SU0014674 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MOUNTAIN HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD' 'PROJECT INITIAL STUDY G. AIR QUALITY The project site is within the northwestern corner of the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin which is regulated by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District(SJVUAPCD). This air basin has a high potential for air pollution due to geography and climate, and is a nonattainment area(has not attained the State or Federall ambient air quality standards)for PM-10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter)and ground-level ozone. The project area is in attainment of all other State and Federal standards. The SJVUAPCD has been required to adopt regional plans to meet the Federal and State standards. The SJVUAPCD has adopted Federal nonattainment plans for PM-10, carbon monoxide and ozone. The State-required nonattainment plan for ozone and carbon monoxide, the 1991 Air Quality Attainment Plan for the air basin, was approved by the State Air Resources Board in 1992 (SJVUAPCD, 1992). The Mountain House Development Agreement does not include any specific measures related to air quality. The Findings adopted for the 1994 EIR determined that the two potentially significant air quality impacts that could be mitigated would be related to conflicts with agricultural uses at the western edge of the overall site and construction-related dust. Compliance with rules of the SJVUAPCD would mitigate any impacts related to dust from project construction. Proposed edge treatments for the area outside of the project site were found to adequately mitigate potential conflicts with agricultural operations. Potential odor conflicts and carbon monoxide increases were identified as less than significant. Impacts to regional air quality(PM 10 and ground-level ozone)due to indirect project emissions were identified as significant. Measures to reduce these emissions were identified;however, the impact was identified as significant and unavoidable and the necessary findings were made at the time of certification of the 1994 EIR. In addition to being subject to the rules of the SJVUAPCD, the project is also subject to the requirements of the County's Congestion Management Plan(CMP)which was adopted in 1991. A major element in the Air Quality section of the Master Plan is the objective to reduce trips associated with single-occupant vehicles. A Transportation Demand Management(TDM) and Transit Plan was adopted to identify implementation measures for increased transit use, reduced single-occupant vehicle use, and increased non-vehicular transportation throughout the Mountain House New Community. In addition, the Master Plan identifies the following: 1)the need for the project to comply with regulations of the SJVUAPCD; 2)the need to reduce emissions associated with fireplaces, water heaters, lawn equipment and barbecues; 3)the need for specific implementation measures related to provision of natural gas lines for barbecues, outlets for future use of electrical vehicles, restrictions on fireplaces, and use of low nitrogen oxide(NOx) emitting and/or high efficiency water heaters. These measures are discussed below. At the time of certification of the 1994 EIR, a Statement of Overriding Considerations was prepared for significant impacts to regional air quality that could not be mitigated to a less-than-significant level by mitigation measures. These same significant and unavoidable impacts would remain for this project but do not require additional findings or the preparation of an EIR because the earlier EIR adequately addressed the issue. The proposed Neighborhood"F"project would not increase impacts identified earlier. Conditions of approval that were designed to reduce regional air quality impacts associated with buildout of the Master Plan were recommended. These measures were included in the Mountain House Master Plan, the TDM Program and Transit Plan, and were also included as mitigation measures in the 1994 CUOMSI MAL FWY\nNAL[Nm LM1MY-eaen-DX(7/200) 74 VG. AIR QUALITY