Download - COUNTY VENTURA
COUNTY OF VENTURA CALIFORNIA
General Plan Update
Planning Commission
Work Session Series No. 4 continued
June 13, 2019
Ventura County | RMA - Planning Division
Ventura County General Plan Update | 2
The Planning Division requests that the Planning Commission:
1. PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS on the Public Review Draft of the 2040 General Plan Elements and Area Plans:
a. Conservation and Open Space Element (Exhibit 11)
b. Hazards and Safety Element (Exhibit 12)
c. Public Facilities and Services Element (Exhibit 10)
d. Appendix B: Climate Change (Exhibit 19)
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Staff report contains additional details regarding Items 1.a – 1.d
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WORK SESSION SEQUENCE
• Planning Division and Consultant Presentation
• Planning Commission Questions and Clarification
• Public Testimony
• Planning Commission Deliberation
– Project staff slides available for aid in guided discussion
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▪ Channel Islands Boating Center in Oxnard
▪ Grant Brimhall Library in Thousand Oaks
▪ Ventura County Museum of Agriculture in Santa Paula
▪ Mount Pinos Ranger Station in Lockwood Valley
▪ Oak View Community Center in Oak View
▪ Roger Jones Community Center in Oxnard
▪ Ventura County Government Center in Ventura
OPEN HOUSE LOCATIONS Exhibit 2
Spanish and Mixteco interpretation services and materials available
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Six focus group meetings were held with issue-area experts for the topical areas of:
▪ Transportation and infrastructure (Exhibit 4)
▪ Climate change (Exhibit 32)
▪ Open space and recreation (Exhibit 32)
▪ Agriculture
▪ Economic development
▪ Water
FOCUS GROUPS – MAY 20 AND 22, 2019
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GENERAL COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC Exhibit 2
▪ Policies are too general, should be specific as to how they will be accomplished
• Recommend word changes: "coordinate", "strive", "encourage“/"discourage", etc.
• Quantification metrics for goals, policies, and programs to measure progress (use concrete numbers, not general language)
• Clarify enforcement mechanisms (especially when policies lack programs)
▪ Include citations and bibliography
▪ Include explanations and definitions of abbreviations
▪ Population growth estimates may not fully represent effects of city growth on County resources and services
Additional public comment highlights discussed by element
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PROJECT PHASES AND MILESTONES
1. Initiate Project2. Prepare the
Background Report3. Affirm the Vision and
Guiding Principles
5. Prepare the Draft General Plan
Fall 2018 to Summer 2019
6. Conduct Environmental Review
Spring 2019 to Spring 2020
7. Prepare Final Documents and Adoption
Winter 2019 to Spring 2020
4. Evaluate Alternatives
Winter 2017 to Fall 2018
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Preliminary Public Draft
Public DraftProgram
EIR
Final General
Plan / EIR
DEVELOPING THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN
Opportunity to fine tune the General Plan to meet County needs prior to full environmental assessment
Following Commission recommendations and Board direction, the Public Draft will be developed
The Public Draft will be evaluated to determine the environmental implications associated with the 2040 General Plan
Based on the Program EIR and public hearing process, the 2040 General Plan will be updated to create the final document
ProgramEIR
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The Ventura County 2040 General Plan contains a number of policies and programs that address cross-cutting themes that weave throughout the General Plan. Icons are used to highlight the relationship between policies and programs to these topics, as applicable.
