Reclassification of the Coachella Valley for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard and the Related SIP Elements Required to Update the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets
Summary
SCH Number
2022110103
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
Reclassification of the Coachella Valley for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard and the Related SIP Elements Required to Update the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/4/2022
Document Description
The proposed project has been developed to address statutory requirements related to transportation conformity to ensure that regional transportation plans, programs, and projects are consistent with or conform to a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for meeting the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 0.075 parts per million (ppm) in the Coachella Valley. The South Coast AQMD is voluntarily requesting that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) reclassify the nonattainment status of the Coachella Valley from “severe-15” to “extreme” nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS which, upon approval of the reclassification by U.S. EPA, will trigger a SIP revision to address “extreme” nonattainment area planning requirements. “Extreme” nonattainment will extend the attainment date for Coachella Valley from July 20, 2027, to as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than July 20, 2032. Supporting the request to change the Coachella Valley’s nonattainment status for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS from “severe-15” to “extreme,” the proposed project also includes: 1) ozone air quality trends in the Coachella Valley; 2) baseline emissions inventory for: a) base year 2011, b) Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) demonstration for interim milestone years 2023, 2026, and 2029, and attainment year 2031; and 3) updated Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets.
Contact Information
Name
Farzaneh Khalaj
Agency Name
South Coast AQMD
Job Title
Air Quality Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide
Other Information
The location of the proposed project is the portion of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) jurisdiction covering the federal nonattainment area known as the Coachella Valley, which consists of the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin, excluding tribal lands.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3) and 15308
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project (Request to Reclassify Coachella Valley for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard and the Updated Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets) pursuant to: 1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15002(k) – General Concepts, the three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project subject to CEQA; and 2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 – Review for Exemption, procedures for determining if a project is exempt from CEQA. Since the Coachella Valley is already in “extreme” nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard, and the South Coast AQMD is also planning to request reclassification to “extreme” for the 2015 8-hour ozone standard, no adverse impacts are expected from the change in classification from “severe-15” to “extreme” nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard. Thus, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed project may cause a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption. The proposed project is also categorically exempt because it is intended to further protect or enhance the environment pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 – Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. Further, there is no substantial evidence indicating that any of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 – Exceptions apply to the proposed project.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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