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b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? Environmental Setting Background A GHG is a gas that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range, trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere. There are several types of GHGs, which are both naturally occurring and generated by human activity. Increased atmospheric concentrations of GHGs are considered a primary contributor to global climate change, which is a subject of concern for the State of California. Potential climate change impacts occurring in the San Joaquin Valley include more intense and frequent heat waves, higher frequency of catastrophic floods, more intense and frequent drought, and more severe and frequent wildfires (Westerling et al. 2018). GHG emissions in California in 2019, the most recent year for which data are available, were estimated at approximately 418.2 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) — a decrease of approximately 14.6% from the peak level in 2004. Transportation was the largest contributor to GHG emissions in California, with almost 40% of total emissions. Other significant sources include industrial activities, with approximately 21% of total emissions, and electric power generation, both in-state and imported, with approximately 14% of total emissions (ARB 2021). Unlike the criteria air pollutants described in Section 3.3, Air Quality, GHGs have no "attainment" standards established by the federal or State government. In fact, GHGs are not generally thought of as traditional air pollutants because their impacts are global in nature, while air pollutants mainly affect the general region of their release to the atmosphere. Nevertheless, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that GHG emissions endanger both the public health and public welfare under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act due to their impacts associated with climate change (EPA 2009). Regulatory Framework The State of California has implemented GHG emission reduction strategies through Assembly Bill (AB) 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires total statewide GHG emissions to reach 1990 levels by 2020, or an approximately 29% reduction from 2004 levels. Total state GHG emissions in 2019 were almost 13 million metric tons CO2e below the 2020 target established by AB 32 (ARB 2021). In 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 32 became law. SB 32 extends the GHG reduction objectives of AB 32 by mandating statewide reductions in GHG emissions to levels that are 40% below 1990 levels by the year 2030. The State has adopted an updated Scoping Plan that sets forth strategies for achieving the SB 32 target, which is 260 million metric tons Pock Lane Public Review Draft IS/MND 3-35 May 2022