PLAN �- :...CONGESTION:;:;.;::;: :'yo �- W .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'::.':.'.'.'.':.'.'.':.'.'.: ®W REGIONAL :REDUCE VEHICLE....... EFFECT OF STANDARDS:•:': '.:...::EMISSIONS -� .. .. . . .. .. . W W ... ....... ® N > ;•;; :REDUCED AIR POLLUTIOy a :.FROM LANDUSE:;::':'::­.­­ ­.­..!Q = c z SOURCES;.::'::.::':':':':'::'::' ':': � o H :.:.:....... ®�y N REGIONAL TRAFFIC PLAN FOCUS SHASTA COUNTY o IMPROVEMENTS OF HWY. REGIONAL TRANS. IF NETWORK AND TRANSIT PLAN (RTPA) La N La SYSTEMS 2 Z H O_ 3 O �+ LOCAL STREETS FOR TRAFFIC r c AND LANDUSE GROWTH a FOCUS Ulw �az O DC N � U E �M-j CITY / COUNTY MUST BE ' z ztn GENERAL PLAN Z gC -- STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LOCAL HYWS, STREETS AND TRANSIT, ALSO AFFECTS ' LOCAL PRIVATE PROJECTS GENERAL PLAN DENSITY ' SHASTA COUNTY & CITIES ' IV. EMISSION INVENTORY, OZONE TRANSPORT, AND EMISSION REDUCTION SCHEDULE A. EMISSION INVENTORY(PAST CONDITIONS) The California Clean Air Act (CCAA) requires that nonattainment districts like Shasta County achieve ' a 5 percent annual reduction in emissions of nonattainment pollutants until the State ambient air quality standards are met. The benchmark for this reduction standard is the 1987 Emission Inventory, which is documented in the district's Air Quality Attainment Plan. The table below summarizes 1987 emissions for Shasta County and indicates that about 35 tons of ROG and 35.6 tons of NO,, were produced each day. For 1987, the County had 25 days when ozone levels exceeded the State standard of .09 ppm and 2 days when the Federal standard of .12 ppm was exceeded. There were 81 days of hourly exceedance of the State standard and two days when the Federal standard was exceeded for one hour. ' TABLE 7 NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY AIR BASIN SHASTA COUNTY EMISSIONS __ ' Summary of 19$7 Emissions by Maior.Source Category - Tons per Day.(TPD) ...Source Category RDG 1VOx ' Stationary Sources Fuel Combustion .9 5.4 Waste Burning .3 .1 Solvent Use 4.9 .0 Petroleum Processes 2.1 .0 Industrial Processes .0 .2 Miscellaneous Processes .9 .0 ' Total StationarySources 10>l 5.7 Mobile Sources On-Road Mobile 16.2 17.3 Other Mobile 8.7 12.6 Total Mobile Sources MR ..................... .......... ..........�.­.................... ' Source: Shasta County Air Quality Attainment Plan. An understanding of how ozone is produced in the northern end of the valley is important. Aside from human-produced hydrocarbons, biogenic hydrocarbon emissions are produced by plants. All of these hydrocarbon emissions are available to react with a small amount of NO,, to form ozone. With vast forested areas of the north valley, emission reductions of NO,, are preferred over reductions in ROG. ' Table 7 demonstrates that about 71 to 84 percent of total source emissions (NO,, and ROG) are from vehicles. This is why it is critical to reduce the total number of vehicle miles traveled and cold starts, which can be accomplished through land-use planning and development of a multimodal transportation ' system. For PM,o, the County had 10 days in 1987 when the State standard was exceeded. Tables 8 and 9 at the conclusion of this section show that past emissions for ozone and PM,o have no pattern of increase or ' decrease. The weather(drought)and the current recession have affected the total number of vehicle miles driven. 1 17 TABLE S ANNUAL EXCEEDANCES OF DAILY/HOURLY CONCENTRATION OZONE FOR SHASTA COUNTY (Parts per Million) __ State Standard Year DayslHours >.09 Federal Standard > 12 .... _ _...... _ ... 1988 Days 5 0 Hours 18 0 1989 Days Hours No exceedance 1990 Days 13 1 Hours 40 1 1991 Days 12 0 Hours 20 0 r1992 Days 10 0 Hours 18 0 ' 1993 Days 1 0 Hours 4 0 Source: Shasta County Air Quality Attainment Plan. TABLE 9 ANNUAL EXCEEDANCES OF DAILY CONCENTRATION OF PM10 State Standard >50 Highest Year {Ug/M3) >100 (Ug/M3) Measurement ' 1985 5 0 78 1986 2 0 77 1987 10 0 82 1988 4 0 60 1989 10 0 91 1990 4 0 61 1991 8 0 83 1992 4 0 60 ' Source: Shasta County AQMD. B. OZONE TRANSPORT The California Clean Air Act requires the State to establish mitigation measures for upwind districts commensurate with the degree of contribution to downwind exceedance of State standards. Since-the precise degree of transport contribution is not currently known, the State has adopted three qualitative ' categories of transport. "Overwhelming," "Significant," and "Inconsequential." "Overwhelming" transport refers to the impacts of transported pollutants or precursors (ROG and NOX) which cause the exceedance in the downwind area, (i.e., ozone transport from the Sacramento area to Redding). "Significant" transport refers to the impacts which contribute to the exceedance in the downwind area, (i.e., the exceedance is caused by both ' 18 upwind and local sources). "Inconsequential" transport refers to the impacts which do not contribute to the exceedance in the downwind area, but are caused by local sources alone. The mitigation requirements for ozone transport were adopted in August 1990, but have since been changed. There ' are now only two parts to the mitigation requirements for upwind districts: (1) commit to adopt best available retrofit control technology for permitted stationary sources of reactive organic gas (ROG) and oxides of nitrogen (NO.) emissions, and (2) where "Overwhelming" transport exists, include sufficient measures in the air quality plans to ensure expeditious attainment of the ozone standard in the downwind districts. (Source: County Attainment Plan) As discussed in the County's Air Quality Attainment Plan, transport of ozone and/or its precursors from the Sacramento area to the Northern Sacramento Valley (including Redding) occurred on at least 57 of the 63 days when the State's ozone standard was exceeded during 1986 through 1988. As a result, the ARB staff has concluded that the broader Sacramento area's transport to the Northern Sacramento Valley was "Significant" on some days and "Inconsequential" on others. In August 1990, the ARB added the "Overwhelming" classification to describe transport contributions from the broader Sacramento area to the Northern Sacramento Valley on certain days. What this means to Redding is that a great deal of ozone transport to the area comes from the broader Sacramento area of our valley. As a consequence, the State has imposed far greater mitigations on the Sacramento area than Shasta County to reduce the transport to less than "Overwhelming." This also means that Redding, its sister cities, and Shasta County must not reduce the effectiveness of ' existing emission-control measures by allowing new land-use activities and development projects to increase emissions. In short, the best available mitigation measures (BAMMs) of the City's General Plan and this policy should add to the effectiveness of other rules of the County's Air Quality Attainment Plan, requirements of the State, and advances in clean fuel and engine technology. If the BAMMs are not effective in helping to meet the Emission Reduction Schedule discussed below, then the County will be forced to adopt more restrictive measures by 1997, which include the retrofitting of existing businesses ' with emission-reducing devices and implement measures to increase vehicle occupancy for commuter trips. C. EMISSIONS REDUCTION SCHEDULE Based on the 1987 Emission Inventory, Shasta County must make reductions in ozone precursors (ROG and NOJ in order to meet the requirements of the California Clean Air Act. The degree that the County must participate in emission reductions is based on an Emission Reduction Schedule of the County's Attainment Plan as noted below: ROG Reductions NOXReductions Year. (Tons Per;Day) (Tons Per 1994 12.40 13.24 1997 17.71 18.92 2000 23.02 24.60 , 19 ' ' V. FUTURE OUTLOOK As discussed in the preface of this element, the shape that the metropolitan area of Redding will take in the next two to three decades will have an important impact on the future of our air quality and traffic management. Research indicates that land-use strategies can reduce vehicle trips, vehicle miles ' traveled, and the number of engine cold starts. A. VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED (VMT) During the past 20 years, total "vehicle miles traveled" have increased twice as fast as the rate of population growth. We are driving more often, longer distances, and we also tend to be driving alone more often. Nationwide, total VMT increased by 82 percent compared to an increase in population of 23 percent between 1969 and 1990. In California, the total annual VMT more than doubled between 1970 and 1990, increasing from 115 billion to over 250 billion miles of travel per year. During the same period of time, the State's population grew by about 51 percent. (Source: State Air Resources Board.) Starting a vehicle that has not been driven for about one hour produces a significant amount of tail-pipe emissions because the catalyst in the catalytic converter is not yet warm enough to fully combust the exhaust gases. These are often referred to as "cold start" emissions. The cold start typically produced more than one-half of the total emissions from a vehicle trip under 20 miles in length and 78 percent of the emissions from a trip of 2 miles or less. Reducing the number of short vehicle trips can thus help reduce emissions from cold starts. (Source: IBID). The following figure indicates the percentage of personal trips in the State that are five miles or less. The location and configuration of land use in part determines the distances people travel to reach employment sites, stores, houses, and other destinations. These factors also influence which mode of transportation they chose--car, vanpool, bus, walking, or bicycling. (Source: IBID). ' PERSONAL TRIPS THAT ARE FIVE MILES OR LESS (i.e.55°' OF WORK TRIPS ARE 5 MILES OR LESS) 80 FAMILY& SCHOOL a a_ PERSONAL SOCIAL SOCIAL, 70 70 RECREATION J 70 &OTHER Q Z 64 O - LU 60 - WORK o_ LL 55 O LZLI 50 U Ir WIN 40 TRIP PURPOSE ' SOURCE: STATE AIR RESOURCE BOARD 20 Total vehicle miles traveled in Shasta County have steadily increased, but at a declining rate. The following figure shows that the biggest increase for the last four years occurred in 1989-90 with a 6.16 percent increase. The declining rate of increase is probably due to the drought and the current recession, which has affected tourism. It is believed that the VMT for 1992-93 will have probably increased because of last year's abundant rainfall. ' According to a 1991 report on Shasta County Transportation Control Measures, VMT in Shasta County is expected to increase by 25 percent by the year 2010. The report further concludes that the State is stringent on road vehicle emission standards, and the attrition of older less efficient vehicles will result in a decrease in the average emissions per VMT. This may produce a decrease of 35 percent in ROG between 1992 and 2010, but NO,, emissions are only expected to decrease moderately through the year 2000 when no further technological improvements are expected. (Source: Transportation Control Measures Plan for Shasta County, by Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Santa Barbara, 1991). This means (according to the report) the County would be able to achieve the 1994 target reduction of fROG by doing nothing. This is the effect of improved emissions in vehicles even with population and growth in VMT. The report further notes, however, that even with no growth after 1992, the County would not be able to achieve the NO,, reduction target, which points to the need for transportation control measures of this element. The State Air Resources Board has suggested that districts categorized as "moderately" polluted with ozone can judge the annual progress toward meeting the 1997 deadline for attainment by reducing the annual growth rate in VMT to 50 percent of the VMT growth in the 1980s. For Shasta County, this means the annual growth in VMT should not exceed 2.8 percent. According to Caltrans, the average rate for VMT over the last three years (1989-92) has been 3.42 percent, which is not within the State's suggested performance standard. Once the recession is over, the rate will probably assume an average of 4 to 5 percent. SHASTA COUNTY VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED ON HIGHWAY NETWORK (IN MILLIONS) Z 1,040 1.69 % 0 2.43 % INCREASE — 1,020 .. INCREASE w 1,000 6.16 %- - - - - - - - - - - - w INCREASE Q 980 Cr cn 960 ;/; � 2 940 BASE i J YEAR U 920 � 900 � _ � , 1989 1990 1991 1992 SOURCE: CALTRANS DISTRICT #2 21 Based on traffic computer modeling of the City's General Plan and growth trends, it is forecasted that ' the overall trip length for commuters will increase in the years 2000 and 2010. This projection assumes that there is significant investment in transportation infrastructure;otherwise,the trip length will increase dramatically. AVERAGE TRIP LENGTH FOR REDDING YEAR 1990, 2000 & 2010 , 14 13.6 1990 13 12. 12. ' 2000 12 11.7 2010 11 11 0-6. 10.5 10 10 10 j 9.5 X9.6 9 9 8.6 8.5 �. 