How to Create a CEQA Air Quality Analysis for Development Projects

Design for Success!

April 27, 2017 James A. Westbrook, President jwestbrook@bluescapeinc.com

877-486-9257

WebinarTopics Section 1: CEQA Air Quality Analysis Process -  CEQA Air Quality Review Requirements and Process -  Air Quality Issues reviewed under CEQA -  5 Air Quality Analysis Process Steps:

Identify Needs - Gather Info – Calculate Emissions – Impact Modeling - Report

-  Significance Thresholds; Project and Cumulative Impacts -  Special Siting Cases -  Strategies for an Approvable Air Quality Analysis Report Section 2: Air Quality Impacts Technical Discussion -  Air Emission Calculations -  Localized Significance Thresholds (SCAQMD) -  Air Quality Modeling for Criteria Pollutants -  Health Risk Assessment for Diesel Particulate Emissions

CEQA Air Quality Impact Analysis Requirements

CEQA Regulation Overview •  Applies to development “projects” such as airports,

freeways, office buildings, housing developments, etc. •  1970 – California Environmental Quality Act signed into

legislation •  CEQA Statute: Public Resources Code Div 13, §21000 et

seq –  Identify significant effects, mitigate or avoid significant

effects where feasible, approve if infeasible to mitigate provided other laws met

–  Project impacts, cumulatively considerable with other projects, adverse effects on human beings

•  CEQA Guidelines CCR Title 14, Div. Chap 3, §15000 et seq

•  Lead Agencies in charge of CEQA review •  Air Districts are Responsible Agencies, review and input

ref:h1p://resources.ca.gov/ceqa/flowchart

When is an Air Quality Analysis Required under CEQA?

•  Must have a “Project” •  Not exempt from CEQA or ministerial (non-

discretionary) •  Lead Agency prepares Initial Study to determine a

project’s environmental impact •  Possible Significant Impact?

–  EIR or Negative Declaration (Neg Dec) prepared by Lead Agency

•  Air Quality section of the EIR document, separate technical study report

•  Public comment period on Draft EIR or Neg Dec •  Need an EIR to require air quality review?

Air Quality Issues Review under CEQA •  Criteria Pollutants - Regional and Localized Impacts

–  Ozone (NOx and VOC precursors), Particulate Matter (PM), NO2, CO, SO2

–  Particulate Matter - PM10 or PM2.5 from combustion or fugitive dust –  Localized sensitive receptor impacts for NO2, PM, and CO –  Traffic-related CO roadway and intersection hotspots

•  Greenhouse Gases (GHG or CO2e) –  Climate Change, California AB32 regulation

•  Air Toxics –  Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) –  Other combustion toxics, operation-related toxics –  Asbestos from demolition –  Subsurface contamination releases

•  Nuisance-Related Issues –  Odors –  Methane

•  Hazardous Material Spills, Explosions?

CEQA Air Quality Analysis Steps

CEQA Air Quality Analysis Steps

Step 1: Identify Air Pollutants and Requirements

•  What kind of Project and Location? –  Demo old/build new Commercial Office Building in mid-Wilshire District Los Angeles –  Expand berth facilities for a Port of San Diego tenant –  Build a new Power plant in South San Francisco

•  Local Planning Agency and Air District Guidelines •  Identify Project Information:

–  Preferred project alternative, and other alternatives including no action –  Equipment and activities that cause air emission impacts

–  Identify project pollutants; Construction, Operation –  Identify significance thresholds –  Potential odors, methane, spills

•  Locations of nearby sensitive receptors – schools, residences, day care •  Background monitoring data for setting, location of existing pollution

“hot spots” •  Identify local regulations and emission reduction requirements •  Recently completed EIRs/Air Studies, agency and public comments •  Identify nearby projects for cumulative impacts with other projects

CEQA Significance Thresholds

•  Criteria Pollutants – NOx, VOC, PM10, PM2.5, CO, SOx –  Emission significance thresholds daily (peak lb/day), annual

(tons/year) –  Published by Planning Agencies and Air Districts, or stated

within a General Plan –  California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) and

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) - concentrations

•  GHG –  Not cumulatively considerable for Climate Change

•  Health Risk Impacts for Air Toxic Issues (SCAQMD) –  Cases cancer per million at maximum exposed receptors –  Population-wide cancer burden –  Hazard index (HI) for noncancer chemicals

