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Effective Off-Site Air Quality Mitigation. Honey L. Walters, Principal Ascent Environmental, Inc. “Surplus”. Real Quantifiable Additional Permanent. Development Considerations. Research and identify “surplus” project types Determine if readily feasible Quantify implementation costs
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Effective Off-Site Air Quality Mitigation Honey L. Walters, Principal Ascent Environmental, Inc.
“Surplus” Real Quantifiable Additional Permanent
Development Considerations • Research and identify “surplus” project types • Determine if readily feasible • Quantify implementation costs • $/pound or ton of criteria air pollutants and precursors • $/metric ton of CO2e • Overall, for off-site mitigation projects: • Feasibility • Applicability • Economic viability
Emissions Considerations • Estimating amount of off-site reduction: • Potential available from “surplus” projects • Needed for new development • Apples-to-Apples • Timing • Emissions types
Requirements • Off-site program • Necessary steps • Requirements • Adoption of rule or regulation • CEQA • Protocol • Instruction for project applicants or lead agency • Methods and tools for quantifying off-site emissions reductions • Reporting requirements
Greenhouse Gas CEQA Mitigation • California Air Resources Board • The 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan Update • Released Jan. 20th 2017 • First Public Board Meeting Jan. 27th, 2017 • Second Public Board Meeting Feb. 16-17th, 2017 • Extended EA Comment Period (Additional Public Outreach) • Third Public Board Meeting June 22nd, 2017 • https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm
Scoping Plan Guidance Without Qualified CAP • For CEQA projects in jurisdictions without a qualified CAP: • ARB recommends implementing “all feasible measures to reduce GHG emissions” • While the Scoping Plan does not require a “no net increase” or zero net emissions threshold, it states that ARB believes this would be “the correct overall objective.” • Scoping Plan notes that several projects – including the large Newhall Ranch development – have proposed reaching zero net GHG emissions. • Will this increase the need for local off-site CEQA mitigation?
Mitigation • Recommended mitigation scheme priorities • On-site design features • Off-site with direct investments in vicinity of project (e.g. , investment at social cost of carbon into local green fund to support energy efficiency and other demand side programs) • Off-site within the State • Purchase and retire carbon credits from voluntary registry
Climate Action Plan Connection Identifying development and implementation as a reduction action or measure Off-site fees fund other CAP measures Adjust reduction value of program Co-benefits (not just greenhouse gas reductions) Part of consistency checklist
Examples Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Imperial County Air Pollution Control District