8 8 8.177 7 M/ 7 �O O QQ�� '�1` O O O O J� 40 C6 o Q�,110 �Q o P��P �. qo0, R o o�� OJ�P CITY OF REDDING TRAFFIC MODEL B. AIR QUALI'T'Y AND THE COST OF SPRAWL Less costly land prices in fringe areas of most metropolitan areas, including the fringe areas of Redding, have helped to disperse development patterns and reduce overall regional densities. This pattern of growth has generally resulted in longer travel distances and increased reliance on vehicles for personal mobility and decreased air quality. Also, large areas of low-density housing generally cannot justify or support effective levels of transit service. The minimum density threshold for minimal local bus service to residential areas is between four and six dwelling units per acre. At or above seven dwelling units per acre, bus service may be improved to one-half hour from one-hour headways if this density is clustered and/or maintained over a large enough area to provide sufficient ridership. Clusters of medium-density residential areas that average 7 to 15 dwelling units per acre can generally support frequent local bus service. If such densities are maintained over a large enough area, with good pedestrian accessibility, then light rail transit service may also become feasible. (Source: The Linkage Between Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality; State Air Resources Board, June 1993.) All this points to the need for local and regional planning that avoids sprawl. Aside from improved air quality and decreased traffic congestion, the benefits of less sprawl mean less cost to City residents. The 22 ' degree that the County and the metropolitan area of Redding have fostered dependency on the automobile is illustrated by the following chart on transportation modes. The chart also indicates little investment in land-use and multimodal transportation planning. METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK ' FOR REDDING AND SHASTA COUNTY 100 85.685 � eo U60 DREDDING Cr 40 0SHASTA COUNTY a 20 // g 10 / 0.9 0.6 0.9 0.6 2.3 2.8 1.3 1 0 ��. & SNA, v� J�P�O GPQQO 4�� �\G.yG OQ� G QJ SOURCE: 1990 FEDERAL CENSUS Development costs vary with lot sizes, distance to central facilities, proximity to existing development, community demographics, existing service capacity, and the requirements of local codes and standards. Yet, numerous studies dating back to 1955 all point toward a similar conclusion—sprawl is a significant burden on both home buyers and taxpayers. While on-site development costs (sidewalks, sewer laterals) are passed on to buyers by developers as part of the price of the home, sprawl-related costs that are off site (trunk sewers, water mains, schools, fire stations, treatment plants, widening roads) are another story. While the City is charging impact fees to developers for hooking up to community infrastructure, it is frequently the case that the full costs of off- site infrastructure (including ongoing maintenance) go unpaid and, as a result, everybody pays— indirectly. (Source: "The Cost of Sprawl," Pas Memo,American Planning Association, Pebruary 1993). For example, when new developments are built far from the water and sewer treatment plants or schools, they create higher incremental or "marginal" costs for adding new sewer collection Eystem capacity or operating school buses. By contrast, the marginal cost of new development closer to existing services or facilities is lower. However, because costs currently are evenly distributed amon„ all users by average-cost pricing, those who live farther away pay proportionately less. As a result, some users subsidize other users. Also, it should be noted that the funding for road maintenance is from gas tax and the City's General Fund and the long-term availability and adequacy of the funds relative to the expansion of the street system cannot be guaranteed. C. FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION Potential advancements, clean-burning fuels, and electrical vehicles (EVs)hold great promise in meeting emission-reduction requirements, beginning in about 20 years. Other auxiliary potential improvements 23 include compressed natural gas vehicles; electric buses powered by in-road, guide-rail paths; and light-rail (electric) multiple-unit commuter systems. While the electrical car has the greatest potential for addressing air quality issues, its omnipresence on roads and general public acceptance parallel to that of the combustion vehicle is probably many years away. Currently, the cost in electrical vehicles is about$20,000 to $60,000 and the range is about 50 miles (top speed 65 mph) with five to eight hours for a recharge. It is anticipated that EVs could have a range of 150 miles on a single charge by the year 2013. Even if the cost through mass-production is lowered, the infrastructure requirements for nationwide service would have to be in place. In the meantime, EV research is being done on a flywheel as an electro-mechanical device, on EV fuel cells, and on ' advanced EV batteries. Motorists take for granted the infrastructure that supports the nearly 190 million gasoline-powered cars on the road today. There is a gas station at almost every major commercial intersection; mechanics armed with hi-tech equipment can fix problems; and if they want, owners can change their own oil in the driveway. This sophisticated system did not happen over night. It evolved over many years. It is believed that motorists are not going to abandon their current combustion vehicles and this support system without just cause. The electrical-vehicle operator must have the assurance that the infrastructure to support the operation, maintenance, and servicing of electric vehicles is in place when the transition to electrical vehicles is made. Broadly defined infrastructure for electrical vehicles includes techniques and equipment used to recharge the electric vehicle, service and maintenance training for mechanics, and development of safety protocols for rescue personnel responding to accidents involving electrical vehicles. (Source: "Parking Magazine, The Electrical Car: The Next Transportation Revolution," July/August 1993). Speaking of the near future, California clean air laws require that 2 percent of all new cars sold in 1998 (40,000 vehicles) be zero-emission vehicles; and by 2003, that figure jumps to 10 percent (200,000 new EVs each year). Based on this, motor car makers may offer EVs as early as 1995; and with new advancements and State and Federal incentives for new buyers, EV dominance as a commuter vehicle could occur sooner than anticipated. Consumer acceptance is being courted by a partnership among the Federal government, General Motors (GM), and electric utility districts. The partnership calls for 1,000 EVs to be test-driven in various states throughout the nation. Sacramento's Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has struck a deal with GM to test drive 30 EVs in 1994 with the hope of securing an EV manufacturing plant in that city. Other participating California cities include Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Monica. If everything goes as hoped and market forces respond favorably, then most households in California and Shasta County could have at least one EV for short (day-long) commuter trips totaling 30 to 50 miles by the year 2013, which would solve much of the pollution problem caused by cold combustion engine starts. The problem is that there will be significant traffic gridlock caused by too many combustion vehicles and EVs unless the approach to traffic and land-use planning changes. All of this points to the long-term need to reduce VMTs for any type of vehicle including combustion vehicles and possibly EVs, to reduce the number of cold engine starts, to increase the occupancy of commuter vehicles, and to increase development of multimodal transportation—none of which can occur without proper land-use planning, funding for infrastructure, and public acceptance. 24 VI. ISSUES, GOALS, POLICIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION A. COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION, AND COORDINATION ISSUE: AIR POLLUTION IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM WITH MANY POTENTIAL INEQUITIES. ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLVING SOME PORTION OF THE PROBLEM. OFTEN THE ' RESPONSIBILITIES OF ONE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT OVERLAP WITH ANOTHER. IN ORDER TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS AND REDUCE POLLUTION EMISSIONS, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION, AND COORDINATION ARE VITAL. THE PROBLEM OF COOPERATION IN THE AREAS OF LAND-USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IS HAMPERED BY THE CONCERN THAT ADJOINING JURISDICTIONS WILL NOT COMMIT TO MUTUAL RESTRAINTS WHICH MAY RESTRICT LIFESTYLE CHOICES, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND URBAN EXPANSION. GOAL 1: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION COOPERATION AND COORDINATION IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PROGRAMS. (Discussion: The environmental assessment process required under the California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] is by far the most important tool for local government to communicate with other agencies and the public the importance of air quality impacts of development. Strong and consistent application of CEQA can make a significant difference in project level air quality impacts. Each jurisdiction is responsible for ensuring that CEQA is mutually complied with.) OBJECTIVE IA: TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE AND FAIRLY MITIGATE THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF PROPOSED PROJECTS. Implementation Strategy: ► The goals and objectives of this element can only be achieved if there is adequate funding for the increased responsibilities of the Planning Department imposed by the California Clean Air Act, congestion management legislation, and the County's Air Quality Attainment Plan. Policy 1 (Air Quality Analysis) The City will require an air quality impact analysis using the recommended methods promulgated by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for all projects that are subject to CEQA review and which exceed emissions thresholds established by the AQMD. Implementation Strategy: ► The City will follow the air quality analysis processing procedure illustrated in the flow chart at the conclusion of the element and as discussed in Chapter VII. �, ► Participate with the AQMD in developing and refining existing countywide emission thresholds and procedures for performing air quality impact analysis. These methods are set forth in Chapter VII of this element. ► To meet emission thresholds of Chapter VII, the following standards shall apply to each proposed project as explained in Section I of Chapter VII: 25 1. If the proposed use does not exceed Level "A" emission thresholds, then the use must at least reduce emissions by 20 percent by applying BAMM(this standard addresses the need to mitigate the cumulative impacts of individual small projects). 2. If, after applying BAMM, the use still exceeds Level "A" threshold, then the use must at least achieve a minimum emission reduction of 20 percent with BAMM. 3. If, after applying BAMM, the use still exceeds Level "B" threshold, then a minimum of 25 percent of the unmitigated emissions exceeding 137 pounds per day must be offset by reducing emission from existing sources of pollution; otherwise, an EIR is required to fully address air quality impacts, emissions, mitigations, and project alternatives. The EIR must also address the reasons why the emission offsets should be waived based on potential overriding considerations (as permitted) and CEQA. Since Level B threshold will probably only be triggered by large General Plan amendments as opposed to development projects, it is important that programmatic mitigations be made part of the amendment so that the cumulative impacts of discretionary and nondiscretionary projects are mitigated. 4. If, after applying BAMM to the proposed project, the calculated emissions still cannot at least achieve a 20 percent reduction of Level "A" threshold and the City has determined that all feasible and best available mitigations have been applied, then the City may adopt a mitigated negative declaration. Policy 2 (Report on Cumulative Air Quality Impacts) The City Department of Planning and Community Development will submit a report to the Planning Commission for approval which identifies the cumulative transportation and air quality impacts of all General Plan amendments approved during the previous year in the Annual General Plan Status Report. 1 Implementation Strategy: ► Continue to improve the City's traffic model that tracks changes in land use by traffic analysis zone. Work with the AQMD in performing air emissions modeling on the cumulative land-use changes. Policy 3 (Tracking Program for Cumulative Air Quality Impacts) The City will establish an information program for decision makers that tracks the cumulative emissions of all approved projects so there is a relative understanding of the impacts of small and large projects as well as proposed projects. This will help decision makers judge the proportionate share of air quality mitigation cost based on project size and emissions output. Implementation Strategy: ► Work with the County and the AQMD to establish a uniform tracking program similar to the procedure discussed in Chapter VIII, Section "I." Policy 4 (Uniform Air Quality Assessment Guidelines) The City will support the development, refinement, and use of uniform air quality impact-assessment guidelines that will provide standard criteria for determining significant environmental effects, that will provide a uniform method of calculating project emissions, and that will provide standard mitigation measures to reduce air quality impacts. 