REPORT:
Lead Agency Projects and Environmental Documents Received by the AQMD
SYNOPSIS:
This report provides, for the Board’s consideration, a listing of CEQA
documents received by the AQMD between February 1, 2002, and February 28,
2002, and those projects for which the AQMD is acting as lead agency
pursuant to CEQA.
COMMITTEE:
Mobile Source, March 22, 2002
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
CEQA Document Receipt and Review Logs (Attachments A and B) - Each
month, the AQMD receives numerous CEQA documents from other public agencies
on projects that could adversely affect air quality. A listing of all
documents received during the reporting period of February 1, 2002, through
February 28, 2002, is contained in Attachment A. A list of active projects
from previous reporting periods for which AQMD staff is continuing to
evaluate or prepare comments is included as Attachment B.
The Intergovernmental Review function, which consists of reviewing and
commenting on CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies, is consistent
with the Board’s Environmental Justice Guiding Principles and Initiative #4.
As resources permit, staff focuses on reviewing and preparing comments for
projects: where the AQMD is a responsible agency; that may have significant
adverse regional air quality impacts (e.g., special event centers,
landfills, etc.); and those projects for which a lead or responsible agency
has specifically requested AQMD review.
During the period February 1, 2002, through February 28,
2002, the AQMD received 57 CEQA documents. Of the total of 80 documents
listed in Attachments A and B:
- 10 comment letters were sent;
- 28 documents were reviewed, but no comments were made;
- 27 documents are currently under review;
- 12 document did not require comments (e.g. public notices, plot plans,
Final EIRs); and
- 3 documents were not reviewed.
AQMD Lead Agency Projects (Attachment C) - Pursuant to CEQA, the
AQMD periodically acts as lead agency for stationary source permit projects.
Under CEQA, the lead agency is responsible for determining whether an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or a Negative Declaration is appropriate
for any proposal considered to be a "project" as defined by CEQA. An EIR is
prepared when the AQMD as lead agency finds substantial evidence that the
proposed project may have significant adverse effects on the environment. A
Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration may be prepared if
the AQMD determines that the proposed project will not generate significant
adverse environmental impacts or it can be modified such that it does not
generate significant adverse environmental effects. The Negative Declaration
is a written statement describing the reasons why a proposed project will
not have a significant adverse effect on the environment and, therefore,
does not require the preparation of an EIR.
Attachment C to this report summarizes the active projects for which the
AQMD is lead agency and is currently preparing or has prepared environmental
documentation. As noted in Attachment C, in February the AQMD did not
certify any CEQA documents for stationary source permit application
projects. The AQMD received one new request to be lead agency for a permit
application project. Through the end of February, 2002, the AQMD continued
working on CEQA documents for three active projects.
In 2001, the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared or contracted for the
preparation of and certified a total of 11 CEQA documents for stationary
source permit projects. To date in 2002 the AQMD, as lead agency, prepared
or contracted for the preparation of and certified one CEQA document for a
stationary source permit project.
Attachments
- Incoming CEQA Documents Log
- Ongoing Active Projects for Which AQMD Has or Will Conduct a CEQA
Review
- Active AQMD Lead Agency Projects
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