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 46 Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact VII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Would the project: a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? (Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated) The project would generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during both the construction and operation periods. These impacts are discussed below. Construction Emissions. Construction activities, such as site preparation, site grading, utility engines, on-site heavy-duty construction vehicles, equipment hauling materials to and from the site, and motor vehicles transporting the construction crew would produce combustion emissions from various sources. During construction of the project, greenhouse gases (GHGs) would be emitted through the operation of construction equipment and from worker and builder supply vendor vehicles, each of which typically use fossil-based fuels to operate. The combustion of fossil-based fuels creates GHGs such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Furthermore, CH4 is emitted during the fueling of heavy equipment. Exhaust emissions from on-site construction activities would vary daily as construction activity levels change. The only GHG with well-studied emissions characteristics and published emissions factors for construction equipment is CO2. GHG emissions are typically measured in terms of pounds or tons of “CO2 equivalents” (CO2e). Using the CalEEMod emissions estimator model to estimate construction equipment use, total project construction activities would emit approximately 259 metric tons of CO2e. Model output sheets are included in Appendix B. The BAAQMD does not have a quantitative threshold of significance for construction-related GHG emissions. Therefore, the threshold is based on a qualitative evaluation of whether the project implements applicable BAAQMD Best Management Practices. Implementation of Mitigation Measure AIR-1 would reduce GHG emissions by reducing the amount of construction vehicle idling and by requiring the use of properly maintained equipment. Therefore, project construction impacts associated with GHG emissions would be considered less than significant. Operation Emissions. Long-term operation of the proposed project would generate GHG emissions from mobile sources and indirect emissions from sources associated with energy consump- tion. Mobile-source emissions of GHGs would include project-generated vehicle trips associated with teachers, students, visitors and other trips to the project site. Emissions would also be generated at off-site utility providers as a result of demand for electricity by the proposed project. ATTY/RESO.0032/PC RESO APPROVING CEQA - 860 CHARTER ST. EXHIBIT A REV: 06-15-17 PR Page 54 of 124