26 I� Implementation Strategy: ► Work with the AQMD and other local planning agencies to implement standards that are uniform throughout the County and possibly our air basin as directed by the Air Pollution Control Board. (Discussion: Coordination and cooperation are embraced by all, but we seldom achieve effective coordination and cooperation in government programs. Competitive and adversarial relationships between agencies have proven counterproductive. Working together for a common interest can multiply the resources available to accomplish air quality goals and preserve Federal and State transportation funds.) OBJECTIVE IB: TO COORDINATE LOCAL AIR QUALITY PROGRAMS WITH REGIONAL PROGRAMS AND THOSE OF NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS. Policy 5 (Uniform Countywide Air Quality Programs) The City will coordinate with other jurisdictions in the County to establish parallel air quality programs, application of CEQA, and implementation measures (trip-reduction ordinances, wood stove ordinance, and indirect source programs, etc.). Implementation Strategy: ► Be involved in the rule development process by designating a City staff representative to work with the AQMD. (Discussion: This policy seeks to promote a level playing field for all jurisdictions in the County. Also, large employers prefer uniform programs so compliance is the same at all employment sites.) Policy 6 (Review Projects in Other Jurisdictions) The City will notify and request comments from neighboring cities and the County and affected agencies during review of General Plan amendments involving two acres or more and other significant discretionary projects which may affect the adjoining jurisdiction. Implementation Strategies: ► Create a positive environment that allows and encourages staff members to keep up with activities in neighboring jurisdictions and regional agencies. This should be accomplished by sending representatives to appropriate meetings,by contacting counterparts in other agencies when developing programs, and most important, by active participation in regional programs. This program can be funded from the air quality vehicle surcharge grant program on vehicle license registration and funding from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). ► The City should develop internal procedures to ensure that all affected jurisdictions and agencies are notified of development proposals in accordance with State law. When another agency notifies the City of a pending project, the City should examine air quality related issues such as the following: 1. Congestion on roads (i.e., levels of service) from increased traffic caused by the project. 2. Projected need for deficiency plans. 3. Effects on the viability of transit and pedestrian-oriented developments (i.e., approval of a low- density development on the same transit corridor could reduce the ability of the transit provider to provide reasonable headway). 27 4. Failure of the other jurisdiction to require the construction of a segment of a bikeway planned in the Regional Bikeway Plan. 5. Proposed circulation amendments that may restrict traffic flow to or from the City or that increase urban sprawl. (Discussion: Transportation planning has emphasized the construction of new roadway capacity to reduce congestion and to meet the needs of development. Air quality legislation now mandates all transportation plans to consider air quality. This new emphasis requires land-use and transportation plans to create patterns of development and transportation infrastructure that reduce the need for new capacity and improves air quality.) Policy 7 (Comprehensive Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality Planning) The City will integrate land-use, transportation, and air quality planning to make the most efficient use of public resources and to carry out the policies and goals of this element. This effort should result in a clear vision of what the City should look like in the next 20 years. Implementation Strategy: P. The vision planning process shall begin in fiscal year 1994-1995. The City should encourage other county jurisdictions to embark on a similar vision planning process that parallels the air quality management strategies of this element. ► The comprehensive update of the Circulation Element of the General Plan shall begin in 1994. The Circulation Element should reflect the goals of the adopted Air Quality Element. ► Ensure that a comprehensive update of the Land Use Element occurs during or following the update of the Circulation Element. It may require revision of the previously adopted Air Quality and Circulation Elements to bring all elements into internal consistency with one another. ► Ensure that the City adopt a budget beginning fiscal year 1994-1995 for the three foregoing strategies. ► The City should establish precise zoning districts once a land-use pattern is finalized for property to reflect the long-term policies of the Air Quality, Circulation, and Land Use Elements and other policies of the General Plan. (Discussion: The goals of air quality management need to be included in the Land use and Circulation Elements or they could be compromised by conflict and the lack of support. The City's neighborhood plans should be integrated by a comprehensive update of the Circulation and Land Use Elements that incorporate the recommended strategies of the Air Quality Element. Precise zoning should be established following the General Plan updates. This can reduce the need for planning permits because land-use constraints and environmental issues can be addressed by conditions built into the zoning district designations. Knowing planning requirements up front builds confidence in the planning process and the General Plan because it can remove some of the gamble and uncertainty associated with long-term real estate investment and lessen some of the frustration associated with obtaining approval and financing for a project. Fewer speculative requests for land-use changes and planning permits will also make the job of the Public Works Department and the Planning Department officials easier because it will firmly establish long-term densities and planned capacities for the City's infrastructure,thus conditions of zoning may include constraints that provide for such planned infrastructure and air quality/transportation land-use standards that embrace the goals and strategies of this element.) 28 Policy 8 (Regional and Local Plan Consistency) �. All City submittal of projects to be included in regional transportation plans (Regional Transportation Improvement Plan[RTIP], County's Congestion Management Plan[CMP], etc.)should be consistent with the goals and policies of this General Plan Element. Implementation Strategy: ► Analyze project submittal for consistency. Examples of inconsistent projects are a road-widening project that does not consider transit, bicycling, and pedestrian needs along the route or an intersection signalization project that does not involve the installation of signal actuators that can be activated by bicyclists or pedestrians. (Discussion: This policy attempts to tie the regional transportation planning process back to the General Plan. The concept behind this policy is that projects funded by the RTIP and CMP process have a profound impact on where development will take place and what its composition will be.) Policy 9 (Transit Planning) The City should consult with transit providers to determine project impacts on long-range transit plans and ensure that impacts are mitigated. Implementation Strategy: ► Consult with transit providers during the CEQA process to determine the impacts of development projects on the transit system and require developers to mitigate those impacts. Policy 10 (Consolidation of Transit Services) The City should continue to support the upgrading and consolidation of transit services within the metropolitan area to maximize the efficiency of transit services while minimizing the costs of transit services. This policy would also apply to small transit providers serving special groups like seniors. Consolidating these services can increase ridership per vehicle and reduce miles traveled. Implementation Strategy: ► Encourage the Regional Transportation Planning Agency to include transit consolidation policies in the Regional Transportation Plan, which also calls for the upgrading of services to include comfortable transit stops, express services, and modern equipment to help increase ridership and reduced air emission from transit vehicles. Policy 11 (Transit and Affordable Housing) The City should work with the Housing Authority, transit providers, and developers to accommodate the construction of low-income housing developments that use transit-oriented and pedestrian-oriented design principles. Implementation Strategy: To be formed. (Discussion: Potential funding sources for project design and construction are ISTEA funds, transit funds, and housing program funds. Developers would primarily be involved in locating the best project site, and the City would focus on streamlining and assisting in the permit process.) 29 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) Understanding the impact of development decisions on air quality and other environmental and financial concerns is becoming increasingly difficult. GIS can allow City staff and decision makers to more easily visualize and understand the complex relationships and interactions created when land use and circulation are changed. Geographic information systems in conjunction with the City's traffic model can help accurately forecast potential impacts on public infrastructure. They can also ensure that new development projects contribute a fair amount to the cost of new infrastructure. Air quality benefits are derived from the enhanced ability to determine long-term air quality impacts of development and the appropriate mitigation to reduce impacts. (Discussion: Policies in this section emphasize a commitment to truly integrate the transportation requirements planned in the Circulation Element and the land uses planned in the Land Use Element with air quality policies presented herein. Integrated planning leads to transportation systems that support all modes of transportation and land-use patterns that encourage the use of alternative modes. Effective implementation of a fully integrated plan can achieve trip reductions on the order of 10 to 23 percent [California Air Resources Board (GARB) 1993] and commensurate air quality benefits.) OBJECTIVE IC: TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY SOFTWARE TO INTERFACE WITH THE CITY'S GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM(GIS)SO THAT THE CITYCANACCURATELY MONITOR AND FORECAST LAND DEVELOPMENT AND TRAFFIC GROWTH TO DETERMINE THE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. Policy 12 (Support GIS) The City should continue to support the investment in cost-effective software to use with the geographic information system technology. Implementation Strategy: To be formed. EDUCATION (Discussion: Without the understanding and support of the general public, employers, and project developers, local air quality programs cannot be expected to achieve the desired results. Programs to educate the public on air quality issues are a vital component of a successful air quality program.) OBJECTIVE ID: TO HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION AND LAND-USE DECISIONS ON AIR QUALITY. Policy 13 (Air Quality Education) The City should support and participate in the air quality education programs of the AQMD. The City should assist in educating developers and the public on the benefits of pedestrian and transit-friendly development. Implementation Strategy: To be formed. Policy 14 (New Transportation Technology) The City should anticipate new technology in transportation so that opportunities are not foreclosed by relying on old technology. 30 Implementation Strategy: , ► The City will monitor advancements in new technology regarding electric vehicles and cleaner burning combustion vehicles to ensure that future land-use and transportation systems can easily interface with the technology when it is available; and where reasonable, the City will pursue the development of joint-venture projects involving new technology. PUBLIC FACILITIES/OPERATIONS (Discussion: City government shall, as much as possible, take a leadership role in implementing employer-based, trip-reduction programs and fleet operator programs to reduce its own emissions and to provide a model for the private sector.) OBJECTIVE IE: CITY GOVERNMENT SHALL, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, OPERATE ITS FACILITIES TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN IMPLEMENTING AIR QUALITY PROGRAMS. Policy 15 (Trip-Reduction Programs) The City will, as much as possible, take the lead in implementing innovative employer-based, trip-reduction programs by ensuring that employment contracts negotiated with unions are flexible and allow workers to participate in programs that reduce commute trips. Implementation Strategy: ► Work with AQMD transportation specialist in identifying affordable innovative employee-based, trip-reduction programs. Policy 16 (Replacement of Conventional Fuel Vehicles) The City should adopt a schedule to replace or convert conventional fuel vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles as rapidly as feasible based on available funds. Implementation Strategy: To be formed. Policy 17 (Teleconferencing and Telework Centers) The City should support the development of a teleconference center for the community and small telecommunication work centers in new development. This can be accomplished by working with the telephone company and other interested public and private agencies, developers, and hotel operators in developing a multi-user teleconferencing center and small telework centers. Implementation Strategy: ► Study committee to be formed provided funding for planning and feasibility studies can be obtained from the AQMD. B. LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, AND AIR QUALITY ISSUE: MOTOR VEHICLE USE IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF EXCEEDING STATE OZONE STANDARDS IN MOST OF THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. THE LAND-USE PATTERN AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS HAS LED TO EVER INCREASING VEHICLE TRIPS AND VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. NEW WAYS OF DEVELOPING THE LAND AND MEETING OUR MOBILITY NEEDS ARE NECESSARY TO REVERSE THIS TREND AND TO IMPROVE OUR AIR QUALITY. 