•  Nuisance issues – generally can’t happen, must be mitigated

South Coast AQMD Significance Thresholds

Pollutant Construc-on Opera-on

NOx 100lbs/day 55lbs/day

VOC 75lbs/day 55lbs/day

PM10 150lbs/day 150lbs/day

PM2.5 55lbs/day 55lbs/day

SOx 150lbs/day 150lbs/day

CO 550lbs/day 550lbs/day

Lead 3lbs/day 3lbs/day

ToxicAirContaminants(TACs),Odor,andGHGThresholds

TACs

MICR≥10in1millionCancerBurden>0.5

Chronic&AcuteHI≥1.0

Odor ProjectCreatesanOdorNuisancePursuanttoSCAQMDRule402

GHG 10,000MT/yrCO2eforIndustrialFacili]es3,000MT/yrCO2eforResiden]al/CommercialProjects

GHG Significance Analysis •  California AB32 Regulation

–  Reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 –  SB32 signed 9/8/16; reduce 40% below 1990 levels by 2040 –  Focus on operational emissions; minimize construction

emissions •  Starting to shape up like:

–  Consistency with a qualified Climate Action Plan, or –  Significance thresholds

Ref:PlacerCoCEQAThresholdsofSignificanceJus8fica8onReport

Step 2: Gather Information •  Site Plans and Activity Locations •  Project Phasing Details, by month and year

–  Construction - demo, site prep, paving and painting

–  Operation - when the project open for business

•  Equipment Type and Activity –  Mobile Source Combustion Emissions - Onroad and Offroad

–  Stationary Source Emissions - e.g. boiler, kiln, coating line

–  Fugitive Dust - demo, grading, loading/hauling, road dust

SHORTCUTS! District Screening tables; CalEEMod has pre-populated project types •  Required and voluntary emission controls – watering, diesel filters, solar

panels, tinted windows

•  Emission-Related Information – HP rating, load factor, usage factor, miles and hours travelled

•  Operation schedule - hours per day, months, years

•  “Holes” to fill in?

Equipment Information Construction Equipment

Fuel Use Fuel Use Pieces of Equipment by Month Operation

Equipment Type Fuel Rating

(hp) Load

Factor Usage Factor gal/hp-hr gal/hr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (hr/day)

175 CFM AIR COMPRESSOR Diesel 80 0.48 0.50 0.050 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 9 BACKHOE -TRACK 1/2 CY Diesel 106 0.465 0.70 0.050 1.7 1 1 9 BOBCAT OR DITCH WITCH Diesel 58 0.465 0.75 0.050 1.0 2 2 2 2 2 9 70 TON MOBILE CRANE Diesel 250 0.43 0.90 0.050 4.8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 5000# FORKLIFT Diesel 50 0.3 0.80 0.050 0.6 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 9 TRACTOR (TRUCK) Diesel 80 0.465 0.50 0.050 0.9 1 1 1 1 9 JLG MANLIFT W/ 80' BOOM Diesel 80 0.505 0.25 0.050 0.5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 PERSONNEL LIFT Diesel 115 0.465 0.25 0.050 0.7 1 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 9 375 CFM AIR COMPRESSOR Diesel 145 0.48 0.50 0.050 1.7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 Welding Machine Electric 20 0.45 1.00 0.050 0.5 1 1 1 1 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 2 9

Construction Vehicle Peak Daily Number by Month

Vehicle Type Miles/

Veh.-Day Starts/

Veh.-Day Month

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 On-site pickup truck 5 5 1 1 1 3 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 3 On-site dump truck 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Off-site construction worker commute 22.5 2 18 34 55 82 119 166 197 186 191 190 174 110 Off-site delivery vehicle 22.5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Step 3: Calculate Emissions Compare to Thresholds

•  AssessLevel-of-Effort–gowithscreeningtables,CalEEModorspreadsheets?–  Conserva]veandtechnicallydefensible–  CalEEModsocwarefacilitatesagencyreview–  Spreadsheetprovidemoreflexibility,controlandtransparency

•  Throwcalcula]onsintooneproject“Day”,oracrossphasesthatdon’toverlap•  Pre-mi]ga]onandpost-mi]ga]on

–  Pre-mi]ga]onincludeswhatprojectmustdobyruleorordinance–  Post-mi]ga]onincludesvoluntaryop]ons–  Decidewhethertoshowseparatelyorjustasfinalprojectemissions

•  ComparetoSignificanceThresholds–Done?RefineAssump]ons?•  Cumula]velyconsiderablewithothernearbyprojects?•  NeversubmitanAirQualityAnalysiswithun-mi]gatedsignificantimpacts

–  Besuretoaddressanycumula]veimpactswithotherprojects

•  Expectfeasiblemi]ga]ontoberequiredreduceimpacts,whethersignificantornot

Step 4: Impact Modeling (if required)

