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Potentially Less Than Less Than Analyzed
<br /> Si nificant Significant with Si nificant No In The
<br /> 9 Mitigation 9
<br /> Impact Incorporated Impact Impact Prior EIR
<br /> VIII.GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
<br /> Would the project,
<br /> a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or
<br /> indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the
<br /> environment?
<br /> b)Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted
<br /> for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse
<br /> gases?
<br /> Impact Discussion:
<br /> a-b) Emissions of GHGs contributing to global climate change are attributable in large partto human activities associated
<br /> with the industrial/manufacturing, utility, transportation, residential, and agricultural sectors. Therefore, the
<br /> cumulative global emissions of GHGs contributing to global climate change can be attributed to every nation,region,
<br /> and city, and virtually every individual on earth.An individual project's GHG emissions are at a micro-scale level
<br /> relative to global emissions and effects to global climate change; however, an individual project could result in a
<br /> cumulatively considerable incremental contribution to a significant cumulative macro-scale impact,As such,impacts
<br /> related to emissions of GHG are inherently considered cumulative impacts.
<br /> Implementation of the underlying project would cumulatively contribute to increases of GHG emissions, Estimated
<br /> GHG emissions attributable to future development would be primarily associated with increases of carbon dioxide
<br /> (CO2)and, to a lesser extent, other GHG pollutants, such as methane(CH4) and nitrous oxide(N2O)associated
<br /> with area sources, mobile sources or vehicles, utilities (electricity and natural gas), water usage, wastewater
<br /> generation,and the generation of solid waste,The primary source of GHG emissions forthe project would be mobile
<br /> source emissions.The common unit of measurement for GHG is expressed in terms of annual metric tons of CO2
<br /> equivalents(MTCO2elyr).
<br /> As noted previously, the underlying project will be subject to the rules and regulations of the SJVAPCD. The
<br /> SJVAPCD has adopted the Guidance for Valley Land use Agencies in Addressing GHG Emission Impacts for New
<br /> Projects under CEQA and the District Policy—Addressing GHG Emission Impacts for Stationary Source Projects
<br /> Under CEQA When Serving as the Lead Agency.?The guidance and policy rely on the use of performance-based
<br /> standards, otherwise known as Best Performance Standards (BPS) to assess significance of project specific
<br /> greenhouse gas emissions on global climate change during the environmental review process, as required by
<br /> CEQA. To be determined to have a less-than-significant individual and cumulative impact with regard to GHG
<br /> emissions, projects must include BPS sufficient to reduce GHG emissions by 29 percent when compared to
<br /> Business As Usual(BAU)GHG emissions. Perthe SJVAPCD,BAU is defined as projected emissions for the 2002-
<br /> 2004 baseline period. Projects which do not achieve a 29 percent reduction from BAU levels with BPS alone are
<br /> required to quantify additional project-specific reductions demonstrating a combined reduction of 29 percent.
<br /> Potential mitigation measures may include, but not limited to, on-site renewable energy (e.g. solar photovoltaic
<br /> systems), electric vehicle charging stations, the use of alternative-fueled vehicles, exceeding Title 24 energy
<br /> efficiency standards, the installation of energy-efficient lighting and control systems, the installation of energy-
<br /> efficient mechanical systems,the installation of drought-tolerant landscaping, efficient irrigation systems, and the
<br /> use of low-flow plumbing fixtures.
<br /> It should be noted that neitherthe SJVAPCD nor the County provide project-level thresholds for construction-related
<br /> GHG emissions.Construction GHG emissions are a one-time release and are,therefore,not typically expected to
<br /> generate a significant contribution to global climate change.
<br /> 1 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Guidance for Valley Land-use Agencies in Addressing GHG
<br /> Emission Impacts for New Projects under CEQA. December 17, 2009.San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control
<br /> District. District Policy Addressing GHG Emission Impacts for Stationary Source Projects Under CEQA When
<br /> Serving as the Lead Agency.December 17,2009,
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<br /> Planning Commission Staff Report, PA-1800316(UP) 20
<br /> Environmental Review
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