31 GOAL 2: REDUCE MOTOR VEHICLE TRIPS AND VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED AND INCREASE AVERAGE VEHICLE RIDERSHIP (AVR). (Discussion: Policies in this section are divided into two main categories: land use and transportation infrastructure. Land-use policies show a commitment to design future development in ways that encourage alternative modes of transportation and make the most efficient use of land available for development to reduce trips and miles traveled. Transportation infrastructure policies demonstrate the commitment to design and construct our transportation system in ways that promote the use of alternative transportation modes.) LAND USE: LAND-USE PATTERN (Discussion: The existing land-use pattern in the City's planning area could be more conducive to walking, bicycling, and transit use. Redding cannot possibly match the success that cities like Portland, Oregon, and Davis, California, have had with bicycle and pedestrian systems because of lifestyle choices, extreme season temperatures, and topography, but the City can do more than it has. Most office developments have low employment densities and are often isolated from commercial services, causing people to drive to eat lunch or to complete errands. In some areas, high-density residential projects often have little if any commercial development nearby or discourage pedestrian access to commercial uses with land-use barriers, block walls, and cul-de-sac streets. The most common single-family lot size of 6,000 to 10,000 square feet leads to population densities (3.0 to 4.0 units per acre) too low to support frequent and direct transit service. The predominant suburban development patterns force all local trips for shopping, recreation, and school as well as commute trips onto the arterial street system. This leads to ever wider, more congested arterial streets which in turn discourage people from walking even when the destination is just across the street. Policy 18 (Transit and Pedestrian-Oriented Design Guidelines) The City shall make air quality and mobility prime considerations when reviewing any proposed change to the land-use pattern. Such consideration shall include, as much as possible, increased transit and pedestrian mobility. This step shall be part of the CEQA process and apply reasonable �. Best Available Mitigation Measures (BAMM) to projects that exceed the significance thresholds promulgated by the Air Quality Management District. Implementation Strategy: ► Develop comprehensive transit/pedestrian-oriented design guidelines. Identify and designate appropriate sites for this development pattern during General Plan updates and when developers propose General Plan amendments. The Planning Department should use air quality analysis procedures and BAMM procedures recommended by the AQMD and contained in Chapter VII of this element. (Discussion: A comprehensive transit/pedestrian oriented program achieves air quality benefits by creating an environment conducive to the use of alternative modes of transportation. The California Air �. Resources Board (CARB)estimates that an overall reduction of 10 to 23 percent in regional vehicle travel can be achieved with a combination of land use, transit, and other mode shift strategies. Mixed-use and higher-density strategies can achieve 20 to 50 percent reduction in site specific travel and 4 to 11 percent regionally [CARB 1990]. The wide range of these estimates is due to a large number of factors that can affect travel mode choice at individual sites. The regional reductions are dependent on the extent of implementation throughout a jurisdiction. In addition, as these strategies are implemented throughout the County, potential reductions in site specific travel also become greater. 32 Policy 19 (high Density and Transit) t The City shall, as much as possible, plan high-density development in areas that can be fitted with a transit system. Implementation Strategy: P. Amend the General Plan and the Zoning Ordinance to designate high-density land uses in areas appropriate for transit and commercial centers. ► Designate high and medium density housing at appropriate sites during General Plan updates and developer-initiated General Plan amendments. ► Encourage developers to take advantage of density bonus provisions of the Zoning Ordinance for projects located around transit hubs or nodes on existing or planned transit corridors. (Discussion: The Institute of Traffic Engineers [ITE] Trip Generation Manual assigns approximately 40 percent fewer trips to apartments and condominiums than it does for single-family housing. To obtain the greatest trip-reduction potential, high-density housing should be oriented to take advantage of public transportation and commercial services within walking distance. Strategies to increase density must be pursued with caution. Apartment projects adjacent to existing residential development frequently arouse fierce neighborhood opposition. Although traffic generated per dwelling unit is significantly less, the greater number of units may still have adverse traffic impacts. The ability of public facilities to absorb increased demand for services must also be considered.) Policy 20 (Mixed Use—Bicyclists and Pedestrians) The City shall encourage mixed-use developments near employment centers that provide commercial i services such as day-care centers, restaurants, banks, and stores. Implementation Strategy: P. Create a mixed-use overlay zone district that permits bicyclists and pedestrians to safely travel between uses and their homes. Tailor the allowed uses to those best suited for a pedestrian environment and designate mixed-use areas on the land-use plan during General Plan updates. ► Designate commercial areas during General Plan updates and when developers initiate General Plan amendments. Also, provide materials on successful mixed-use developments to project applicants in areas designated for commercial land uses. Such materials could include the Pedestrian Design Guidelines prepared for Sacramento County (1990). ► Adopt zoning regulations that permit upper story residential uses in neighborhood shopping areas. These upper story uses can include residential and office. The City of San Diego Pedestrian Design Guidelines (1992) provide a good example of this type of community design. ► Designate an area around the central core of the City for high-density and mixed-use development. Increase the height limitation for office and residential uses to 80 feet in certain areas where it is appropriate. Discourage high-intensity office and commercial uses from locating outside of designated centers or downtown. Provide parking incentives and density bonuses to entice development within the designated central core of the City. Policy 21 (Funding for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Mobility) The City should provide funding opportunities and options for the development of pedestrian and bicyclist corridor construction. 33 Implementation Strategy: ► The City should authorize park development fees to be used to develop pedestrian and bicycle landscape corridors between existing commercial developments. This funding could be augmented with enhancement funds from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) grant funds. Funding could also come from annual assessment fees provided property owners approve of the formation of a landscape maintenance district pursuant to the 1972 Landscape and Lighting Act. The corridors could incorporate seating,decorative street furniture and paving material,portable fast- food carts for licensed vendors, newspaper and magazine stands, and some shaded area with drinking fountain and possibly a water fountain incorporated into the landscaping. (Discussion: Nationwide, 38 percent of all vehicle trips are for shopping or personal business and about 60 percent of these trips are between one-half mile and five miles in length. By providing the most frequently needed products and services close to residences and by providing direct, safe, and interesting pedestrian or bicycle routes to the commercial area, travel can be reduced. Surveys conducted in five US cities indicated that 70 percent of people surveyed would be willing to walk or bicycle for some personal business and shopping trips if the trips were reduced to one-half mile in length and bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways were provided [CEC 1992].) Policy 22 (Parking and Multi-modal Transfer Sites) The City will work with the Redding Area Bus Authority in planning multi-modal transfer sites that incorporate auto parking areas,bike parking,transit, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and park and ride pick- up points. Implementation Strategy: Identify locations where transportation systems converge and designate the area as a potential multi-modal transfer site in the General Plan. The Mt. Shasta Mall area or the Hilltop Drive area has the potential for becoming the City's second multi-modal transfer site. This potential should be evaluated within the next five years. Apply for funding to construct a multi-modal transfer station. Sources for funding include ISTEA funds and transit funds. LAND USE: COMPACT DEVELOPMENT (Discussion: Sprawling, low-density development and discontiguous development discourages the use of alternative transportation modes and increases travel distances. Infrastructure costs and environmental impacts are less when development is more compact.) OBJECTIVE 2A: TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT INA WAY THAT MAKES THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF THE LAND AND THEREBY CAUSES THE LEAST POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT. Policy 23 (Leap-Frog Development) The City shall encourage compact infill development. Implementation Strategy: Identify opportunities for infill development and support infill projects by ensuring that leap-frog projects pay the full cost of the extended infrastructure and the pro rata share of the cost of increased capacity of sewer, water, electricity, and circulation. Encourage growth to occur in and around activity centers, transportation nodes, under-utilized infrastructure systems, and redevelopment areas. 34 t Policy 24 (Higher Densities) The City shall consider redesignating vacant lands suitable for higher densities and transit/pedestrian- oriented developments during General Plan updates and periodic reviews. Implementation Strategy: Conduct a survey of vacant lands as part of the General Plan update. Develop criteria for determining , appropriate sites for densities ranging from 6.0 to 24.0 units per acre. Policy 25 (Single-Family and Mixed-Use Conflicts) The City shall encourage projects within urban areas that will improve the effectiveness of the transit system and will not adversely affect existing single-family development. Implementation Strategy: Encourage commercial uses that are complimentary to urban employment centers and residential areas. Strategically locate high-density development so that it doesn't conflict with single-family uses and so that it provides good transit access. Design pedestrian corridors to serve as buffers between mixed uses. Policy 26 (Sphere of Influence) The City will work with the Local Agency Formation Commission, Cities of Anderson, Shasta Lake, and the County in establishing a hard edge urban limit line for the boundary of the metropolitan area of the County and commitment to providing public services only within the urban areas. Implementation Strategy: ► City shall continue its policy of designating water and sewer service areas that closely correspond to the land-use plan. ► Ensure that long-range infrastructure development plans accommodate growth in the desired areas. ► Expand public services incrementally to serve contiguous development and encourage the development of services to serve urban densities as opposed to rural fringe areas of the City. ► Require new developments to extend sewer and water lines from existing systems or to be in conformance with a master sewer and water plan that has a phased development plan. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE: BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND TRANSIT (Discussion: The transportation infrastructure developed in the metropolitan area of the County supports the automobile at the expense of other modes of transportation. Placing new emphasis on transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure can relieve pressure from the traditional roadway system and improve air quality.) Policy 27 (Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Transit Funding) The City should ensure that State and Federal funds earmarked for bicycle and transit improvements are used for those purposes and vigorously pursue funds for new bicycle and transit improvements. 