Proposed Rule 2702-Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Proposed Rule 2702-Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Note: Review Per Lead The currently proposed project requires the following modifications to Rules 2700, 2701 and 2702: 1) amend Rule 2700 so current and future protocols can be added without California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval; 2) amend Rules 2701 and 2702 to incorporate the following amendments: a) update the forest project, urban forestry project, and manure management project protocols to be consistent with the most current versions; b) limit forestry projects to include only reforestation and forestry maintenance projects without harvesting; and c) add a new SCAQMD-developed boiler and process heater efficiency protocol to the protocol list. The purpose of the boiler protocol is to establish a method to quantify voluntary reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from an improvement in the efficiency of a boiler or process heater beyond what is required by any rule or regulation. Efficiency improvements would be achieved by retrofitting boilers or process heaters with an economizer/combustion air pre-heater or an Oxygen Trim System (OTS). A previously certified Final PEA for Rule 27-2 from proposed amendments to Rules 2700, 2701 and 2702. However, the notice of reliance has subsequently been withdrawn. The previously certified 2009 Final PEA analyzed potential adverse impacts from greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects undertaken by the SCAQMD pursuant to the approved forest, urban forestry and manure management protocols that were included in Rule 2702, as well as concepts for a boiler efficiency protocol that was not yet completed at the time of adoption. However, the potential impact of the boiler protocol's use under Rule 2701 was not analyzed. Therefore, the focus of the analysis in this Draft Subsequent EA is on potentially significant adverse impacts of amending Rule 2701 to add the finalized boiler efficiency protocol along with the analysis of the previously identified impacts from the boiler protocol concepts presented in the previously certified 2009 Final PEA for Rule 2702. The environmental analysis in the Draft Subsequent EA demonstrates that the proposed project would not generate any significant adverse environmental impacts.

Air Resources Board, Major Industrial Projects, Cal Fire, California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Energy Commission, California Highway Patrol, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 6, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Water Resources, Resources Agency

Proposed Amended Rule

Air Quality