•  Criteria pollutant impacts exceed emission thresholds –  Option to complete dispersion modeling with screening tools or AERMOD,

NO2, PM10, PM2.5, CO, SO2

–  Show impacts are less than the California or National Ambient Air Quality Standards

–  Not an option for NOx or VOC as a precursor to ozone

•  In South Coast AQMD, dispersion modeling for localized impacts (LST analysis) for parcels greater than 5 acres

•  CO Hotspot Modeling, high increases in traffic volume or roadway level-of-service

•  Health Risk Impacts – a quantitative Health Risk Assessment must be completed to assess significance

–  Unless you can state qualitatively negligible diesel PM or other toxics –  Depending on proximity of sensitive receptors –  Calculate health risks using spreadsheets and screening tables or HARP2

software

Step 5: Air Quality Technical Report Submittal

TechnicalReportSec-on Contents

Introduc]on AirQualityTechnicalReportSec]onIntroduc]on

EnvironmentalSehng

ProjectLoca]onandDescrip]onHealthEffectsofCriteriaPollutants

Exis]ngRegionalandLocalAirQualityExis]ngProjectSiteEmissions

Federal,State,andLocalRegula]ons

EnvironmentalImpactsMethodology

ThresholdsofSignificanceProjectImpacts

Cumula]veImpacts Cumula]veConstruc]onImpactsCumula]veOpera]onImpacts

Mi]ga]onMeasures Mi]ga]onMeasuresConsidered

Conclusions LevelofSignificanceAcerMi]ga]onSummaryofFindings

Special Cases – Siting Near Existing Pollution Sources

•  Sensitive Land Use Projects located near existing pollution sources: freeways, rail line, ports, refineries, chromium operations, odor sources: –  See the CARB Air Quality and Land Use Handbook1 –  Buffers, HVAC filters, vegetation barriers, and solid walls

•  Schools get special protection under state law

Not generally required by CEQA, but prudent to consider what existing pollution source impacts will be on persons that will that will be located at your Project.

•  What about subsurface contamination, vapor intrusion?

1FinalHandbook,April2005TechnicalAdvisory,April2017h1ps://www.arb.ca.gov/ch/landuse.htm

Summary - Strategies for an Air Quality Study •  Design the right air quality study appropriate for your type of

project and the setting •  Homework - take time to gather all the information, make a

solid strategy before you start the real work •  Work with the right CEQA land use attorney and consultants •  Prepare a conservative, defensible analysis; expect challenges

on GHG and health risk impacts •  Leave room in your project for refinement and more

mitigation •  Do not submit an air quality analysis with significant impacts

if at all possible •  Leverage current guidance and precedent on recent projects •  Show your work, provide transparency in the work to avoid

review delays •  Engage and involve agency staff and public stakeholders in

solving problems and deciding on mitigation

CEQA Air Quality Analysis Technical Discussion

Technical Discussion Topics

•  Air Emission Calculations: Criteria Pollutants

and GHG

•  Localized Significance Thresholds (South Coast AQMD)

•  Criteria Pollutant Air Quality Modeling

•  Health Risk Assessment for Diesel Particulate Emissions

ToolstoCalculateProjectEmissions•  CalEEMod – CA Emissions Estimation Model:

–  For criteria pollutants, GHG, air toxic diesel PM –  Supersedes URBEMIS –  Construction and Operational phases –  Good for representative project types, commercial building, mall –  Emission factors from EMFAC, OFFROAD, EPA AP-42 automatically included,

but can by over-written by the user –  Advantage - Reproducible by agencies

•  vs Spreadsheet Calculations: –  More time to set up, but also more flexible and refined –  Good for detailed emissions calculations for larger projects –  Better customization of emissions calculations –  Provides transparency for detailed project phases, specific equipment types,

and mitigation –  Mobile AND Point Source emission estimates –  Example: Roadway Construction Emissions Model (Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD’s spreadsheet model) Check with your local air district for more guidance on methods used to

estimate emissions

What Does CalEEMod Estimate? •  Construction emissions:

–  Fugitive dust – PM10 and PM2.5 –  Mobile source (Onroad and Offroad equipment) - combustion –  VOCs from painting and paving activities

•  Operational emissions: –  Fugitive road dust - PM10 and PM2.5 –  Mobile source (Onroad traffic) - combustion –  VOCs from painting, consumer products, and cleaning

supplies –  Emissions from landscaping equipment, wood stoves and

hearths –  GHG Emissions from electricity, natural gas, water usage

•  Mitigated and Unmitigated emissions

DownloadCalEEModhere:h1p://www.caleemod.com/

Corporate Development Project

•  Mid-Wilshire Los Angeles area •  Demolish old office buildings •  Build a five building corporate complex

= 200,000 sq. ft. •  Underground parking = 100,000 sq. ft. •  Project Site = 4.5 acres •  Number of Employees = 500 •  Construction Timeframe = January 2018 – March 2019 (1.25

years) •  Enforcing Public Agency: L.A. City Planning Dept. •  Air District: SCAQMD

CalEEModHomePage

EnterProjectloca]on,StartofConstruc]on,Opera]onalYear,U]lityCompany,andSelectPollutantstobeEvaluated.