35 Implementation Strategy: Encourage the Cities of Anderson and Shasta Lake and the County to commit ISTEA transportation enhancement funds for these improvements based on the comprehensive plan approved by the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) and the circulation elements of each agency. Policy 28 (Bus Turnouts and Shelters) As a condition of project approval, the City shall require dedication of land for bus turnouts and shelters at sites deemed appropriate and necessary. Policy 29 (Bikeway and Pedestrian Plan) The City shall ensure that the Regional Bikeway Plan includes a comprehensive system of bikeways and pedestrian paths is planned and constructed in accordance with the adopted plan, based on analysis of existing and future use by the area to be served. Implementation Strategy: To maximize bicycle use, the following policies and actions should be included in street design standards, subdivision ordinances, zoning ordinances, and the Circulation Element of the General Plan: P. The bikeways should be part of a network that connects major destination points within the community. The Sacramento River Trail, along with its planned extension, can serve as the arterial for a network of feeder bikeways and pedestrian trails. ► Provide separate bike paths in areas where motor vehicle speed or volume make on-street bike lanes unsafe or unpleasant to use. ► Provide automatic traffic signal actuators embedded in the roadway or provide manual signal actuators where cyclists may reach them without leaving the roadway. P. Provide bicycle paths along greenbelts, linear parks, public easements, and drainage reserved as open space. ' ► Use grant and ISTEA funds to provide bicycle and pedestrian bridge crossings for creeks and the Sacramento River. P. Provide adequate paved shoulder on arterials and collectors to keep cyclists and motorists separate. ► Encourage transit providers to retrofit buses with bike racks. P. The City should require developers to provide bicycle racks or enclosed and locked bicycle storage at major activity centers and office and commercial establishments to serve patrons and employees. ► Change the Zoning Ordinance to require bicycle storage facilities. Require bicycle facilities as CEQA mitigation measures when such mitigation is feasible and part of a comprehensive plan. P. Do not allow on-street parking on roadways designated with bike lanes whenever possible. ► Increase bicycle use by requiring projects to include the provision for bike racks or enclosed and locked bicycle storage at major activity centers and office and commercial establishments. ► The foregoing provisions shall not be applied to projects if there is no likelihood of need, use, or forecasted use by pedestrians or bicyclists. 1 36 Policy 30 (Regional Bikeway Plan) , The City should identify all planned and existing regional and commuter bikeways in a comprehensive bikeways plan. The regional commuter bikeways plan should be upgraded to include a citywide master trail plan as part of the Circulation and Recreation Elements of the General Plan. The City should use targeted State and Federal funds along with developer contributions and possibly park development fees to fund the system. The City should also consider the Landscaping and Lighting Act as a funding source. , Implementation Strategy: To be formed. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE: LIGHT RAIL/COMMUTER RAIL Policy 31 (Light Rail) The City should identify potential light rail corridors during major General Plan updates that are consistent with the Circulation Element that considers such corridors and take action to protect the right-of-way from incompatible development. Implementation Strategy: ► Work with Caltrans, the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA), and the Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) to prepare a comprehensive light rail study that is incorporated in the circulation elements of all City and County general plans. Identify the best routes and develop a community consensus for those routes. Ensure that the General Plan designates densities and land- use patterns that make light rail feasible. Policy 32 (New Transit Terminal) The City should plan the area around the new transit terminal in the downtown area to provide convenient pedestrian and bicycle access, and connections to the transit. Implementation Strategy: ► General Plan updates shall, as much as possible, consider the surrounding area for pedestrian or transit-oriented development, which includes portable retail-vendor carts in the vicinity of the transit station; and encourage retail development around the transit facility to focus on the transit station. C. FUGITIVE DUST/PM,, ISSUE: THE LEVELS OF PM,o (DUST) AND VISIBILITY REDUCING PARTICULATES IN THE CITY'S AIR BASIN FREQUENTLY EXCEED STATE STANDARDS. CONTROL EFFORTS FOR SOURCES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THESE EMISSIONS. GOAL 3: REDUCE PARTICULATE EMISSIONS FROM SOURCES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY. Policy 33 (Reduce Particulates) The City will require measures to reduce particulate emissions from construction,grading, and demolition to the maximum extent feasible. Implementation Strategy: To be developed. 37 Policy 34 (Unpaved Roads and Alleys) The City will develop a priority schedule for paving roads and alleys based on availability of funds, grants, and cooperation of adjoining property owners. Implementation Strategy: To be developed. D. WOODBURNING IssuE: RESIDENTIAL WOOD BURNING CONTRIBUTES TO WINTER CARBON MONOXIDE AND PM,o EMISSIONS AND EXCEEDING STATE STANDARDS. FIREPLACE AND WOOD STOVE TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE THAT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THESE EMISSIONS AT A REASONABLE COST. GOAL 4: MINIl4IIZE AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS FROM WOOD BURNING FIREPLACES AND APPLIANCES. Policy 35 (Phase 2 Wood Stoves) The City will only allow developers to install low-emitting, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified Phase 2 fireplace inserts and/or wood stoves or pellet stoves. Implementation Strategy: ► Adopt a local ordinance, promulgated by the AQMD, requiring new wood burning appliances to be EPA certified. Participate in a public education campaign. Policy 36 (Green or Wet Wood) The City should encourage the AQMD to annually advertise the importance of burning only seasoned dry wood. Implementation Strategy: ► AQMD should utilize radio billboard advertising seasonally to remind and educate residents of the importance of burning only seasoned dry wood as a means to reduce emissions and to educate consumers about the financial and environmental benefits of replacing their old wood heating devices with Phase 2 stoves and fireplace inserts. This program should be coordinated with local wood stove retailers who benefit from such sales. Policy 37 (Changeout) The City should encourage the AQMD to adopt a countywide rule that requires a changeout for existing wood heating devices at the time of change of property ownership. The rule should be proposed if the County continues to exceed State PM,o standards. The community needs a minimum of two years lead time before this rule takes effect. Implementation Strategy: I P. Work with the AQMD, the Shasta Board of Realtors, and the Builders Exchange in developing such a rule when needed. 38 . VII. AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND BEST AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES The following guide to mitigating motor vehicle-related impacts for proposed residential, commercial, and industrial projects was prepared by the Shasta County Air Quality Maintenance District (AQMD) as a recommended approach to meeting the goals of the City's Air Quality Element. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) states that a public agency should not approve a project unless feasible alternatives are considered and mitigation measures incorporated that would substantially lessen any significant effects on the environment (unless overriding considerations are made pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15093). If the impacts cannot be mitigated below the significance threshold, they must nevertheless be reduced. CEQA describes various types of mitigation as follows: ► Avoiding impacts altogether by not taking a certain action or part of an action P. Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation P. Rectifying impacts by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the impacted environment P. Reducing or eliminating the impacts over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action t ► Compensating for the impacts by replacing or providing substitute resources ► Reduce or eliminate impacts by adopting an environmentally superior alternative. Section 15041 (a) of the State CEQA guidelines states that the lead agency has the authority to require changes in any or all activities involved in a project in order to lessen or avoid significant effects on the environment. The AQMD, as a local responsible CEQA agency, has a duty to recommend mitigation to lessen air quality impacts. In addition to CEQA requirements, mitigation of impacts is necessary to achieve the goals of the City's Air Quality Element and the State's ambient air quality standards. Specifically, all future sources of emissions, including those associated with land development, must be mitigated to the greatest extent possible to achieve ambient air quality standards expeditiously. A. CATEGORIES OF MITIGATION MEASURES The BAMM of this chapter are offered as a guide to stimulate the thinking of developers and the City regarding the need to take advantage of existing and built-in project mitigations which would reduce the need to apply more exotic and expensive emission-reducing mitigations. The AQMD-recommended sample mitigation measures are divided into two categories: Standard Mitigation Measures (SMM) and Best Available Mitigation Measures (BAMM). It should be reiterated that the sample mitigation measures of this chapter are only provided to demonstrate the procedure for applying SMM and BAMM. The AQMD recommends that SMM be applied to all projects regardless of the extent of air quality impacts in order to reduce cumulative impacts. The recommended BAMM or equally effective BAMM of the local agency should be applied as appropriate when a project has an impact on air quality above the specified impact threshold levels. All projects contribute to cumulative air quality impacts and should employ the appropriate SMM at a minimum. (See SMM list below.) Cumulative impacts of projects such as convenience markets, small office developments, residential subdivisions of 100 or less, etc., must be mitigated even where a Negative Declaration is deemed the appropriate environmental document. Not only will this approach 39 i reduce overall emissions caused by cumulative impacts, but it will also reduce the likelihood that large projects will need to carry a larger burden of mitigation. Assume for example that several small projects are approved without mitigation. A larger project may subsequently be required to mitigate for cumulative impact regardless of shared responsibility. B. PROJECT ANALYSIS The BAMM apply to any residential, commercial, or industrial project which exceeds the above significance thresholds. Determining the mitigation measures that may apply to a specific project requires first operating the URBEMIS model. This model is a California Air Resources Board approved computer program that is used to quantify emissions resulting from increased automobile traffic from new or modified land uses. The program considers the number of vehicle trips generated, vehicle miles traveled for each type of trip taken, and the associated air emissions. The computer model shall be used by the planning department at the beginning stages of a land-use project when the initial study is conducted to determine the air quality impacts on the environment. More advanced URBEMIS models may be used if approved by the State Air Resources Board and accepted by the AQMD. The defaults of the model shall be modified as noted in the conclusion of this chapter. These defaults shall be used unless other defaults are authorized by the AQMD. (The flow chart at the conclusion of this chapter illustrates the stages of air quality analysis for projects.) Once the impacts have been identified using the URBEMIS computer model, the appropriate level of BAMM are applied to the project. The BAMM are applied at specific threshold levels, which are the same for ' commercial/industrial and residential levels. The following AQMD's thresholds for analysis and mitigation are consistent with the New Source Review Rule 2:1 which the Air Pollution Control Board adopted to comply with the California Clean Air Act: Threshold for BAMM LEVEL "A" 1. 25 pounds per day of oxides of nitrogen 2. 25 pounds per day of reactive organic gases 3. 80 pounds per day of inhalable particulate matter (PM,o) Threshold for Additional Air Quality Analysis and Mitigation Measures LEVEL B 1. 137 pounds per day of oxides of nitrogen 2. 137 pounds per day of reactive organic gases 3. 137 pounds per day of inhalable particulate matter (PM,o) C. STEPS FOR AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND PROJECT MITIGATION 1. Run the URBEMIS computer model prior to or at the time the initial environmental study is conducted to determine the total unmitigated project emissions related to motor vehicle trip generation. 2. If a project has emissions less than the Level "A" threshold noted above, only feasible Standard Mitigation Measures (SMM) are required. 3. If a project has emissions greater than the threshold Level "A" noted above, apply all feasible mitigation measures for construction and/or operation from the lists of recommended Standard Mitigation Measures and appropriate Best Available Mitigation Measures as determined by the City. 4. For large projects to be developed in phases, each phase shall be treated as a separate project in terms of providing emission reduction as noted in Table "I" of this chapter. The requirement for an EIR and offsets is still applicable if all the phases exceed Level "B" threshold. 40 i 5. Large, phased projects should receive credit for reduced vehicle emissions based on the regional t market they serve; however, the project proponent must submit traffic data that documents the reduced VMT for the regional area relative to the 20-year growth forecast of the area. The forecasted traffic data must consider the growth of the area with and without the project. 