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SECTION 1.0:EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> will have no significant adverse impact on air quality or public health. See Section 5.1 of this <br /> AFC for a detailed analysis of air quality and Section 5.9 for public health. <br /> In August 2006,the California legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 32,the California <br /> Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 requires California resource agencies to <br /> establish a comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve <br /> reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The LEC helps to meet the goal of minimizing <br /> greenhouse gas emissions by providing efficient combined-cycle power and electrical <br /> reliability for project participants,thereby reducing the need for participants to build <br /> smaller,less efficient projects. By locating power plants near the load,total emissions of <br /> carbon dioxide are reduced, thereby decreasing the global warming impacts of electric <br /> generation. Improved efficiency means reduced emissions per unit of electricity generated. <br /> In addition,the project meets or exceeds the SB1368 CO2 performance standard. <br /> 1.5.2 Biological Resources <br /> The LEC will be located between the WPCF and existing STIG plant in an area currently <br /> used as equipment storage for the WPCF. The project site does not contain any wetlands or <br /> suitable habitat for sensitive plant or wildlife species and would not cause an adverse <br /> impact to sensitive biological resources. The California-threatened Swainson s hawk and a <br /> nesting white-tailed kite were observed in the vicinity of the project site during field <br /> surveys, and native and non-native trees located in the laydown areas could provide <br /> suitable nesting habitat for raptors and other migratory bird species. No aquatic habitat is <br /> present in the project area;however,a large irrigation canal just south of the property could <br /> provide suitable habitat for species such as the western and northwestern pond turtle and <br /> the giant garter snake. The Applicant will mitigate these effects in accordance with the <br /> California Department of Fish and Game policies and guidelines by conducting <br /> preconstruction surveys to determine the presence/absence of any of these species on the <br /> project site or laydown areas. In addition,the project site does not contain wetlands or <br /> federally listed species and will not require federal permits for wetlands or endangered <br /> species. Section 5.2 discusses biological resources. <br /> 1.5.3 Noise <br /> The City of Lodi maintains a nighttime noise standard of 5 A-weighted decibels (dBA) or <br /> less above the nighttime ambient (Leq) levels. The Applicant conducted 25-hour ambient <br /> noise monitoring at the project site and also prepared a noise generation model for the LEC. <br /> The predicted plant noise level is less than 45 dBA at all receptors. The resulting increase is <br /> 5 dBA or less above the existing L9o. This is within the CEC Staff's guideline that a 0 to <br /> 5 dBA increase in an area's background noise,measured as the average L90 of the four <br /> quietest nighttime hours and would not represent a significant adverse impact. Section 5.7, <br /> Noise,contains a discussion of the noise assessment. <br /> 1.5.4 Visual Resources <br /> The LEC project will be sited in an existing industrial development including the STIG plant <br /> and the WPCF. The most prominent visual features of the LEC will be the stack, at 150 feet. <br /> Analysis of simulated views of the project from sensitive viewing positions (key observation <br /> points) shows that the project would not cause adverse visual impacts. Ratings of existing <br /> SACI371322I082330001(LEC_1.0_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.DOC) 1-11 <br />