Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures
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&+$37(5(19,5210(17$/6(77,1* ,03$&76$1'0,7,*$7,210($685(6 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 8C6QU@S"@IWDSPIH@IU6G@W6GV6UDPI Strikeouts and underlines indicate changes made from the DEIR. " DIUSP9V8UDPI The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader with the information necessary to understand and evaluate the potential environmental impacts due to implementation of the proposed Pasadena City College Master Plan 2010. In accordance with the State CEQA Guidelines (§15128 and §15143), this program EIR focuses on the impacts identified in the NOP and during project Scoping as needing further analysis (aesthetics, air quality, biology, cultural resources, geology/soils, hazards/hazardous materials, noise, public services, traffic/transportation, and utilities/service systems). Impacts that were determined to be not significant in the NOP include agricultural resources, land use/planning, mineral resources, population/housing, and recreation. However, to help understand the relationship of Master Plan 2010 to the surrounding community, this chapter does include discussions about land use/planning, population/housing, and recreation. To assist the reader, each EIR environmental impact category is discussed separately. These discussions include a description of the environmental setting, the criteria used to determine significance of potential effects, the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, mitigation measures, and any unavoidable significant adverse effects that would remain after implementation of the proposed mitigation measures. The environmental setting discussions contain a description of the physical environmental conditions in the vicinity of the project, as it existed at the time the Notice of Preparation was distributed. The significance criteria identified for each environmental impact category are based on the definitions that have been developed and established by the Pasadena Area Community College District, various public agencies, or professional organizations and are consistent with CEQA regulations. The environmental impact analyses focus on the potentially significant effects that could occur during project construction and/or operation. As required by CEQA, mitigation measures are identified to reduce or eliminate significant adverse impacts to the extent feasible. The analyses presented in this chapter are based on a projected enrollment of up to about 34,000 students1 in the 2010-2011 academic year and rounded upward to 35,000 to avoid potentially underestimating impacts. For comparison, there were almost 30,00 students enrolled in the Fall 2002 semester. 1 Although Master Plan 2010 cites a projected enrollment of 34,300, the PCC Board has adopted a policy limit of 33,000. This limit was developed in recognition of the physical and operational constraints of the PCC campus and facilities and to avoid attempting to function at total peak loading. Pasadena City College Master Plan 2010 Final EIR page 3-1 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures "!6DSRV6GDU` "! @v rhyTrvt The Southern California region in general has a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters with most of the rainfall occurring between the months of November and April. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) divides the state into air basins that share similar meteorological and topographical features. The proposed project is located in the South Coastal Los Angeles County Source-Receptor Area. Los Angeles County is within the South Coast Air Basin (Basin), a 6,600-square-mile area comprised of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. The Basin’s climate and topography are highly conducive to the formation and transport of air pollution. Peak ozone concentrations in the Basin over the last 2 decades have occurred at the base of the mountains around Azusa and Glendora in Los Angeles County and at Crestline in the mountain area above the City of San Bernardino. Peak ozone concentrations, as well as the number of days that the ozone standards were exceeded, decreased in the Basin throughout the 1990s. Carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations also dropped significantly throughout the Basin as a result of strict new emission controls and reformulated gasoline sold in winter months. D5HJXODWRU\DQG3ODQQLQJ5HTXLUHPHQWV Regionally, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) have responsibility under state law to prepare the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the South Coast Air Basin. The AQMP contains measures to meet state and federal requirements. When approved by CARB and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the AQMP becomes part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP). Arqr hy6hvrTh The South Coast Air Basin is the nation’s only “extreme” ozone