6. Only feasible mitigation measures listed and Level "B" of this section shall be applied if project emissions exceed the Level "B" threshold. To determine the degree of emission reduction to be mitigated, the following additional analyses should be completed: a. Calculate emission reductions available from each mitigation measure by multiplying the percent ' efficiency of each mitigation measure by the total unmitigated project emissions. (Reference Emission Tables for the efficiency of each mitigation measure.) If project-specific efficiency is unknown, use the mid-range value in the efficiency range given in the Table unless justification is provided by the applicant to use a higher efficiency. The Planning Department, in consultation with the AQMD, shall determine the efficiency of each mitigation measure. , b. To determine mitigated project emissions, subtract total emission reduction from total unmitigated project emissions. c. If the project's impacts are reduced below the 137 pound per day threshold for oxides of nitrogen and reactive organic gases and/or the 80 pound per day threshold for inhalable particulate matter (PM,o), a Mitigated Negative Declaration(MND) may be appropriate if other , impacts are not anticipated. d. Determine if the project's emissions still exceed the above threshold of significance. e. If the project emissions remain above the 137 pound per day threshold, emission offsets are required. A minimum of 25% of the unmitigated emissions exceeding the 137 pound per day threshold must be offset by reducing emissions from existing sources of air pollution. The Shasta County AQMD should be contacted to determine appropriate offsets. If the project emissions still exceed the above threshold with emission offsets credited, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) should be prepared, focusing on air quality, traffic impacts, and project alternatives. (See attached sample calculation.) f. If air quality impacts are not significant, then a Negative Declaration may be appropriate if other impacts do not exist. D. RECOMMENDED STANDARD MITIGATION MEASURES (SMM) APPLICABLE TO ALL PROJECTS 1. Provide energy-efficient process systems, such as water heaters, furnaces, and boiler units. 2. Apply nontoxic soil stabilizers according to manufacturer's specification to all inactive construction areas (previously graded areas inactive for ten days or more). 3. Reestablish ground cover on the construction site through seeding and watering prior to final ' occupancy. 4. All grading operations of a project shall be suspended when winds (as instantaneous gusts) exceed 20 miles per hour as directed by the AQMD. 5. All new wood burning devices shall be EPA Phase II certified. 6. Streets should be designed to maximize pedestrian access to transit stops. 41 ' 7. Large residential, commercial, and industrial projects should include bus shelters at transit access points. 8. Provide temporary traffic control as appropriate during all phases of construction to improve traffic flow (e.g. flag person). 9. Schedule construction activities that affect traffic flow to off-peak hours. 10. Water active construction sites at least twice daily as directed by the Public Works Department. 11. All truck hauling dirt, sand, soil, or other loose materials should be covered or should maintain at least two feet of freeboard (i.e., minimum vertical distance between top of the load and the trailer) in accordance with the requirements of CVC Section 23114. This provision is enforced by local law enforcement agencies. 12. Sweep streets at the end of the day if visible soil materials are carried onto adjacent public paved roads (recommend water sweeper with reclaimed water). 13. Install wheel washers where vehicles enter and exit unpaved roads onto paved roads, or wash off trucks and any equipment leaving the site each trip. Note: Additional mitigations may be obtained from the CEQA Air Quality Handbook prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar, California(April 1993). Copies are available for review in the Redding Department of Planning and Community Development. E. RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS: RECOMMENDED BEST AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES (BAMM) ' Level "A" Measures 1. Implement all applicable Standard Mitigation Measures. 2. Contribute to traffic-flow improvements that reduce emissions and are not growth-inducing (e.g., right-of-way, capital improvements, etc.). 3. Install an electrical outlet at the front and back of all residential units for electrical yard equipment. Level "B" Measures 1. Implement all applicable Standard Mitigation Measures and Level "A" Mitigation Measures. 2. Construct, contribute, or dedicate land for the provision of off-site bicycle trails linking the facility to designated bicycle commuting routes in accordance with an adopted citywide or countywide plan. 3. Synchronize traffic signals along streets impacted by development. 4. Construct on-site and off-site bus turnouts, passenger benches, and shelters. 5. Provide for pedestrian access between bus service and major points within the development. ' 6. Construct off-site pedestrian facility improvements such as overpasses and wider sidewalks. 7. Include neighborhood retail sales and services within or adjacent to residential subdivisions. (Note, this provision cannot be applied until the City's Land Use Element has been revised to allow mixed use.) 8. Orient building structures and install landscape that takes advantage of passive solar design principles. 42 9. Install solar water heaters for at least 25 percent of the residential units in the development. 10. Incorporate mixed use development in order to achieve a balance of commercial, employment, and housing options within the project site. (Note, this provision cannot be applied until the City's Land Use Element has been revised to allow mixed use.) 11. Provide neighborhood park(s) or other recreational options such as trails within development to minimize vehicle travel to other parks or commercial areas. 12. Provide densities of six units or greater to support transit. F. COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS: RECOMMENDED BEST AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES (BAMM) Level "A" Measures 1. Implement all applicable Standard Mitigation Measures. 2. Contribute to traffic-flow improvements that are not growth-inducing (e.g., right-of-way, capital improvements, etc.). 3. Provide preferential parking spaces for carpools and vanpools and provide 7-foot 2-inch minimum vertical clearance in parking facilities for vanpool access. Level "B" Measures 1. Implement all applicable Standard Mitigation Measures and Level "A" Mitigation Measures. 2. Telecommuting programs, alternate work schedules, and guaranteed ride home programs shall be , established as appropriate. 3. Provide for transit-use incentives such as subsidized transit passes and accommodation of unusual work schedules to encourage transit use. ' 4. Convert fleet vehicles to clean-burning fuel as appropriate. 5. Shower/locker facilities shall be provided when appropriate for bicycling and pedestrian commuters. 6. Construct off-site bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements such as trails linking the facility to designated pedestrian/bicycle commuting routes. 7. Provide on-site services such as cafeterias, food vending machines, automatic tellers, etc., as appropriate. 8. Contribute to construction of off-site park-n-ride lots. 9. Provide on-site child care and after-school facilities or contribute to off-site development within walking distance. , 10. Construct on-site pedestrian facility improvements such as walk paths and building access which is physically separated from street and parking lot traffic. ' 11. Implement compressed work-week schedules where weekly work hours are compressed into fewer than five days, such as 9/80, 4/40 or 3/36. 12. Construct on-site and off-site bus turnouts, passenger benches, or shelters. 13. Provide adequate bicycle storage/parking facilities. 43 ! 14. Implement alternative transportation program such as Caltrans rideshare. RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS Sample Mitigation Measure Efficiencies for Controlling Indirect Mobile Source Emissions Emission Reduction Efficiency Mitigation Measures ROG NOx PM" ► Construct on-site or off-site bus turnouts,passenger benches,and shelters 0.2-1.9% 0.2-2.5% 0.2-2.5% ► Construct off-site pedestrian facility improvements such as overpasses and wider 0.1-0.3% 0.1-0.4% 0.1-0.4% sidewalks ► Contribute to regional transit system improvements(e.g., right-of-way,capital 4.0-8.0% 4.0-8.0% 4.0-8.0% improvements, etc.) ► Synchronize traffic lights on existing streets impacted by development 4.0-8.0% 4.0-8.0% 4.0-8.0% P. Construct,contribute, or dedicate land for the provision of off-site bicycle trails 0.1-0.6% 0.1-0.8% 0.1-0.8% linking the facility to designated bicycle commuting routes ► Include retail services within or adjacent to residential subdivisions 1.0-4.0% 1.3-6.0% 1.3-6.0% ► Provide for pedestrian access between bus service and major points within the 0.1-3.0% 0.1-3.0% 0.1-3.0% development(e.g.,sidewalks,paths, walkways) ► Orient buildings for passive solar design 1.0-2.0% 1.0-3.0% 1.0-5.5% ' ► Include neighborhood telecommunication or telework center within residential 1.0-5.0% 1.0-5.0% 1.0-5.0% subdivision ► 4.0 13.0% 4.0-13.0% 4.0-13.0% Include residential development within commercial core area or business district NOTE: The Redding Planning Department, in consultation with AQMD, will determine the degree of efficiency for the mitigations of this table, but generally, the average of the range shall be,used. 44 COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS ' Sample Mitigation Measure Efficiencies for Controlling Indirect Mobile Source Emissions Emission Reduction Efficiency Mitigation Measures ROG NOx PM,o P. Implement compressed work-week schedules where weekly work hours are 1.0-20.0% 1.0-40.0% 1.0-40.0% compressed into fewer than five days ► Establish telecommuting programs,alternate work schedules, and guaranteed ride 0.1-1.6% 0.1-2.1% 0.1-2.1% , home programs P. Provide on-site child care and after-school facilities or contribute to off-site 0.1% 0.1-0.2% 0.1-0.2% development within walking distance ► Construct on-site or off-site bus turnouts,passenger benches, or shelters 0.1-1.0% 0.1-1.3% 0.1-1.3% ► Provide on-site employee services such as cafeterias and ATMs 0.2-3.4% 0.3-4.5% 0.3-4.5% ► Provide preferential parking spaces for carpools and vanpools and provide TY 0.1-1.0% 0.1-1.3% 0.1-1.3% minimum vertical clearance in parking facilities for vanpool access ► Establish alternative transportation program through Caltrans rideshare 0.1-1.6% 0.1-1.6% 0.1-1.6% P. Use low-emission fleet vehicles See AQMD See AQMD See AQMD P. Provide for transit-use incentives, such as subsidized transit passes and 0.4-1.5% 0.4-1.5% 0.4-1.5% accommodation of unusual work schedules to allow for transit stops ► Contribute to traffic-flow improvements that are not growth inducing 4.0-8.0% 0.4-8.0% 0.4-8.0% ' P. Provide shuttles to major transit stations and multimodal centers 0.1-0.3% 0.1-0.5% 0.1-0.5% ► Include residential units with commercial project 3.1-13.7% 4.0-18.0% 4.0-18.0% ► Utilize parking in excess of code requirements as on-site park-n-ride lots or 0.1% 0.1-0.2% 0.1-0.2% contribute to construction of off-site lots ► Any two of the following: , -Construct off-site bicycle facility improvements such as bicycle trails linking the 0.2-2.4% 0.3-3.2% 0.3-3.2% facility to designated bicycle commuting routes,or on-site improvements such as bicycle paths Include bicycle parking facilities such as bicycle lockers and racks see above see above see above Include showers for bicycling employees'use see above see above see above P. Any two of the following: -Construct off-site pedestrian facility improvements such as overpasses,wider 0.2-1.2% 0.2-1.6% 0.2-1.6% sidewalks -Construct on-site pedestrian facility such as a building access physically separated see above see above see above from the street and parking lot traffic and walk paths Include showers for pedestrian employees'use see above see above see above ► Provide video conferencin facilities 5.0-29.0% 5.0-29.0% 5.0-29.0% , NOTE: The Redding Planning Department, in consultation with AQMD, will determine the degree of , efficiency for the mitigations of this table, but generally, the average of the two ranges shall be used. 45 ! G. URBEMIS COMPUTER PROGRAM ASSUMPTIONS AND DEFAULTS Estimates of emissions generated by the traffic of a project shall be accomplished by using a computer ' program called URBEMIS. This model contains default values for much of the information needed to calculate emissions. The Air Quality Management District will provide documentation on the latest assumptions and defaults to be used. This documentation shall consider updated information concerning the following: 1. Project Year. Select the year nearest to the initial project phase scheduled completion year. If this date is indeterminate, use the year nearest to the date of analysis. 2. Vehicle Fleet Mix. Use URBEMIS default values unless project has unusual characteristics and data is available to modify the mix characteristics. 1 3. Ambient Temperature. As specified by the AQMD. 4. Trip Speeds. Use URBEMIS default values unless project has unusual characteristics and data is available to modify the speeds. Note, the average trip speeds must consider the time delay at intersection stops and acceleration and deceleration times. A typical trip speed for a residential project is 30 to 35 MPH. 5. Project Area. Use RURAL as area selection since this designation more closely corresponds to Shasta County than the other selections available. ' 6. Trip Lengths. Use URBEMIS default values unless other values have been approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer as a result of special traffic surveys or studies. 7. Percent of Cold Starts and Percent of Trip Types. Same as above. 8. Percent PM,, and Percent Sulfur in Fuel. Same as above. 