CEQA Air Quality Handbook

The District’s CEQA Handbook describes the District’s existing review process related to the processing of CEQA documents when the District acts as a commenting agency for land use projects located within Placer County. The Handbook contains criteria used by the District to recommend when an air quality analysis should be needed, what types of analysis should be performed, and what kinds of mitigation measures should be identified to reduce overall air quality impacts from proposed land use projects. These criteria include specific methods for calculating emissions with references to applicable models, recommended thresholds for evaluating the level of significance, and mitigation strategies for mitigating a project’s related air quality impacts. The CEQA Handbook is provided electronically as an entire document and as individual chapter/appendix sections by the following icons. Any future updates will be shown after each chapter. Contact the District by email pcapcd-ceqa@placer.ca.gov or at (530) 745-2330 with any questions or issues.

Placer County Air Pollution Control District CEQA Air Quality Handbook

CEQA Handbook Chapters

  CEQA Air Quality Handbook (Full Version)  (PDF) (1,910 KB), October, 2012

   CHAPTER 1: Project Review & Analysis  (PDF) (521 KB), October, 2012
   CHAPTER 2: Thresholds of Significance  (PDF) (241 KB), October, 2012
   CHAPTER 3: Analyzing Construction Emissions  (PDF) (242 KB), October, 2012
   CHAPTER 4: Analyzing Operational Emissions  (PDF) (320 KB), October, 2012
   CHAPTER 5: Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emissions  (PDF) ( KB), October, 2012

   Appendix A. Recommended Mitigation Measures (Construction)  (PDF) (103 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix B. District Rules & Regulations (Construction)  (PDF) (121 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix C. Recommended Mitigation Measures (Operational)  (PDF) (123 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix D. District Rules & Regulations (Operational)  (PDF) (104 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix E. Preparing a Health Risk Assessment for Land Use Projects  (PDF) (393 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix F. GHG Mitigation Measures Reduction Chart  (PDF) (109 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix G. Mitigation Measures (Greenhouse Gases)  (PDF) (151 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix H. 2001/2008 Air Quality Mitigation Funds Policy (Land Use)  (PDF) (489 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix I. Glossary  (PDF) (165 KB), October, 2012
   Appendix J. References  (PDF) (91 KB) October, 2012

Handbook Revision History

January, 2013 – Update to the District's offsite mitigation fee.
October 2012 –1^st Version of the Handbook is released.

The Evolution of the District’s CEQA Review Program

2012     
October, 2012 Board Meeting: The Board was introduced to the release of 1^st CEQA Handbook prepared by Staff to explain the District’s CEQA Review Program.

• Board Packet (3mb) | Handbook (2.5mb) | Attachment 1 (6.6mb) |Attachment 2 | Attachment 3 | Attachment 4
  

2010     
June, 2010 Board Meeting: The Board approved a motion to support the existing thresholds and directed staff to continue using the existing thresholds associated with land use projects.

• Board Packet (2mb)
• CEQA Thresholds for Cumulative Impacts
  

2009
August, 2009: The District hosts its first Greenhouse Gas Workshop and Presentation for land use planners and CEQA practitioners.

•  Presentation of the PCAPCD District Workshop (5.1 mb) (pdf)
  

2008    
December, 2008 Board Meeting: The Board was informed of the Districts existing CEQA review program, including the District’s recommended thresholds, and staff discussed the compilation of a future “CEQA Handbook”.

• Staff Report (113KB) (pdf)

PCAPCD Off-Site Mitigation Fee Program

A policy was adopted by the District’s Board of Directors in 2001 (amended in 2008) which provided an alternative for developers to offset the increased emissions from new land use development projects by paying monetary incentives and established guidelines for the use of air quality mitigation funds received from developers. Based on this policy, the District manages an off-site mitigation fee program to be utilized as an option for some development projects when the on-site mitigations are insufficient to offset their related impacts to below the applicable thresholds. It is a voluntary measure which would be recommended by the District through the CEQA review process to the developers and lead agencies for consideration.

The fee rate is based on the cost-effectiveness factor updated by the latest CARB Carl Moyer Program Guideline. Cost-effectiveness is a measure of the dollars provided for each ton of covered emission reductions; CARB may adjust it to reflect emission reduction market conditions. The current rate for the District’s off-site mitigation fee calculation is $17,080 per ton of ozone precursor emissions (ROG or NO_x), effective from January 1, 2013. For more information regarding the District’s Off-site mitigation measure, see Chapter 4 of the CEQA Air Quality Handbook.

CEQA Modeling Analysis Tools

Models are commonly used to calculate project air emissions. More information can be found in Chapter 1 of the handbook on various models available.

CalEEMod

In February 2011, a new air emissions model, the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) was introduced. This model calculates both criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from projects. The model and user’s guide can be downloaded at www.caleemod.com. CalEEMod user tips are also available to assist new model users.

URBEMIS

NOTE: Currently, an update to CalEEMod is underway, which will include the latest emission factor updates for EMFAC2011. The District will recommend Lead Agencies use the updated model once it is released. After the release of the updated model, the District will no longer recommend the use of URBEMIS (a previously accepted model) to conduct air quality analysis for CEQA purposes, as the emission factors will no longer be valid.