Climate Action Plan
Environmental Justice
Healthy Communities
Environmental Impact Report
POLICY AND PROGRAM ICONS Page 1-9
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• Regulation and Development Review (RDR)
• Master Plans, Strategies, and Programs (MPSP)
• Financing and Budgeting (FB)
• Planning Studies and Reports (PSR)
IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS
• Services and Operations (SO)
• Inter-Governmental Coordination (IGC)
• Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)
• Public Information (PI)
Many policies are specific enough to be applied and carried out directly as consistency with the General Plan is evaluated for future projects and actions
Page 1-10
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As part of the 2040 General Plan, existing language was used as
the starting point. From here, adjustments were made to:
▪ Standardize the language used (e.g., “The County shall…”)
▪ Ensure internal consistency
▪ Eliminate redundancy
▪ Remove items that state the County will adhere to the law
▪ Remove/rewrite items that are now obsolete or have been completed
▪ Remove/rewrite items where the County has no jurisdiction
▪ Add good policy ideas from Area Plans
▪ Comply with new state laws
▪ Achieve the Vision and Guiding Principles established by the Board
UPDATING GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
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6.1 Biological Resources
6.2 Coastal Resources
6.3 Scenic Resources
6.4 Cultural, Historical,Paleontological, andArchaeological Resources
6.5 Soil and Mineral Resources
ORGANIZATION
6.6 Oil and Gas Resources
6.7 Energy Resource Conservation
6.8 Open Space
6.9 Climate Change andGreenhouse Gas EmissionsReduction
6.10 Implementation Programs
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▪ Clarify existing policies for wetland buffers ▪ Comments regarding Climate Action Plan (CAP) policies and programs
located in COS Element, to be addressed later in presentation▪ Urban greening
PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON COS ELEMENT
Additional CAP items discussed in Appendix B: Climate Change portion of presentation
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7.1 Wildfire Hazards
7.2 Flood Hazards
7.3 Coastal Flooding
7.4 Geologic and Seismic Hazards
7.5 Hazardous Materials
7.6 Transportation Related Hazards
7.7 Oil and Gas Production andTransportation Incidents
ORGANIZATION
7.8 Military Compatibility
7.9 Noise
7.10 Air Quality
7.11 Increasing Temperatures
7.12 Emergency Response
7.13 Implementation Programs
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▪ Wildfire hazards• Construction / Standardize design• Buffers• Evacuation• Emergency response
▪ Education and outreach▪ Sea-level rise
PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON HAZ ELEMENT
Additional CAP items discussed in Appendix B: Climate Change portion of presentation
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5.1 Public Facilities and Services
5.2 Energy Efficiency for County Operations
5.3 Infrastructure Funding
5.4 Wastewater Treatment andDisposal
5.5 Solid and Hazardous Waste
5.6 Flood Control and Drainage Facilities
5.7 Public Utilities
ORGANIZATION
5.8 Community Facilities
5.9 Library Facilities and Services
5.10 Parks and RecreationalFacilities
5.11 Law Enforcement andEmergency Services
5.12 Fire Protection
5.13 Implementation Programs
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▪ Fire protection and services (e.g. water supply)▪ Flood control and urban greening▪ Parks and recreation
PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON PFS ELEMENT
Additional CAP items discussed in Appendix B: Climate Change portion of presentation
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▪ Plan to reduce community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapt to climate change, or both
▪ CEQA Guidelines, Section 15183.5: key elements for GHG emission reduction planning and tiering/streamlining provisions
▪ SB 379 (2015) amended state planning law to require that climate change vulnerability and adaptation be addressed in safety element and other appropriate elements
WHAT IS A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP)? Exhibit 19
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▪ The 2040 General Plan will serve as the County’s climate action plan (CAP), with policies integrated throughout the document
▪ The integrated CAP and its technical components are summarized in Appendix B
VENTURA COUNTY CAP Exhibit 19
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▪ Close to 200 policies and programs are tagged with the CAP icon
• Both GHG measures and adaptation measures. In some cases, a policy or program may contribute to both (Table B-10)
Climate Action Plan
Environmental Justice