CalEEModLandUsePage

EnterLandUseTypeandSubtype,andsizeofprojectsite/buildings/parkinggarage.Yellowboxesarenon-defaultvaluesenteredbytheuserand

mustbeexplainedintheRemarksbox.

CalEEModConstruc]onSchedulePage

Enterconstruc]onscheduledetails

CalEEModDustfromMaterialMovementPage

Enterdetailsaboutdirtremovedforparkinggarage

CalEEModDemoli]onPage

Entersquarefootageofbuildingstobedemolished

CalEEModOpera]onal-MobilePage

DefaultsfromEMFAC2014forvehicleopera]onscanbecustomized,iftheuserhasmoreaccurateinforma]on

CalEEModOpera]onal–Sta]onarySourcesPages

Enteranyknownopera]onalsta]onarysources

CalEEModOpera]onal–Area:ArchitecturalCoa]ngsPage

OverridedefaultsforVOCcontentofpainttobeused,ifthedistricthasthatrestric]on.

CalEEModMi]ga]onPages

Enteranymi]ga]onmeasurestobetakenforConstruc]onphases,Traffic,Area,Energy,Water,and/orSolidWaste

OFFROAD2011 – Offroad Vehicle Emissions

OFFROAD2011AccessDatabase:h1ps://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/categories.htm

EMFAC2014 – Onroad Vehicle Emissions

EMFAC2014:h1ps://www.arb.ca.gov/emfac/2014/

CalEEModReports•  Summer and Winter Reports:

–  Unmitigated and Mitigated lbs/day for each Construction Phase and for Operational Phases for selected pollutants

–  Results to be compared to Significance Thresholds

•  Annual Report: –  Unmitigated and Mitigated tons/yr for each Construction

Phase and for Operational Phases for selected pollutants –  GHG results to be compared to Significance Thresholds

•  Summary Report: –  Summarizes lb/day for Criteria Pollutants and tons/yr for

GHG –  Numbers followed by a “W” are Winter numbers; “S” are

Summer numbers

CalEEModSummaryReport–Page1of4

CalEEModSummaryReport–Page2of4

CalEEModSummaryReport–Page3of4

CalEEModSummaryReport–Page4of4

CompareMi]gatedPeakDailyEmissionResultstoSCAQMDSignificanceThresholds

ROG(lb/day)

NOx(lb/day)

CO(lb/day)

SO2(lb/day)

PM10(lb/day)

PM2.5(lb/day)

Construc]onCalEEModEmissions

31.7 65.4 25.8 0.12 9.8 6.3

Threshold 75 100 550 150 150 55ExceedSignificance? No No No No No No

Opera]onCalEEModEmissions

8.7 22.9 57.8 0.20 15.3 4.3

Threshold 55 55 550 150 150 55ExceedSignificance? No No No No No No

CompareMi]gatedAnnualGHGEmissionResultstoSCAQMDSignificanceThreshold

Phase CO2e(MT/yr)

TotalConstruc]onGHG 907Amor]zedConstruc]onGHGEmissions 30Opera]onalGHGEmissions 4,898TotalGHGEmissions 4,928Threshold 3,000ExceedsThreshold? Yes

GHGfromConstruc]onisamor]zedover30years,thenaddedtoOpera]onalGHGemissionsfortotalprojectGHGemissions.

ExceedsSCAQMDGHGSignificanceThreshold!Needtoprovideaddi-onalmi-ga-onmeasuresforopera-ons.

