Chapter 8 Natural Resources Natural Resources 2040 General Plan 8 NATURAL RESOURCES INTRODUCTION This chapter summarizes the natural resources for the County of Ventura. It is organized into the following sections: . Air Quality (Section 8.1) . Biological Resources and Habitat/Wildlife Corridors (Section 8.2) . Recreation and Open Space (Section 8.3) . Scenic Resources (Section 8.4) . Mineral Resources (Section 8.5) . Energy Resources (Section 8.6) . Cultural, Historical, Paleontological, and Archaeological Resources (Section 8.7) . Appendices (Section 8.8) SECTION 8.1 AIR QUALITY Introduction This section summarizes the existing air quality conditions and regulatory framework within Ventura County. Air quality is described as the concentration of various pollutants in the atmosphere for a specific location or area. Air quality conditions at a particular location are a function of the type and amount of air pollutants emitted into the atmosphere, the size and topography of the regional air basin, and the prevailing weather conditions. Air quality is an important natural resource that influences public health and welfare, the economy, and quality of life. Air pollutants have the potential to adversely impact public health, the production and quality of agricultural crops, native vegetation, visibility, buildings, and other structures and materials. Regarding public health impacts from poor air quality, some people are more sensitive to poor air quality than others. These people include children, the elderly, and persons with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Land uses where these people are likely to be located are defined as sensitive receptors. Sensitive receptors include long-term healthcare facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, retirement homes, convalescent homes, residences, schools, childcare centers, and playgrounds. Sensitive receptors are located throughout Ventura County. Climate change and sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions often are associated with air quality. These topics are addressed in Chapter 12 (Climate Change). Public Review Draft 8-1 March 2017 Background Report County of Ventura Major Findings . Currently, air quality within the county is typically moderate to good. Overall, reactive organic gases (ROG) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are declining countywide, as they have for many years, continuing the County’s progress towards meeting the California and National ambient air quality standards (CAAQS and NAAQS) for ozone. This decline in ozone precursor emissions is occurring despite growing population and motor vehicle usage (VCAPCD 2015). However, as population increases and the county and region continue to grow, additional pollution sources (e.g., mobile-and-stationary sources) could result in increased emissions of ozone precursors and more smog. Temperature increases as a result of global climate change could also lead to the production of more smog, since warmer weather can result in more smog-forming conditions. Ventura County is located in the South Central Coast Air Basin (SCCAB) and is under the jurisdiction of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD). The VCAPCD is currently designated as a nonattainment area for ozone under the CAAQS and the NAAQS; additionally, Ventura County is listed as a nonattainment area for the CAAQS for respirable particulate matter with an aerodynamic resistance diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10). A nonattainment area is defined as an area or air basin that does not meet the CAAQS or NAAQS for a given pollutant. Within Ventura County, mobile sources (e.g., cars and trucks) are the largest contributor of ozone precursor emissions, which include ROG and NOX. Area-wide sources (e.g., paved road dust, agriculture, construction and demolition activities) in Ventura County are the largest contributor of PM10 and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic resistance diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) emissions. There are approximately 674 stationary sources in Ventura County that emit toxic substances and are subject to the Air Toxics Hot Spots reporting requirements under Assembly Bill (AB) 2588. The majority of locations are concentrated in incorporated or developed areas, including Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Fillmore. Ventura County is not classified as having the potential to contain serpentine bedrock. Thus, there is no potential for naturally-occurring asbestos (NOA) in the unincorporated county. Existing Conditions In addition to the presence of existing air pollution sources, air quality is determined by a number of natural factors, such as topography, climate, and meteorology. These factors are discussed below. Topography, Climate, and Atmospheric Conditions Ventura County