Healthy Communities
Environmental Impact Report
POLICY AND PROGRAM ICONS Page 1-9
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B.1 GHG Emissions Reduction Strategy
B.1.1. Baseline Emissions Inventory
B.1.2. Emissions Forecasts
B.1.3. GHG Reduction Goals and Targets
B.1.4. GHG Reduction Measures
B.1.5 GHG Strategy Implementation and Monitoring
B.2 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy
B.2.1 Existing Adaptation Efforts
B.2.2 Climate Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Implementation
B.3 Summary of GHG Reduction and Climate Adaptation Measures
APPENDIX B ORGANIZATION Exhibit 19
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KEY “FRAMING” POLICIES / PROGRAMS FOR GHG STRATEGY
COS-10.1 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Strategy
COS-10.2 Community GHG Reduction Target for 2030
COS-10.3 Community GHG Reduction Goals for 2040 and 2050
COS-10.4 GHG Reductions in Existing and New Development
COS-T GHG Strategy Implementation
COS-U Monitoring
COS-V Public Reporting
COS-W Inventory Updates
COS-X GHG Strategy Updates
COS-Y Tiering and Streamlining Project-Level GHG Analysis
Exhibit 19
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BASELINE EMISSIONS INVENTORY RESULTS (B.1.1)• Baseline year: 2015
• Approximately 1,856,804 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) emitted per year
• Unincorporated Ventura County
• Aligned with inventories prepared by Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance + other climate action plans around the state
• U.S. Community Protocol compliant
Exhibit 19
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METHODS AND SCOPE OF GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY
• Inventory reporting framework (U.S. Community Protocol): limited to sources and activities within defined local geographic boundaries, over which local agency has jurisdiction or significant influence
• Consistent with CARB 2017 Scoping Plan and OPR 2017 General Plan Guidelines
• Rodeo Citizens Association v. County of Contra Costa (CA First Appellate Court, 2018): lifecycle analysis is speculative
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METHODS AND SCOPE OF GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY (CONTINUED)
Use of global warming potential (GWP) values from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report (AR4):
▪ Calculation of County’s legislative reductions and targets requires consistency with 2017 Scoping Plan and State’s inventory, which uses AR4 GWP values
▪ Switching from AR4 to AR5 GWP values now, without statewide change in CARB’s accounting framework, would result in inconsistency with SB 32 (2016) and 2017 Scoping Plan
▪ Adjustments to GWP values in future inventory updates may include IPCC 5th
Assessment or other GWP values, if CARB switching to use of AR5
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METHODS AND SCOPE OF GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY (CONTINUED)
Comparison of AR4 vs. AR5 GWP values (for illustrative purposes only):
▪ AR4 GWP values (100-year timeframe)• Methane (CH4) = 25
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) = 298
• Total County emissions using AR4 values = 1,856,804 MTCO2e
▪ AR5 GWP values (100-year timeframe)• CH4 = 28
• N2O = 265
• Total County emissions using AR5 values = 1,879,875 MTCO2e
▪ Net difference: +23,071 MTCO2e, or 1.24 %
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EMISSIONS FORECASTS AND REDUCTION TARGETS (B.1.2 AND B.1.3)
• Forecasts prepared for two scenarios (BAU and Legislative-Adjusted)
• Growth in population, housing, jobs per SCAG RTP/SCS used to prepare forecasts
• Legislative adjustments account for State and Federal regs and policy
• GHG target set at 41% below 2015 levels for 2030
• Longer-term goals for 2040 and 2050: 61% and 80% below 2015 levels
• Consistent with OPR and CARB guidance
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▪ GHG reduction measures are the “actions” to reduce emissions
▪ No quantification of GHG reduction measures has taken place to date
• Next steps following public review of Preliminary Public Draft:
• Revise policies and programs, quantify effectiveness in meeting 2030 target and progress towards 2040 and 2050 goals
• Revise Appendix B (including results of quantitative “gap analysis”)
• Draft EIR will incorporate and rely on quantitative GHG analysis and the CAP
GHG REDUCTION MEASURES (B.1.4) Exhibit 19
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▪ GHG reduction measures should be:
• Locally-based actions within County’s jurisdiction or legal authority
• Informed by existing programs and activities, community input, and aligned with existing County goals and policies
• Complementary to CARB Scoping Plan for SB 32 (2016) implementation
GHG REDUCTION MEASURES (B.1.4) Exhibit 19
