COMPLIANCE INFO_FINAL INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION 5/25

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North County Recycling Center and Sanitary Landfill Permit Revision Project Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration · San Joaquin County | May 2025 15 4.2.3 Air Quality Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project: Potentially Significant Impact Less-than- Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated Less- than- Significant Impact No Impact a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is in non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard? c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? d) Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) affecting a substantial number of people? An Air Quality Technical Study for the project was prepared by Baseline Environmental Consulting. The results of the study were documented in an Air Quality Technical Study Memorandum prepared in March 2025 (Appendix A). The information in this section is based on and adapted from the findings of the Air Quality Technical Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Regional Climate, Meteorology, and Topography The project site is located within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (SJVAB), which encompasses eight counties, including Fresno, Kern (western and central), Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. Air basins have characteristics that limit the ability of natural processes to either dilute or transport air pollutants. The major determinants of air pollution transport and dilution are climatic and topographic factors such as wind, atmospheric stability, terrain that influences air movement, and sunshine. The San Joaquin Valley is bordered by the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the east, the Coast Ranges in the west, and the Tehachapi mountains in the south. The surrounding mountains create a bowl-shaped topography, limiting movement of pollutants out of the Valley. The Valley has a mediterranean climate characterized by wet winters with sparse rainfall, and hot and dry summers. In addition, persistent temperature inversions occur in the Valley, preventing vertical dilution of pollutants and increases in the concentrations of pollutants at or near the ground.