SCAQMD:LocalizedSignificanceThresholds

•  Mass Rate Lookup Tables developed by SCAQMD

•  Localized impacts of NO2 (from NOx), CO, PM10, and PM2.5

•  Construction and Operation thresholds developed for: –  1-acre, 2-acre, and 5-acre sized projects –  Source-Receptor Areas located in SCAQMD’s

jurisdiction –  Sensitive receptors located 25 m, 50 m, 100 m,

200 m, or 500 m away from project site •  Tier 1 approach to determine localized

impacts

Example: SCAQMD Localized Significance Thresholds

MassRateLookupTables:h1p://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/ceqa/handbook/localized-significance-thresholds/appendix-c-mass-rate-lst-look-up-tables.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Compare CalEEMod Results to Localized Significance Thresholds

NOx(lb/day)

CO(lb/day)

PM10(lb/day)

PM2.5(lb/day)

Construc]onPhasesCalEEModEmissions

65.4 25.8 9.8 6.3

Threshold 143 1580 13.3 7ExceedSignificance? No No No No

Opera]onPhase(Area+Energy)CalEEModEmissions 0.56 0.50 0.04 0.04

Threshold 143 1580 3.3 2ExceedSignificance? No No No No

SRANo.1CentralLA,25mdistancetoreceptor,extrapolatedfrom2acreand5acreprojectsitethresholds

Criteria Pollutant Modeling •  South Coast AQMD – projects larger than 5 acres •  Other Districts; NO2, PM, CO, or SO2 emissions

significant •  CO hotspots modeling for traffic •  AERMOD dispersion model or AERSCREEN •  Refined modeling - use pre-processed

meteorological data •  Model emission sources as point, volume, or area

sources •  Concentration thresholds – CA and National

ambient standards –  Includes background concentrations for attainment areas –  Significant impact threshold for non-attainment areas

Health Risk Assessment for Diesel PM •  Calculate Mitigated Diesel (PM) DPM Emissions (CalEEMod

and/or Calculation Spreadsheets): –  Construction total DPM emissions; average operational DPM

emissions over project life –  Calculate annual average DPM emissions in g/s

•  Long-term Cancer and Chronic Noncancer risks per OEHHA Guidance –  Also may be required to consider acute (short-term) risk impacts

•  Impacts on nearest sensitive receptors –  Residents –  Schools and Day Care Centers –  Hospitals and Adult Care Facilities –  Workers –  Recreation Areas

•  Modeling tools: District risk screening tools, AERMOD, HARP2

OEHHAAirToxicsHotSpotsRiskAssessmentGuidelines:h1ps://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/crnr/2015guidancemanual.pdf

Resident Cancer Risk Formula for DPM

CancerRisk=Cair*AF*DBR*EF*10-6*CPF*ASF*ED/AT*FAH

where: Cair =Airconcentra]on(µg/m3) AF =Annualconcentra]onadjustmentfactor(1.0forresidents) DBR =Dailybreathingrateoveragebinsanddura]on(wtd,L/kg-day) EF =Exposurefrequency(unitless,days/365days;0.96forSCAQMD) 10-6 =Conversion;µgtomgandLtom3

CPF =70-yearinhala]oncancerpotencyfactor(1.1mg/kg-day)-1

ASF =AgeSensi]vityFactoroveragebins(wtd,unitless) ED =Exposuredura]on(30yearsforSCAQMD) AT =Averaging]meforlife]me(70years) FAH =Frac]on]meathomeoveragebins(unitless)

Note1:CancerriskissummedacrossdieselPMsourcesforeachreceptorloca]onNote2:Cancerriskisexpressedasintermsofpermillionpersons

South Coast AQMD Rule 1401 Guidance – (DBR * ED * ASF * FAH) * EF / AT = CEF = 677 for 30 yrs= 311 for 2 yrs

AgeSensi]vityFactors(ASFs)-HigherResiden]alCancer

Risks

ASF,BreathingRates,andFrac]on-at-Homehigherforchildren.OEHHArecommendsagenciesreviewhighshort-termimpactsoflarge

projectsovershortperiods;considerlowerriskthresholds.

SeeBlueScapewebinar–newOEHHAguidelines

CEQA Air Quality Technical Guidance

•  SCAQMD http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/ceqa/air-quality-analysis-handbook

•  California ARB Air Quality and Land Use Handbook https://www.arb.ca.gov/ch/landuse.htm

•  CalEEMod User’s Guide http://www.aqmd.gov/caleemod/user's-guide

•  OEHHA https://oehha.ca.gov/air/crnr/notice-adoption-air-toxics-hot-spots-program-guidance-manual-preparation-health-risk-0

•  EMFAC2014 (Onroad vehicles) https://www.arb.ca.gov/emfac/2014/

•  OFFROAD (Offroad vehicles)https://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/categories.htm#offroad_motor_vehicles

Ques]ons?ContactInforma]on

James A. Westbrook, President BlueScape Environmental

877-486-9257 jwestbrook@bluescapeinc.com

www.bluescapeinc.com Connect with me on Linkedin!

The webinar presentation will be posted on Slideshare and YouTube