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LU-11.3 Design
LU-11.4 Sustainable Technologies
LU-16.9 Building Orientation and Landscaping
LU-A Guidelines for Orderly Development Implementation
CTM-2.11 Efficient Land Use Patterns
CTM-2.12 Countywide Bicycle Lane and Trail System
CTM-2.13 Transportation System Connectivity
CTM-2.21 Intercommunity and Countywide Public Transportation System
CTM-4.1 Reduce Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT)
CTM-4.2 Alternative Transportation
CTM-6.5 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
GHG REDUCTION MEASURES – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19
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PFS-2.1 Sustainable Plans and Operations
PFS-5.4 Solid Waste Reduction
PFS-5.5 Agricultural Waste Reuse
PFS-5.6 Value-Added Alternatives to Waste Disposal
PFS-L Food Waste Reduction
COS-5.3 Soil Productivity
COS-8.1 Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels
COS-8.3 Clean Power Alliance
COS-8.4 Decarbonize Communitywide Electricity Supplies
COS-8.5 Zero Net Energy Buildings
COS-8.7 Renewable Energy Features in New Development
GHG REDUCTION MEASURES – KEY EXAMPLES (CONTINUED) Exhibit 19
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COS-8.8 Urban Tree Canopy Improvements
COS-9.1 Open Space Preservation
COS-M Local Building Standards for Energy Efficiency
COS-N Study to Demonstrate Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Savings
COS-P Building Code Update (Reach Code)
HAZ-10.5 Air Pollution Impact Mitigation Measures for Discretionary Development
HAZ-10.6 Transportation Control Measures
HAZ-10.7 Fuel Efficient County Vehicles
AG-5.2 Electric- or Renewable-Powered Agricultural Equipment
AG-5.3 Electric- or Renewable-Powered Irrigation Pumps
AG-5.5 Carbon Farming Practices
GHG REDUCTION MEASURES – KEY EXAMPLES (CONTINUED) Exhibit 19
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▪ Monitoring the CAP :
• Implementation status monitoring (quarterly)
• Performance monitoring (annually)
• Inventory Updates (every five years, starting with 2020)
▪ Annual Reporting:
• Sharing results of monitoring activities with the public, including annual CAP progress reports, and presentations to Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors
• Starting in 2022, more detailed report that includes results of the 2020 inventory update, with opportunity to update CAP if needed
IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, REPORTING (B.1.5) Exhibit 19
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▪ The following events would trigger a GHG Strategy update process:
• Enactment of new state or federal legislation that codifies into statute post-2030 GHG emission reduction or zero-net carbon targets or goals; or,
• Adoption of an update to California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan by CARB, pursuant to Executive Order (EO) B-55-18 or state legislative actions
▪ Key principles for monitoring, reporting, and updating:
• Both qualitative and quantitative process
• Keep public and decision-makers informed regarding progress
• Update CAP periodically to reflect new information, such as changes in state policy, technology, and new ideas for achieving target and goals
UPDATING THE GHG STRATEGY (B.1.5) Exhibit 19
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▪ SB 379 (2015) requirements:
• Conduct climate change vulnerability assessment (see Background Report, Chapter 12 – Climate Change, re-summarized in Appendix B, Section B.2)
• Develop climate adaptation goals, policies and objectives based on the vulnerability assessment results (see items tagged with CAP icon and tagged as “Climate Adaptation Measure” or “Both” in Table B-10)
• Identify a set of feasible implementation measures based on the adaptation policies (see above)
• Safety Element = primary element to address requirements, but other elements may address climate adaptation if applicable
CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE STRATEGY (B.2) Exhibit 19
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▪ Temperature: a rise of 3 to 6 °F in annual average temps by 2090• Extreme heat: an increase of up to 79 extreme heat days per year by 2099
▪ Sea-Level Rise:• Coastal erosion of up to 1.36 meters by 2100• Elevated groundwater levels and salinity intrusion in adjacent watersheds• Exposure of approximately 23,300 people countywide to inundation from a 100-year flood event combined with a 1.4-
meter (4.6-foot) rise in sea level, many of which are low income or especially vulnerable• Exposure of approximately 170 miles of roads and railways, hospitals, schools, emergency facilities, wastewater
treatment plants, three power plants, and a naval base from a 100-year flood event combined with a 1.4-meter (4.6-foot) rise in sea level