9. Trip Rates. The model lists 41 ITE default trip rates for various types of land use. Trips should be modified according to the City's traffic model for the particular trip zone. In any case, the City shall approve the trip rate used. 46 H. SAMPLE CALCULATION OF EMISSION REDUCTION FROM APPLICATION OF BEST ' AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES (BAMM) Project: 500 Single Family Residences 1 Community Shopping Center The reader should understand that this example, as well as those on page 48, is only provided to illustrate the methodology. The emissions produced by these sample projects should not be interpreted as the level , of emissions that would be calculated using the latest approved URBEMIS model. It is also important to understand that each emission reduction factor to be applied must be documented and justified. , 1. Total unmitigated project emissions from URBEMIS computer model: 95.9 #/day TOG 143.2 #/day NO,, 18.2 #/day PM,, 2. Do project unmitigated emissions exceed Level "A" threshold of 25 #/day NO, 25 #/day ROG, or , 80 #/day PM,,,? Yes. (Assume reactive organic gases [ROG] are equivalent to total organic gases [TOG]. Apply all feasible Level "A"measures for both residential and commercial/industrial projects since this project has features of both types of development. , 3. Do project unmitigated emissions exceed Level "B"threshold of 137 #/day of the above pollutants? Yes. Apply all feasible Level "B" measures for both residential and commercial/industrial projects ' since this project has features of both types of development. 4. The following mitigation measures and associated average emission reductions were selected for this project: a. Synchronize traffic lights on streets near development: TOG Reduction = (95.9 #/day)(.06) = 5.8 #/day , NOX Reduction = (143.2 #/day)(.06) = 8.6 #/day PM,o Reduction = (18.2 #/day)(.06) = 1.1 #/day , b. Include retail service adjacent to subdivision: TOG Reduction = (95.9 #/day)(.025) = 2.4 #/day NO,, Reduction = (143.2 #/day)(.0365) = 5.2 #/day PM,, Reduction = (18.2 #/day)(.0365) = 0.66 #/day c. Construct on-site bus turnouts and shelters: TOG Reduction = (95.9 #/day)(.0105) = 1.0 #/day NOX Reduction = (143.2 #/day)(.014) = 2.0 #/day ' PM, Reduction = (18.2 #/day)(.014) = 0.2 #/day 5. Mitigated project emissions are determined by subtracting total reductions from unmitigated project emissions: , TOG Emissions = 95.9 - 5.8 - 2.4 - 1.0 #/day = 86.7 #/day NOX Emissions = 143.2 - 8.6 - 5.2 - 2.0 #/day = 127.4 #/day PM, Emissions = 18.2 - 1.1 - 0.66 - 0.2 #/day = 16.2 4/day 6. Determine if project emissions exceed the 137 #/day emission threshold where emission offsets are required. No. All emissions are below the significance level with applied mitigation. Therefore, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is appropriate. 47 1 , r M M M � r M = = ■s r = r r M = ® M I. SAMPLE LIST OF PROJECTS AND ASSOCIATED AIR POLLUTION MITIGATIONS USING AIR QUALITY ELEMENT PROCEDURES Emissions Produced DoesUse Exceed Levet A"Emission Threshold Does Use Exceed Levet t3'EmisstRn Threshold Project Type Suggested!Mitigation TOG NOx PM70 TOG (25116/day) NO.(25116/day} PM1,(80116/day► TOG (137116/day}. NOx(337116/day) 1?MS0(137116/day} Single-family 12.5 26.1 3.0 No Yes No No No No 1. Standard Mitigation subdivision Measures 0 00 units) 2. Construct on-site bus bench, passenger turnout, or shelter (1.4% reduction) Single-family 3.0 6.1 .7 No No No No No No 1. Standard Mitigation subdivision Measures (20 units) Manufacturing 1.3 2.6 5.0 No No No No No No 1. Standard Mitigation building (20,000 Measures sq ft) Manufacturing .3 .5 1.0 No No No No No No 1. Standard Mitigation building (4,000 Measures sq ft) Contractor .1 .2 .5 No No No No No No 1. Standard Mitigation storage yard Measures (1,000 sq ft building) O0 Small 37.8 62.6 25.3 Yes Yes No No No No 1. Standard Mitigation neighborhood Measures shopping center 2. Construct on-site (20,000 sq ft) bus benches and shelter 0.4% reduction) 3. Provide on-site restaurant(built into project's design) (2.4% reduction) 4. Provide on-site shopping for Total Reduction for Small Neighborhood Shopping Center = 20.1% (30.2 TOG, 50.1 NO, 20.3 PM 10). Since suggested mitigations do not reduce the emissions employees below Level "A" thresholds for the shopping center, the City must make a finding that all feasible best available mitigations have been applied. This finding would (2.4% reduction) be made part of a mitigated negative declaration. For large projects which are developed over time, each phase of the project shall be treated as a single project 5. Provide shopping in terms of meeting the 20 percent and 25 percent emission reduction standard of this table. adjacent to residential In most cases, Level "B" threshold will only be triggered by large General Plan amendments as opposed to single development projects;therefore, it is important neighborhood that programmatic mitigations be incorporated in the amendment so that the cumulative effects of discretionary and nondiscretionary projects are addressed. (11% reduction) 6. Provide on-site bike rack (1.5% reduction NOTES: 1. If use does not exceed Level "A" threshold, then use must at least reduce emissions by 20 percent by applying BAMM. 2. If, after applying BAMM, use still exceeds Level "A" threshold, then use must at least achieve a minimum emission reduction of 20 percent with BAMM. 3. If, after applying BAMM, use still exceeds Level "B" threshold, then a minimum of 25 percent of unmitigated emissions exceeding 137 pounds per day must be offset by reducing emissions from existing sources of pollution;otherwise,an EIR is required which must address air quality impacts,mitigations,and project alternatives as well as the basis for adopting any proposed"finding of overriding consideration" pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. PROJ\AIR\M ITIG ATN.TBL i J. SOURCES FOR OTHER STANDARD MITIGATION MEASURES (SMM) AND BEST a AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES (BAMM) 1. Placer County Air Pollution Control District, "Menu of Mitigation Measures" (9/93) 2. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, "Model Air Quality Element - Admin. Draft" (8-19-93) 3. South Coast Air Quality Management District, "1992 Revision of CEQA Air Quality Handbook - Chapter 11" ' 4. South Coast Air Quality Management District, "1992 Revision of CEQA Air Quality Handbook - Appendix 11" i 1 i 1 i 1 I 1 1 1 1 t 49 , VIII. TRACKING CUMULATIVE EMISSIONS OF ALL APPROVED PROJECTS Since the County Air Quality Attainment Plan and this element only "strive" to achieve a 5 percent ' annual reduction in emissions by applying Best Available Mitigation Measures (BAMM), not all project emissions will be mitigated. Although the California Clean Air Act permits this approach, the County and its cities should at least track the cumulative contribution of unmitigated emissions for all projects. This will enable decision makers to see how much more unmitigated emission is being radded to the cumulative emissions of all approved projects relative to a proposed project. In a way, this measure can serve as a gauge for any future adjustments in the mitigations of the Air Quality 1 Element. The most obvious gauge to use for annual cumulative impacts is the threshold level of the "New Source Review Rule," which is 25 tons/year or 137 lbs/day. This threshold coincides with Level "B" of the Air Quality Element in determining when an EIR and offsets are needed (see Chapter VII, Section "B"). Basically, the threshold serves as a level of significance for large and cumulative effects of several small projects. The reader is reminded that large projects must address the impacts of exceeding Level "B," but small projects pending consideration of approval should only be examined relative to their contribution to Level "B" threshold as a matter of information. The annual cumulative contribution of emissions from vehicles and wood heating devices, including fireplaces, should also be traced in accordance with the calculations of this chapter. The information from the following table should be made part of the initial environmental study for each proposed project. At the end of the year, a report of cumulative emissions for that calendar year should be submitted to the Air Quality Management District (AQMD), the Planning Commission, and City Council as a matter of information. AIR QUALITY OZONE AND PM,, TRACKING PROGRAM FOR PROPOSED AND APPROVED PROJECTS (Based on Calendar Year) 1. Vehicle emissions of proposed project as quantified by the air ( ) quality URBEMIS computer model. 2. Vehicle emission reductions of proposed project based on proposed ( ) mitigations. 3. Difference in emissions between No. 1 and No. 2 for proposed ( ) project. 4. Annual cumulative emissions of all approved projects. ( ) 5. Add No. 3 and No. 4. ( ) 6. Significant project threshold of Air Quality Management District (25 tons/year) (Level "B"). 50 ' 7. Difference in emissions between No. 5 and No. 6 is the amount of ( ) emissions that Cities and County must offset through emission reductions or offsets being applied to new development or modified and/or existing businesses. As noted above, the Level "B" threshold is the same threshold used in the permitting process of the AQMD for stationary sources of pollution from individual businesses and manufacturing plants. The permit requirements, including emission offsets for Level "B" exceedances, apply to new and modified businesses of the County's New Source Review Rule. By using the same threshold for development eprojects or "indirect sources"of pollution, parity is at least recognized between the two types of projects. The idea is, as much as possible, to make sure new and modified businesses do not carry all the burden of mitigating the emission impacts of indirect sources of pollution from other types of development projects. Another way of justifying this approach is to realize that direct and indirect sources of vehicle and PM,o emissions share the same overall emissions budget. It should also be recognized that projects that have direct sources of emissions under the California Clean Air Act already have a double requirement of mitigating stationary and indirect sources of emission. The tracking program for PM,,emissions from approved and pending wood heating devices uses the same threshold of 137 lbs/day or a maximum of 423 devices per year as the threshold of approved units. The emission advantages of Phase II stoves is outweighed by this number of devices as indicated by the formula below: (# devices) (1.5 cords) (2.22 tons) (14.6 lbs PM10) ( 1 yr ) _ (# lbs/day) devices cord T 150 days # devices = 423 devices = 137 lbs/day T = EPA AP-42 emission factor for Phase II stove ' Based on this, the significant threshold for PM,o relative to No. 6 of the table above, is 137 lbs/day. If the number of approved heating devices exceeds 423 per year, then the cumulative effect is considered significant. Since this action of approved devices is only a building permit, CEQA clearance does enot apply, but the tracking program should still be followed. 1 51 r ' GLOSSARY OF AIR QUALITY TERMS INTRODUCTION ' This glossary is intended to help ordinary citizens understand the most commonly used air pollution terms. The glossary is divided into two sections: 1. GOVERNMENTAL SECTION 2. TECHNICAL SECTION The governmental section gives an overview of the laws, regulations, and government agencies involved in ensuring healthful air quality. The technical section explains some scientific terms used to describe pollutants, the processes that form them, and their effects. 1. GOVERNMENTAL SECTION ' Introduction to the Regulatory System Federal and state governments have laws and agencies that control air pollution. At the Federal level, ' the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for safeguarding the nation's air quality. Each state must meet the standards set by the EPA. Some states like California have passed standards that are more strict than those set by the EPA, so polluters must also comply with those standards. The EPA works with state and local agencies to make sure that air quality in the state at least meets Federal standards. The state and local agencies monitor pollution and enforce both state and Federal standards. In California, the Air Resources Board (ARB) is the lead agency responsible for air quality. Local counties overseen by the ARB develop and implement local air quality management plans. The counties specifically regulate emissions made by local stationary sources (i.e., those that don't come from moving objects like cars and trains). In addition to overseeing local regulatory efforts, ARB has direct authority over mobile sources. ' Together, Federal, state, and local agencies, in coordination with the regulated and general public, are acting to bring the state into compliance with health and welfare-based air quality standards. Under the current regulatory framework, it is expected that California will meet this goal within the next two decades. Governmental Terms Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Program (AB 2588): A California program (Health and Safety Code Section 44300, et seq.) requiring certain stationary sources to report the type ' and quantity of specific toxic substances they routinely release into the air. The program identifies high priority facilities and requires facilities posing significant risks to notify all exposed individuals. ' APCD (Air Pollution Control District): A county agency with authority to regulate stationary, indirect, and area sources of air pollution (e.g., power plants, highway construction, and housing developments) within a given county, and governed by a district air pollution control board composed ' of the elected county supervisors. (Compare AQMD). 