Los Angeles County 2045 Climate Action Plan

Los Angeles County 2045 Climate Action Plan

The Draft 2045 CAP (Project) is the County’s plan towards meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for unincorporated Los Angeles County by the years of 2030, 2035, and 2045. It was developed with the goals of implementing the GHG emissions reduction policies of the General Plan Air Quality Element and ensuring that the County contributes its fair share to statewide GHG emissions reductions. With these goals in mind, the objectives of the Draft 2045 CAP are as follows: (1) Identify detailed programs, actions, and performance goals to achieve the climate action policies of the General Plan. (2) Identify GHG emissions reduction targets tailored to the unincorporated County that closely align with state and County climate goals. (3) Provide a road map for reducing GHG emissions to achieve the County’s GHG emissions reduction targets. (4) Encourage sustainable housing production at all levels of affordability, including increasing housing densities near transit to the extent allowed in the General Plan. (5) Demonstrate a level of GHG emissions below which the County would have less than cumulatively considerable GHG impacts for future environmental review projects and provide CEQA streamlining for development projects (serve as a “qualified CAP”) via the 2045 CAP Consistency Review Checklist. The Draft 2045 CAP includes the following: • A greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for 2018. • Emissions forecasts for 2030, 2035, and 2045. • GHG emissions targets for 2030, 2035, and 2045. • A long-term aspirational goal for carbon neutrality by 2045. • A suite of GHG emissions reduction strategies, measures, and actions to reduce GHG emissions from major sectors. • A technical modeling appendix to explain the Draft 2045 CAP’s GHG emissions reduction estimates. • A consideration of environmental justice and equity concerns. • Implementation and monitoring measures to ensure successful climate action. • A new development review consistency checklist to allow future projects to streamline GHG emissions analyses pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as anticipated by CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5 by using the 2045 CAP. Approval of the Draft 2045 CAP would require an amendment to the General Plan to replace the Unincorporated Los Angeles County Community Climate Action Plan 2020 (2020 CCAP), an implementing component of the General Plan’s Air Quality Element. LIST OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ANTICIPATED AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT No changes to General Plan land use designations, zoning, or specific development projects are proposed as part of the Draft 2045 CAP. However, projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions would have the following significant impacts: • Aesthetics: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions would: have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista; be visible from or obstruct views from a regional riding, hiking, or multiuse trail; substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway; substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings because of height, bulk, pattern, scale, character, or other features and/or conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality; and create a new source of substantial shadows, light, or glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to aesthetics resources. • Agriculture and Forestry: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to nonagricultural use; conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, with a designated Agricultural Resource Area, or with a Williamson Act contract; and involve other changes in the existing environment that, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to nonagricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to agriculture and forestry resources. • Air Quality: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan; result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of a criteria pollutant for which the Project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard; expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations for localized air pollutants and TAC emissions; and contribute to a significant cumulative impact to air quality associated with toxic air contaminant emissions. • Biological Resources: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: have a substantial adverse indirect impact (i.e., through habitat modifications) on one or more species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special-status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by CDFW or USFWS; have a substantial adverse impact on sensitive natural communities (e.g., riparian habitat, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, non-jurisdictional wetlands) identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by CDFW or USFWS; have a substantial adverse impact on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marshes, vernal pools, coastal wetlands, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means; and interfere substantially with the movement of native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites; and convert oak woodlands or other unique native woodlands. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to biological resources. • Cultural Resources: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5; cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a unique archaeological resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5; directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature; and disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of dedicated cemeteries. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to cultural resources. • Hazards and Hazardous Materials: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials or waste into the environment; emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within 0.25-mile of sensitive land uses; and impair implementation of, or physically interfere with, an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to hazards and hazardous materials resources. • Hydrology and Water Quality: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would, in flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to Project inundation. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to hydrology and water quality resources. • Noise: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: generate a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the Project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies; and generate excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts on noise. • Transportation: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: conflict with an applicable program plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system; and substantially increase hazards due to a road design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment). The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to transportation resources. • Tribal Cultural Resources: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, or of a resource determined by the County, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in Public Resources Code Section 5024.1(c). The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to tribal cultural resources. • Utilities and Service Systems: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunication facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects; and result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the Project that it has inadequate capacity to serve the Project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments. The Project would also cause significant cumulative impacts to utilities and service systems. • Wildfire: The Project, as a result of projects facilitated by Draft 2045 CAP measures and actions, would: substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan; require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment; and expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires. The Project would also cause significant cumulative wildfire impacts.

Unincorporated Los Angeles County

Los Angeles

Countywide, Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Baldwin Hills Conservancy (BHC), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Transportation, District 7 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region 4 (RWQCB), California Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), Santa Monica Bay Restoration, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance

Other (Climate Action Plan)

General Plan Amendment, General Plan Element

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Drainage/Absorption, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wildfire