▪ Flooding:• More frequent events and more extensive and longer duration of impacts
▪ Wildfire:• 15 % increase in the potential amount of area burned by wildfire between 2020 and 2085, compared to historical
trends
▪ Habitat fragmentation due to changes in precipitation, increased temperatures, and rising sea levels
CLIMATE EXPOSURE ANALYSIS – KEY FINDINGS Exhibit 19
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▪ Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
▪ Coastal Resilience Ventura
▪ Ventura County Resilient Coastal Adaptation Project
▪ Ventura River Watershed Council - Watershed Management Plan
▪ Ventura County Fire Protection District - Unit Strategic Fire Plan
▪ Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council - Community Wildfire Protection Plan
▪ Ventura County Fire Protection District - Personal Wildfire Action Plan
EXISTING ADAPTATION AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS/STUDIES
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COS-8.7 Renewable Energy Features in Discretionary Development
COS-8.9 Battery Energy Storage Systems
COS-R Solar Canopies in Non-Residential Projects
HAZ-11.1 Critical Vulnerable Infrastructure
HAZ-P Identify Critical Infrastructure Vulnerable to Extreme Heat
HAZ-11.9 Urban Greening (parking lot shading, landscaping, cool pavement)
HAZ-11.5 Outdoor Worker Protection
HAZ-S Extreme Heat Education and Outreach
HAZ-T Cool Roof Ordinance
AG-N Subsidies for Resilient Crop Production
TEMPERATURES AND EXTREME HEAT – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19
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COS-2.2 Beach Nourishment
COS-2.10 Saltwater Intrusion
HAZ-3.1 Sea Level Rise Planning and Adaptation
HAZ-3.2 County Infrastructure Projects and Sea Level Rise
HAZ-I Estuaries, Wetlands, and Groundwater Basins Resilience
CTM-K Update County Roadway Design Standards/Guidelines
PFS-6.3 Climate Change Impacts on Flood Control and Drainage Facilities
PFS-C Climate Change Impacts Monitoring
WR-F Discretionary Development Review for Adequate Water and Wastewater
SEA-LEVEL RISE AND FLOODING – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19
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PFS-7.2 Reduce Transmission Facility Fire Hazard Risk
HAZ-1.1 Fire Prevention Design and Practices
HAZ-1.2 Defensible Space Clear Zones
HAZ-1.3 Controlled Burns and Other Fire Prevention Measures
HAZ-1.4 Development in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
HAZ-1.5 Wildfire Risk Education
HAZ-1.6 Post-Fire Community and Natural Resource Recovery
HAZ-11.4 Education and Outreach on Effects of Climate Change
HAZ-11.8 Undergrounding Utilities
HAZ-B Wildfire Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping
WILDFIRE – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19
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COS-9.3 Open Space Preservation
COS-C Update Tree Protection Ordinance
AG-4.4 Pest Management (invasive species)
AG-5.3 Alternative Irrigation Techniques
AG-6.1 Monitor Climate Change Research
AG-6.2 Drought-Tolerant Crops
AG-N Subsidies for Resilient Crop Production
WR-2.4 Reduce Potable Water Use
WR-3.1 Groundwater Management
WR-3.3 Groundwater Recharge Projects
AGRICULTURE, WATER, & NATURAL RESOURCES – KEY EXAMPLES
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LU-18.5 Participation in Climate Change Planning
PFS-1.2 Resilient Facilities and Services
HAZ-11.2 Climate Change-Related Partnerships
HAZ-11.3 Limit Impacts of Climate Change on Designated Disadvantaged Communities
HAZ-11.4 Education and Outreach on Effects of Climate Change
HAZ-A Develop and Implement Educational Programs for Wildfire Resilience
HAZ-G Communication Program for Property Owners At-Risk from Sea Level Rise
COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND EDUCATION – KEY EXAMPLES
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▪ General Comment: Policies and programs are too general and weak, address urgency of climate change in specific, enforceable ways
▪ Policy COS-10.2 and Policy COS-10.3 for GHG Targets and Goals: Recommend modification
▪ Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory: Methodology and scope of analysis comments▪ Carbon sequestration on agricultural and natural and working lands▪ Add Program that monitors and analyzes production of GHG emissions from oil and gas▪ Electrification and overall decarbonization of buildings, transportation, and
infrastructure: New construction projects, existing building retrofits, energy efficiency, and appliance replacements
▪ Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Monitoring and Reporting▪ Education and outreach
PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON APPENDIX B: CLIMATE CHANGE
Additional CAP items discussed in other Elements of presentation