Reso PC17-07 0032 PC Reso Approving CEQA - 860 Charter St

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LSA ASSOCIATES, INC. SEPTEMBER 2016 ROCKETSHIP REDWOOD CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY/ MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION P:\RWC1401B Rocketship School\PRODUCTS\IS-MND\Public\Rocketship Public Review 09-29-16.docx (09/29/16) PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 32 threshold established by the BAAQMD, the proposed project would result in a cumulatively significant impact. In developing thresholds of significance for air pollutants, the BAAQMD considered the emission levels for which a project’s individual emissions would be cumulatively considerable. According to the BAAQMD, if a project exceeds the identified significance thresholds, its emissions would be cumulatively considerable, resulting in significant adverse air quality impacts to the region’s existing air quality conditions. The BAAQMD developed the CEQA Guidelines to assist lead agencies in evaluating air quality impacts of projects and plans proposed in the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. Projects have the potential to generate harmful air pollutants that degrade air quality and can expose sensitive populations to harmful pollutants. The thresholds are applicable to the project as it would require discretionary approval from the City. As shown in Table 2, implementation of the proposed project would generate less-than-significant regional emissions. As described in the project-specific air quality impacts discussion above, the proposed project would not result in individually significant impacts and therefore would not make a cumulatively considerable contribution to regional air quality impacts. d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? (Less-Than-Significant Impact) The project could expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations during project construction or during operation of the project. Construction Impacts. Residents and other sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the project site would be temporarily exposed to diesel engine exhaust during the construction period due to the operation of construction equipment. Health risks from TACs are a function of both concentration and duration of exposure. Construction diesel emissions are temporary, affecting an area for a period of days or perhaps weeks. Additionally, construction-related sources are mobile and transient in nature, and the emissions occur within the project site. The closest residential receptors are located approximately 400 feet south of the project site. Because of its short duration and the distance between the source and receptor locations, health risks from construction emissions of diesel particulate would be a less-than-significant impact. Operational Impacts. Future students of the project site could be exposed to increased levels of TACs from vehicle emissions on high volume roadways or from stationary sources in the project vicinity. High Volume Roadways. High volume roadways in the project vicinity could expose students on the project site to toxic air contaminants. The project site would be located approximately 750 east of State Route 84 (SR-84) and approximately 1,300 feet south of US 101. According to the BAAQMD roadway screening tools, given the project site’s proximity to SR-84, the contribution of PM2.5 concen- tration on the project site would be 0.005 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) which is below the BAAQMD’s threshold of 0.30 µg/m3. The estimated cancer risk associated with exposure to this roadway is 0.528 in 1 million, which is below the BAAQMD’s threshold of 10 in 1 million. The contribution of PM2.5 concentration on the project site attributable to US 101 would be 0.027 µg/m3, which is below the BAAQMD’s threshold of 0.30 µg/m3. The estimated cancer risk associated with exposure to this roadway is 3.11 in 1 million, which is below the BAAQMD’s threshold of 10 in 1 million. Therefore, potential toxic air contaminant impacts from high volume roadways would not be significant. ATTY/RESO.0032/PC RESO APPROVING CEQA - 860 CHARTER ST. EXHIBIT A REV: 06-15-17 PR Page 40 of 124