52 AQMD (Air Quality Management District): A group of counties or portions of counties, or an ' individual county specified in law with authority to regulate stationary, indirect, and area sources of air pollution within the region and governed by a regional air pollution control board comprised mostly of elected officials from within the region. (Compare APCD). ' AQMP (Air Quality Management Plan): A plan prepared by an APCD/AQMD for a county or region designated as a nonattainment area for the purpose of bringing the area into compliance with the , requirements of the national and/or California Ambient Air Quality Standards. AQMPs are incorporated into the state Implementation Plan (SIP). Attainment Area: A geographic area which is in compliance with the National and/or California , Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or CAAQS). BACT (Best Available Control Technology): The most up-to-date methods, systems, techniques, and production processes available to achieve the greatest feasible emission reductions for given regulated air pollutants and processes. BACT is a requirement of NSR (New Source Review) and PSD (Prevention ' of Significant Deterioration). CAAQS (California Ambient Air Quality Standard): A legal limit that specifies the maximum level , and time of exposure that can occur in the outside air for a given air pollutant and which is protective of human health and public welfare (Health and Safety Code 39606b). CAAQSs are recommended by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and adopted into regulation by the Air Resources Board. CAAQSs are the standards which must be met per the requirements of the California , Clean Air Act. CARB (California Air Resources Board): The state's lead air quality agency consisting of a nine- member, Governor-appointed board. It is responsible for attainment and maintenance of state and Federal air quality standards and is fully responsible for motor vehicle pollution control. It oversees county and regional air pollution management programs. ' CCAA (California Clean Air Act): California law passed in 1988 which provides the basis for air quality planning and regulation independent of Federal regulations. A major element of the act is the , requirement that local APCDs/AQMDs in violation of the CAAQS must prepare attainment plans which identify air quality problems, causes, trends, and actions to be taken to attain and maintain California's air quality standards by the earliest practicable date. CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act): A California law which sets forth a process for public agencies to make informed decisions on discretionary project approvals. The process aids decision makers to determine whether any environmental impacts are associated with a proposed project. It requires that environmental impacts associated with a proposed project be eliminated or reduced and that air quality mitigation measures be implemented. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): The United states agency charged with setting policy and , guidelines and carrying out legal mandates for the protection of national interests in environmental resources. ' FIP (Federal Implementation Plan): In the absence of an approved state Implementation Plan (SIP), a plan prepared by the EPA which provides measures that nonattainment areas must take to meet the ' requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act. Indirect Source: Any facility, building, structure, or installation, or combination thereof, which ' generates or attracts mobile source activity that results in emissions of any pollutant (or precursor) for 53 ' which there is a state ambient air quality standard. Examples of indirect sources include employment sites, shopping centers, sports facilities, housing developments, airports, commercial and industrial development, and parking lots and garages. Indirect Source Control Program: Rules, regulations, local ordinances and land-use controls, and other regulatory strategies of air pollution control districts or local governments used to control or reduce emissions associated with new and existing indirect sources. Indirect source control programs include regulatory strategies such as transportation control measures (e.g., South Coast's Regulation XV for employer-based trip reduction); parking charges; land-use controls that reduce the need for vehicle travel and increase transit, bicycle, and pedestrian access; and source-specific regulations such as truck idling and travel schedule requirements. Indirect Source Review: A major component of an indirect source control program which applies to new and modified indirect sources. Strategies for indirect source review include permit programs; review and comment on new and modified indirect source projects through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process; and coordination of air quality, transportation, and land-use policies through local government general plans. Indirect source review reduces emissions from new and modified sources through best available mitigation measures and additional off-site mitigation such as offsets and mitigation ' fees. NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards): Standards set by the Federal EPA for the maximum levels of air pollutants which can exist in the outdoor air without unacceptable effects on human health or the public welfare. NSR (New Source Review): A program used to permit new or modified industrial facilities which are in a nonattainment area and which emit nonattainment criteria air pollutants. The two major requirements of NSR are Best Available Control Technology and Emission Offset. Nonattainment Area: A geographic area identified by the EPA and/or ARB as not meeting either NAAQS or CAAQS standards for a given pollutant. SIP (state Implementation Plan): A document prepared by each state describing existing air quality conditions and measures which will be taken to attain and maintain national ambient air quality standards (see AQMP). Transportation Control Measure (TCM): Any control measure to reduce vehicle trips, vehicle use, vehicle miles traveled, vehicle idling, or traffic congestion for the purpose of reducing motor vehicle emissions. TCMs could include encouraging the use of carpools and mass transit. 2. TECHNICAL SECTION Introduction to Technical Terms ' Air quality management and regulations are dependent on information gathered from a number of technical disciplines. These include the study of the health and environmental effects of pollutants, air quality sampling and pollutant measurement, data management and analysis, and control ' technology development. This section of the glossary is intended to give the reader a general understanding of the air-related terms most commonly used in these sciences. 54 Technical Terms ' Acid Rain: Rain which is especially acidic (pH < 5,2). Principal components of acid rain typically include nitric and sulfuric acid. These may be formed by the combination of nitrogen and sulfur oxides ' with water vapor in the atmosphere. Air Pollutants: Amounts of foreign and/or natural substances occurring in the atmosphere that may ' result in adverse effects on humans, animals, vegetation, and/or materials. BACT (Best Available Control Technology): The most up-to-date methods, systems, techniques, and ' production processes available to achieve the greatest feasible emission reductions for given regulated air pollutants and processes. BACT is a requirement of NSR (New Source Review) and PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration). CO (Carbon Monoxide): A colorless, odorless gas resulting from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Over 80 percent of the CO emitted in urban areas is contributed by motor vehicles. CO interferes ' with the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body's tissues and results in numerous adverse health effects. CO is a criteria air pollutant. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): A colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in the earth's atmosphere. Significant quantities are also emitted into the air by fossil fuel combustion. Emissions of CO2 have been implicated with increasing the greenhouse effect. Fugitive Dust: Dust particles which are introduced into the air through certain activities such as soil ' cultivation, off-road vehicles, or any vehicles operating on open fields or dirt roadways. Greenhouse Effect: The warming effect of the earth's atmosphere on the earth. Light energy from the sun which passes through the earth's atmosphere is absorbed by the earth's surface and re-radiated into the atmosphere as heat energy. The heat energy is then trapped by the atmosphere, creating a situation ' similar to that which occurs in a greenhouse or a car with its windows rolled up. Many scientists believe that the emission of CO2 and other gasses into the atmosphere may increase the greenhouse effect and contribute to global warming. Hydrocarbon: Any of a large number of compounds containing various combinations of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They may be emitted into the air as a result of fossil fuel combustion, fuel volatization, and solvent use, and are a major contributor to smog. (Also see ROG). ' Inversion: A layer of warm air in the atmosphere that lies over a layer of cooler air, trapping pollutants. Nitrogen Oxides (Oxides of Nitrogen, NOJ: A general term pertaining to compounds of nitric oxide ' (NO), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), and other oxides of nitrogen. Nitrogen oxides are typically created during combustion processes and are major contributors to smog formation and acid deposition. NO2 is a criteria air pollutant and may result in numerous adverse health effects. Ozone: A strong smelling, pale blue, reactive toxic chemical gas consisting of three oxygen atoms. It ' is a product of the photochemical process involving the sun's energy. Ozone exists in the upper atmosphere ozone layer as well as at the earth's surface. Ozone at the earth's surface causes numerous adverse health effects and is a criteria air pollutant. It is a major component of smog. , Ozone Layer: A layer of ozone 12 to 15 miles above the earth's surface which helps to filter out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. It may be contrasted with ground-level ozone which exists at the earth's surface and is a harmful component of photochemical smog. A primary concern is that 55 , compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)used in air conditioning systems are depleting the ozone layer. Stringent Federal requirements will phase out production of chlorofluorocarbons in the U.S. by the year 2000. Ozone Precursors: Chemicals such as hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen, occurring either naturally or as a result of human activities, which contribute to the formation of ozone, a major component of 1 smog. PM-10 (Particulate Matter): A major air pollutant consisting of tiny solid or liquid particles of soot, dust, aerosols, fumes, and mists. The size of the particles (10 microns or smaller, about 0.0004 inch or less) allows them to easily enter the air sacs deep in the lungs where they may be deposited to result in adverse health effects. PM,o also causes visibility reduction and is a criteria air pollutant. ROG (Reactive Organic Gas): A reactive chemical gas composed of hydrocarbons that may contribute to the formation of smog. Also sometimes referred to as Non-Methane Organic Compounds (NMOCs). ' Smog: A combination of smoke, ozone, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and other chemically reactive compounds which, under certain conditions of weather and sunlight, may result in a murky brown haze ' that causes adverse health effects. The primary source of smog in California is motor vehicles. Smoke: A form or air pollution consisting primarily of particulate matter (i.e., particles). Other components of smoke include gaseous air pollutants such as hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon ' monoxide. Sources of smoke may include fossil fuel combustion, agricultural burning, and other combustion processes. ' Stationary Sources: Nonmobile sources such as power plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities which emit air pollutants. (Contrast with mobile sources.) ' Toxic Hot Spot: An area where the concentration of air toxics is significantly higher than background levels and where individuals may be exposed to an elevated risk of adverse health effects. Toxic hot spot sources can include landfills, sewage treatment plants, and numerous other operations. 2-14-94 PROAAWELEMENT 56 ANALYSIS RMINES THRESHOLDS NOT EXCEEDED ON CMP HWY NETWORK AND NEEDM .CT ON AIR QUALITY OR ENVIRONMENT LOCAL AGENCY CAUSES DEVELOPMENT OF AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS, AND/OR TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND TRAFFIC MITIGATION MONITORING PLAN USING APPROVED RTPA TRAFFIC MODEL AND AQMD AIR QUALITY MODEL AND AIR QUALITY MITIGATIONS EVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: TS ANNUAL TRAFFIC MODELING � LOCAL AGENCY DETERMINES IF NEGATIVE NEGATIVE DECO FFECT OF ALL PROJECTS DECLARATION OR DRAFT EIR IS NEEDED IORK - T DRAFT EIR REQUIRED I I I I LOCAL AGENCY HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING - I ON DRAFT EIR AND MITIGATION PLAN S IF MITIGATIONS OF A DEFICIENCY TO MAINTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICE JETWORK I I GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DISPUTE REGARDING: 1) TRAFFIC ANALYSIS ryQp�RC 2) MITIGATION PLAN 3) AIR LJIr�V G QUALITY ANALYSIS I I FNO DME F SPUTE NEGOTIATED AND RESOLVED B FINAL EIR CERTIFIED OR NEGATNE DECLAFECTED AGENCIES AND DEVELOPER ISSUED BY LOCAL AGENCY I CTS REGIONAL MONITORING I PROJECT AND MITIGATION MONITORING TY TO TO SEE IF GOALS ARE PLAN APPROVED BY LOCAL AGENCY ?E SEE IF BEST AVAILABLE 2E WORKING J 4T.FR,—TAFGFAlTcDN AND/OR AIR QUALITY MONITORING CARRIED OUT BY LOCAL AGENCY LOCAL AGENCIES -S AND COUNTY ADVISED OF AQMD , OMMENDATIOIONS i