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Offsite Mitigation Strategy for Criteria Pollutants and GHGs

Offsite Mitigation Strategy for Criteria Pollutants and GHGs. Alison Kirk Senior Environmental Planner Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Association of Environmental Professionals California State Conference May 20, 2017. About Us. What is the “Air District?”

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Offsite Mitigation Strategy for Criteria Pollutants and GHGs

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  1. Offsite Mitigation Strategy for Criteria Pollutants and GHGs Alison Kirk Senior Environmental Planner Bay Area Air Quality Management District Association of Environmental Professionals California State Conference May 20, 2017

  2. About Us • What is the “Air District?” • air pollution control agency since 1955 • regional public authority with 24-director board • 350 people; HQ in SF • What does the Air District do? • regulate air quality + attain/maintain ambient air concentrations • monitor air quality • write and enforce regulations • provide incentives and education • do “Spare the Air” public service announcements • 9 counties • 101 cities • 7 million people 2

  3. What is an OMS? An Offsite Mitigation Strategy is a reduction in criteria air pollutant or greenhouse gas emissions at a site with no physical connection to the place where the impacts are occurring 3

  4. CEQA Roles • Lead agency • Responsible agency • Commenting agency OMS here

  5. Calls for CEQA offsite mitigation guidance 5

  6. Why develop an OMS? • Assist lead agencies in CEQA compliance • Achieve statewide GHG reduction goals • Feasible mitigation measure • More cost-efficient 6

  7. Example: Faria Preserve Pollutants Causing Significant Impact (i.e., needing mitigation) nitrogen oxides (NOx) 7

  8. OMS Fees(estimates) • ROG + NOx: $34,900/ton(very expensive to mitigate ROG or NOx alone; more feasible to do a “mixed ton” of ozone precursors) • ROG + NOx + PM: $18,300/ton • CO2e: $2,300/MT 8

  9. OMS Administration • Internal: grants office • Name: Strategic Incentive Division • 20+ years of experience implementing incentive programs • External: nonprofit foundation • Name: Bay Area Clean Air Foundation • Nonprofit to collect funds, enter into agreements 9

  10. Lessons Learned  • Very expensive to mitigate ROG or NOx alone • More feasible to do a “mixed ton” of ozone precursor • One-off projects can be very time consuming • Need to streamline the OMS “market” • Larger projects subject to General Conformity   10

  11. Reflections • Would we do this again? • Who should try this? • When should you consider an OMS? • When should you contact us?

  12. BAAQMD Next Steps • Resolve policy questions • Complete draft OMS Guidelines • Hold public workshops • Final OMS Guidelines • Implement + Start doing more projects • Update OMS Guidelines and policies as needed 12

  13. Thank You Alison Kirk, AICP Senior Environmental Planner Designated CEQA Contact akirk@baaqmd.gov (415) 749-5169 13

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