Reso PC16-23 PC 0116 Reso CEQA - Sandpiper

Browse Search

Section 4.0 —Environmental Setting and Discussion of Impacts 4.3.3.1 Thresholds of Significance BAAQMD Significance Thresholds As discussed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064(b), the determination of whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment calls for careful judgment on the part of the lead agency and must be based to the best extent possible on scientific and factual data. The City and other jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin often utilize the thresholds and methodology for assessing air emissions and/or health effects adopted by the BAAQMD based upon the scientific and other factual data prepared by BAAQMD in developing those thresholds. The City has carefully considered the thresholds prepared by BAAQMD in May 2011 and regards these thresholds to be based on the best information available for the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. Evidence supporting these thresholds has been presented in the following documents: • BAAQMD. CEQA Air Quality Guidelines. Updated May 2011. • BAAQMD. Revised Draft Options and Justification Report California Environmental Quality Act Thresholds of Significance. October 2009. • California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. Health Risk Assessments for Proposed Land Use Projects, July 2009. • California Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board. Air Quality and Land Use Handbook.• A Community Health Perspective. 2005. The analysis in this IS is based upon the general methodologies in the most recent BAAQMD CEQA Air Quality Guidelines (dated May 2012) and numeric thresholds identified for the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin in the May 2011 BAAQMD CEQA Air Quality Guidelines, as described below. Operational Criteria Air Pollutants A project is considered to have a significant air quality impact if average daily emissions generated from operation of the project exceeds 54 pounds of ROG, NO,,, or PM2.s per day, and/or 82 pounds of PMIo per day. According to the BAAQMD CEQA Air Quality Guidelines, operation of an elementary school would not have a significant impact on the environment if it is less than 271,000 sf or serves less than 2,747 students. Construction Criteria Air Pollutants Construction activities are considered to have a significant air quality impact if average daily emissions exceed 54 pounds of ROG, NO, or PM2.5 per day, and/or 82 pounds of PMIo per day. According to the screening tables in the BAAQMD CEQA Air Quality Guidelines, construction of an elementary school would not exceed the construction criteria air pollutant thresholds if it is less than 277,000 sf or serves fewer than 3,904 students. City of Redwood City 23 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Sandpiper Elementary School Facilities Expansion November 2016