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Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Technical Report Griffith Energy Storage Project second addresses whether the combined emissions of GHGs from new motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines contribute to atmospheric concentrations of GHGs and therefore the threat of climate change. The Administrator found that atmospheric concentrations of GHGs endanger the public health and welfare within the meaning of Section 202(a)of the CAA. The evidence supporting this finding consists of human activity resulting in "high atmospheric levels" of GHG emissions, which are most likely responsible for increases in average temperatures and other climatic changes. Furthermore, the observed and projected results of climate change (e.g., higher likelihood of heat waves, wildfires, droughts, sea level rise, and higher intensity storms)are a threat to the public health and welfare. Therefore, GHGs were found to endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations. The Administrator also found that GHG emissions from new motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines are contributing to air pollution, which is endangering public health and welfare. EPA's final findings respond to the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision that GHGs fit within the CAA definition of air pollutants. The findings do not in and of themselves impose any emission reduction requirements but rather allow the EPA to define the GHG standards proposed earlier in 2009 for new light-duty vehicles as part of the joint rulemaking with the Department of Transportation. Various subsequent federal rulemakings limit GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants through EPA's major stationary source permitting program and through EPA's New Source Performance Standards. These rulemakings have been subject to court challenges and political manipulation, such that applicants for air permits are required to evaluate the current status of the regulatory requirements. These GHG rules do not apply to the activities associated with the Project. 3.2.2 State Regulations While climate change has been a concern since at least 1988, the efforts devoted to GHG emissions reduction and climate change policy have increased dramatically in recent years. In 2002, California passed AB 1493, which requires CARB to develop and implement regulations to reduce automobile and light truck GHG emissions beginning with the 2009 model year. In June 2005, Executive Order S-3-05 was signed to reduce California's GHG emissions to: (1)2000 levels by 2010; (2) 1990 levels by the 2020; and (3) 80 percent below the 1990 levels by the year 2050. In 2006, this goal was further reinforced with the passage of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 sets the same overall GHG emissions reduction goals while further mandating that CARB create a plan (Scoping Plan), which includes market mechanisms, and implement rules to achieve "real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases." CARB's 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality(Scoping Plan, CARB 2022c)was prepared to address climate legislation passed since the last scoping plan, which was prepared in 2017. The Scoping Plan addresses AB 1279, Senate Bill (SB) 905, SB 1065, SB 1075, and other legislation and executive orders addressing GHG reductions in various manufacturing sectors and managing natural lands. SB 32 codifies the emissions reduction goal of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. In 2022, California passed AB 1279 (California Crisis Act), which introduced a statewide policy to "achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and achieve and maintain net negative greenhouse gas emissions thereafter, and to ensure that by 2045, statewide anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 85% below the 1990 levels."The bill would require the state board to work with relevant state agencies to ensure that updates to the scoping plan identify and recommend measures to achieve these policy goals and to identify and implement a variety of policies and strategies that enable carbon dioxide removal solutions and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies in California, as specified. AB 32 requires the state to create an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the scoping plan by conducting public workshops. It is required to conduct a portion of these workshops in regions with low- OTETRA TECH 32 July 2023