is located in the SCCAB, which comprises all of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. The air above Ventura County often exhibits weak vertical and horizontal dispersion characteristics, which limit the dispersion of emissions and cause increased ambient air pollutant levels. Persistent temperature inversions prevent vertical dispersion. The inversions act as a “ceiling” that 8-2 Public Review Draft March 2017 Natural Resources 2040 General Plan prevent pollutants from rising and dispersing. Mountain ranges act as “walls” that inhibit horizontal dispersion of air pollutants. The diurnal land/sea breeze pattern common in Ventura County recirculates air contaminants. Air pollutants are pushed toward the ocean during the early morning by the land breeze, and toward the east during the afternoon, by the sea breeze. This creates a “sloshing” effect, causing pollutants to remain in the area for several days. Residual emissions from previous days accumulate and chemically react with new emissions in the presence of sunlight, thereby increasing ambient air pollutant levels. This pollutant sloshing effect happens most predominantly from May through October (smog season). Air temperatures are usually higher and sunlight more intense during the smog season. This explains why Ventura County experiences the most exceedances of the CAAQS and NAAQS for ozone during this six- month period (VCAPCD 2003). Existing Sources of Criteria Air Pollutant and Precursor Emissions The California Air Resources Board (ARB) developed a 2015 emissions inventory projection for Ventura County (ARB 2016a). The county inventory is generally representative of the types of emissions sources that are included in the county. The county emissions inventory is summarized in Figure 8-1. A detailed breakdown of the county inventory is provided in Appendix 8B. According to the ARB inventory, mobile sources, such as cars and trucks, are the largest contributor to the estimated air pollutant levels of ROG, sulfur oxides (SOX), carbon monoxide (CO), and NOX, accounting for approximately 44 percent, 82 percent, 86 percent, and 93 percent, of total respective emissions in Ventura county. Area-wide sources, such as the household, commercial and institutional use of solvents, agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, architectural coatings, consumer products, and other activities, account for about 34 percent of ROG emissions, while stationary sources, such as industrial and manufacturing activities, contribute about 22 percent of ROG emissions. Outer Continental Shelf sources (e.g., ocean going vessels) also contribute approximately 37 percent of total NOx emissions (ARB 2013). Area-wide sources account for approximately 83 percent and 66 percent of the county’s PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, respectively, most of which resulted from construction and demolition, vehicle travel on unpaved roads, vehicle travel on paved roads, residential fuel combustion activity, and fugitive windblown dust (ARB 2016a). Public Review Draft 8-3 March 2017 Background Report County of Ventura FIGURE 8-1 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS AND PRECURSORS (TONS PER DAY) Ventura County 2015 100% 0.59 0.38 3.20 1.83 0.17 90% 7.09 2.39 80% 1.65 70% 60% 14.08 107.78 50% 42.55 0.98 40% 14.20 3.87 30% 20% 10.85 10% 14.41 0% 0.05 1.27 ROG SOX PM10 PM2.5 CO NOX AREA-WIDE MOBILE STATIONARY Notes: CO = carbon monoxide; NOx = nitrogen oxides; PM10 = respirable particulate matter with an aerodynamic resistance diameter of 10 micrometers or less; PM2.5 = fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic resistance diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less; ROG = reactive organic gases; SOx = sulfur oxides. Source: California Air Resources Board (ARB). 2015 Estimated Annual Average Emissions – Ventura County. The California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality. 2013 Edition. http://www.arb.ca.gov/app/emsinv/2013/emssumcat.php, March 22, 2016a. Air Quality Monitoring and Existing Pollutant Concentrations There are currently six active air quality monitoring stations in Ventura County as shown in Figure 8-2. Table 8-1 summarizes the stations and the pollutant concentrations measured at each station. Table 8-13 through Table 8-17 in Appendix 8C summarize the pollutant concentrations measured from these stations from 2009 to 2014. EPA and ARB use this type of monitoring data to designate areas according to attainment status for criteria air pollutants established by the agencies (see further discussion on attainment with the CAAQS and NAAQS under the Regulatory Setting section below). Each pollutant is described further below. 8-4 Public Review Draft March 2017 Natural Resources 2040 General Plan TABLE 8-1 AIR QUALITY MONITORING IN VENTURA COUNTY1 Monitoring Station Active Ozone