non-attainment area; however, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board has requested that the EPA “bump up” the Valley from “severe” to “extreme.” The Clean Air Act allows “extreme” areas until 2010 to achieve the national 1-hour ozone standard. The Clean Air Act set the deadlines for CO and PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter) attainment in the Basin at 2000 and 2005, respectively. EPA regulations specify that a CO standard is attained when there are two years of data with no more than one exceedance at any one station. Although there were no exceedances of any CO standard in 2001, there were two exceedances of the national 8-hour standard at the South Central Los Angeles County monitoring station in 2000. All other stations met the 2-year attainment standard in 2001. Although 2002 data have been released by the DAQMD, preliminary data indicate that the 8-hour standard was met at all stations in 2002. The national nitrogen dioxide (NO2) standard was regularly exceeded in Los Angeles County until Pasadena City College Master Plan 2010 Final EIR page 3-2 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 1992. As a result, the Basin was the only area in the nation still designated an NO2 non- attainment area when the EPA redesignated it attainment in 1998. In July 1997, the EPA promulgated stricter standards for ozone and fine particulates less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), with up to 15 years allowed for attaining the PM2.5 standard. Attainment of the new 8-hour ozone standard would not be required until after the 1-hour standard is achieved. The PM10 standard was revised, but the existing PM10 standard remains in effect until attainment is achieved. Until there has been sufficient monitoring for the EPA to designate the PM2.5 attainment status for each region, the PM10 standard will remain the particulate standard of reference. ThrThqh q California standards are generally stricter than national standards, but have no penalty for non- attainment. California and national ambient air standards are shown in Table 3-1. SrtvhyQyhvtHrrThqh q Regionally, the SCAQMD and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) prepare the AQMP. The agencies adopted new plans in 1989 to meet national standards and in 1991 to meet state standards. The SCAQMD revised these attainment plans in 1994 and 1997. The EPA approved the 1994 AQMP in 1996 as part of the SIP. The SCAQMD revised the 1997 AQMP in 1999 to address EPA concerns. The revised plan, now known as the 1999 AQMP, was approved by the EPA on May 10, 2000 and replaced the 1994 AQMP as the federally enforceable SIP for the air basin. The SCAQMD and SCAG have revised the 1999 AQMP, and are expected to adopt the new revision later in 2003. E([LVWLQJ$LU4XDOLW\ The SCAQMD is responsible for monitoring air quality in the South Coast Air Basin, and for adopting controls, in conjunction with the CARB, to improve air quality. Overall air quality has improved considerably throughout the Basin since 1990. These improvements have occurred despite extensive population growth in the Basin during the past decade. The EPA has adopted new standards for 8-hour ozone and fine particulates (PM2.5). Neither standard is operational in the South Coast Air Basin until the 1-hour ozone standard is achieved and the EPA completes its database on existing PM2.5 concentrations. The EPA expects to finalize the 8-hour ozone implementation procedures in 2003 and designate non-attainment areas in late 2003 or early 2004. The agency expects to designate PM2.5 non-attainment areas in 2004 or 2005. In the interim, the SCAQMD is monitoring levels of both PM2.5 and 8-hour concentrations of ozone. The proposed project is located in Source Receptor Area (SRA) 8, the West San Gabriel Valley. Readings for SRA8 for the past 5 years, together with the applicable state and national standards, are shown in Table 3-2. PM10 readings are from SRA 9, the East San Gabriel Valley, because PM10 is not monitored in SRA 8. Where they are available, the 8-hour ozone and the PM2.5 concentrations in SRA 8 are shown for information purposes. Pasadena City College Master Plan 2010 Final EIR page 3-3 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 7DEOH$PELHQW$LU4XDOLW\6WDQGDUGV National Standards Air Pollutant State Standard Health Effect Primary Secondary Ozone 0.09 ppm, 1-hr. avg. 0.12 ppm, 1-hr. 0.12 ppm, 1-hr. avg. Aggravation of respiratory (O3) avg. and cardiovascular 0.08 ppm, 8-hr. diseases; Impairment of avg. cardiopulmonary function Carbon Monoxide 9.0 ppm, 8-hr. avg. 9 ppm, 8-hr. avg. 9 ppm, 8-hr. avg. Aggravation of respiratory (CO) 20 ppm. 1-hr. avg. 35 ppm, 1-hr. avg. 35 ppm, 1-hr. avg. diseases (asthma, emphysema) Nitrogen Dioxide 0.25 ppm, 1-hr. avg. 0.0534 ppm, 0.0534 ppm, Aggravation of respiratory (NO2) annual avg. annual avg. illness Sulfur Dioxide 0.25 ppm 1-hr. 0.03 ppm, annual 0.50 ppm, 3-hr. Aggravation of respiratory (SO2) 0.04 ppm, 24-hr avg.