ESP 179 quiz 2 Flashcards
What are the ongoing tensions over CEQA?
Business groups want simpler processes, environemntal groups want stricter processes, CEQA can be a waste of resources, some use CEQA for personal objectives.
What is the Senate Bill 886?
Passed; it would exempt public universities from CEQA for student housing if built on university-owned property
What is SB 922?
Senate bill on transit and sustainable transportation that expedited bike, pedestrian and rapid bus projects, allowing for the removal of some requirements.
What major reform bill would’ve helped with climate change, green house gas emissions, and would create way more thresholds?
SB 731
What are the two types of exemptions for CEQA?
Categorical (small project), and statutory (legislative exemption regardless of impacts).
What are DIY exemptions?
Citizens can make laws by voting (direct democracy) or citizens can write a statute and get petition signatures (citizen initiative).
What happens if a city receives a citizen initiative?
The city typically does a public vote and if passed no CEQA.
What’s the Tuolumne case (2014)
Tuolumne vs. the superior court of Tuolumne county; A Walmart was proposed in Sonora and a citizen initiative was submitted, but council approved the initiative prior to vote and supreme court ruled in favor of walmart.
Explain the Tuolumne tactic?
A developer wants city council to approve a project, so they get a member to propose the project as an initiative and get it approved.
What is mitigation?
Defined as avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing over time, or compensating impacts in a project.
When do we mitigate?
Mitigation measures must be in MND or EIR and no later time.
Mitigation must be-
Feasible (capable of being accomplished)
What are the constitutional limits of mitigation?
Essential Nexus principle: permit condition MUST be related to impact and cannot give mitigation for something that isn’t directly related.
Rough Proportionality principle: Cannot require mitigation that is disproportionate in magnitude to the impact.
What does an effective mitigation measure require?
Describe specific actions: what, by whom, when
Uses commitment verbs (no maybes)
Identifies performance measures
What is the mitigation monitoring or reporting program (MMRP)?
MMRP = public agency adopts MMRP to ensure compliance during project implementation (permits, agreements, etc.) and is required for EIR and MND.
What act from 1970 regulates emissions from hazardous air pollutants, regulates acid rain, ozone depletion, and prevents deterioration?
The Clean Air Act; EPA enforces this and established the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)
What are the 6 criteria air pollutants?
Ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
What are non-attainment areas?
Areas that do not meet ambient air quality standards for one or more criteria air pollutants.
How does ozone affect us?
AKA smog, it irritates our respiratory, chronic lung disease, and asthma, BUT is not directly emitted. Created through mixtures of NOx and VOCs.
What is ozone depletion?
= the depletion of the earth’s protective layer, allows for UV rays to enter the atmosphere
What is particulate matter?
A mix of small particles and liquid droplets that can pass through lung membranes and into the blood stream.
What are some of the tailpipe emission control standards?
Hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, catalytic converters, zero-emission vehicle regulation, clean car programs
On the air quality standards what does it mean to have a lower number?
It means there are tighter restrictions or controls over the air pollutant.
What does the California air and resource board (CARB) do?
They set CAAQS and prepare state implementation plans.
What are AQMDs and APCDs?
Air quality management districts and air pollution control districts. They regulate toxic air contaminants and there are 35 districts in CA.
Which emissions matter?
Construction (combustion/ozone) and operational (diesel)
What do emission thresholds do?
Tells us how much an individual can emit and if attainment or non-attainment is important.
What can be used in a resource chapter to help give data for the resource.
Technical analysis
What is the first (A) air quality appendix G question?
Would the project conflict or obstruct the implementation of applicable air quality plans?
Governed by state implementation plans and regional clean air plans. The project must be in compliance with pollution control measures, emission thresholds, and required mitigation measures.
What is the second question for air quality (B)?
Would the project result in cumulatively considerable net increase in any pollutant in a non-attainment area?
This is limited to non-attainment areas and emission thresholds reflect the cumulative impacts.
What is the third question for air quality (c)?
Would the project expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations?
This includes day cares, hospitals, retirements homes, and some residential areas.
What are pollution hotspots?
Local concentrations of air pollution are worse than ambient conditions. Like Los Angeles because of traffic congestion and ports.
What are TACs?
toxic are contaminants that can cause serious human health hazards and have the potential health risk evaluated in a health risk assessment (Identification - dose or exposure assessment - risk characterization).
What facts/analysis can be used to answer air quality questions?
CARB- community health and air pollution information system
CARB - hot spots analysis and reporting program
WPA citizens guide
California Air Pollution Control Officers assessment
What is the last question for air quality (d)?
Would the project result in other emissions adversely affecting a substantial number of people?
Objectionable odors
This question can be subjective and may use dispersion models to evaluate.
What’s the difference between criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases?
Air pollutants = inhaling has health effects
GHGs = any gas or atmospheric particle that absorbs infrared radiation
What are the GHGs under CEQA?
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride
What is global warming potential?
A measure of the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will be absorbed over a given period (CO2 lowest SF6 highest)
What are the federal level regulations regarding GHGs?
Massachusetts vs. EPA (2007) where court rules GHGs are pollutants under CAA.
EPA: Endangerment and cause or contribute findings (2009) is a response to 2007 and mandates it.
Mandatory GHG reporting rule (2009) where it requires an annual reporting of GHGs to EPA every year.
CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards for vehicles.
What is the california global warming solutions act of 2006?
AB 32 where goal of reducing GHG to 1990 levels by 2020.
What is SB 375?
Sustainable communities and climate protection act (2008) which directs CARB to set regional targets for GHG reduction from passenger vehicle use.
What is the first question for GHGs in the checklist (a)?
Would the project generate ghg emissions, either that may have significant impact on the environment?
What do emission thresholds reflect?
Cumulative impacts
