Agmt21 Environmental Science Associates Transit District

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Proposed Work Program June 2021 City of Redwood City / Transit District Subsequent EIR 15 Environmental science associates REV: 06-22-21 MI included in the CAPs emissions forecasts, targets, and emission reduction strategies.2 Consequently, determining GHG impacts for the Transit District necessitates more than a consistency analysis with the CAP’s strategies and actions, as required by CEQA Guidelines §15183.5(b)(1)(B), (C), and (D). ESA will collaborate with City staff to develop an appropriate project-specific GHG threshold for the Transit District based on the City’s CAP and in response to recent GHG case law including Newhall Ranch and Golden Door.3 The SEIR will also evaluate GHG emission impacts with respect to consistency with the applicable regulatory plans and policies to reduce GHG emissions, including the emissions reduction measures discussed within CARB’s 2030 Climate Change Scoping Plan (2017), the BAAQMD Clean Air Plan (2017), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Plan Bay Area 2040 (2017), and the City’s General Plan (2010). If applicable, ESA will identify feasible measures to mitigate any adverse impacts on climate based on professional standards and on requirements of the CAP, the BAAQMD, and the City’s General Plan policies. Energy. In December 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency made changes to the CEQA Guidelines, reflecting recent case law in providing new guidance for analyzing a project’s impacts related to energy consumption. A description of the energy resources available in the project area and greater Bay Area will be described, in addition to the regulatory context for energy resources in the Bay Area. Federal and State regulations relative to energy resources and energy efficiency that would be applicable to the plans will also be described. ESA will discuss environmental setting in terms of the current fuel and electricity use in the region based on annual California Energy Commission fuel and electricity consumption data. Potential energy consumption from implementation of the Transit District, including any renewable energy resource features, will be discussed qualitatively, as well as a determination would have the potential to result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction and operation and whether they could conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency. Sea Level Rise. The DTPP Final EIR identified potential flooding due to sea level rise as a potentially significant impact. However, California Supreme Court’s decision in California Building Industry Association (CBIA) v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015) confirmed that CEQA, with several certain exceptions, is concerned with the impacts of a project on the environment, not the effects the existing environment may have on a project. Consequently, the sea level rise assessment in the SEIR will focus on whether the Transit District project may exacerbate sea level rise. On-going citywide and regional planning efforts addressing sea level rise will also be discussed in the SEIR. Hazards and Hazardous Materials The DTPP Final EIR determined potential impacts to hazards and hazardous under the DTPP would be less than significant. 2 In addition, it is ESA’s understanding that the CAP’s emissions forecast and emission reduction measure analysis was based on the Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS) tool, which incorporates socioeconomic projections from the City’s 2010 General Plan and Plan Bay Area 2013, neither of which include the development proposed under the Transit District. 3 For example, the threshold may represent emissions per service population allowed for new development based on the City’s 2030 target and 2030 projected service population; transportation emissions may be evaluated using the City’s new VMT metric thresholds by land use type. ATTY/AGR.2021.149/ESA (Transit District CEQA) (Page 25 of 26)