A Program EIR was prepared and certified for the 1998-00 RTP (State
Clearinghouse # 99032077). The EIR included descriptions of all the required
elements. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines provide
several options for environmental documentation once an EIR has been prepared
for a project or program. Where only minor changes occur to the project or
program, an addendum to the previously certified EIR may be prepared. While
there have been adjustments made to the projects and programs contained in the 2006
RTP Update, there are very limited financial resources to deliver projects.,
with tThe pprogrammed
projects that have been proposed in previous RTPs being would be the candidates
for any future limited funding. In addition, projects in the RTP cover the
same transportation modes as in previous RTPs. Therefore, an addendum is
appropriate to meet the guidelines.
Humboldt County is included in the North Coast Air Basin along with Del Norte, Trinity and Mendocino Counties. These counties operate as a unified special district, also called the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQMD), which manages air resources in this mountainous, predominantly rural region.
Most major air pollutants in Humboldt County-especially for mobile
sources-are well below what levels that the state considers harmful. Sources
of ozone precursor emissions are low enough that ozone smog does not rise to
significant levels, even during periods of minimal air movement. The entirety
of the North Coast Air Basin has been designated as "attainment" or
"unclassified" for all criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, ozone,
sulfur oxides, and nitrogen dioxide) and is subject to "Prevention of
Significant Deterioration" (PSD) permit procedures. Except for Redwood
National Park, which is designated Class I, all of Humboldt County is
designated as a Class II area.
Long term impacts on regional air quality are projected to increase at a
slower rate than in the past, due to conversion to more efficient and lower
emission vehicles, and
RTP plan policies and actions encouraging public transit use and conversion of
transit vehicles to alternative fuels, and programs and improvements designed
to increase bicycle and pedestrian system use.
Consultant staff spoke with Robert Torzynski, Planner at the North Coast Air
District regarding the use of Emfac2002 V2.2 as the modeling tool for the
calculation of future emissions in Humboldt County. The Emfac modeling tool
for Humboldt County was acquired accessed from
the California Air Resource Board's (CARB) website. It should be noted that the
ARB requires other Metropolitan Planning Organizations within California to use
the Emfac model for making air quality conformity determinations. Mr.
Torzynski commented that the Vehicle Miles Traveled estimate of 41% was
conservative and in line with the small population increase expected within Humboldt
County. In addition, he agreed with the model results of decreased vehicle
emission over the next twenty years. Since the Emfac model predicts emissions
based on the vehicle fleet over time, it is assumed cleaner vehicles will be on
the road in twenty years. For instance, it is expected that fewer polluting
vehicles from the 1970's era (10% of the vehicle fleet today) will be on the
road.
Humboldt
County is currently listed as non-attainment for PM1010 by the CARB. This status continues to
be impacted by the projected growth in region wide vehicle miles of travel
(VMT) and population. Table VI-1 shows the expected level of increase in VMT
and mobile emission levels if no improvements are made to the existing
transportation system.
Table VI-1: Projected Emissions From Mobile SourcesAir Quality Analysis Without Improvements: Peak
Hour Levels
|
Category |
Existing Conditions (2005) |
Future Conditions (2020) |
Percent |
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|
Pollutant: |
*Tons Per Day |
*Tons Per Day |
Change |
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|
Total Organic Gasses |
8.706 |
3.915 |
-55% |
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|
Carbon Monoxide |
68.253 |
30.293 |
-56% |
|||||||
|
Oxides of Nitrogen |
15.308 |
7.13 |
-53% |
|||||||
|
Oxides of Sulfer |
0.347 |
0.303 |
-13% |
|||||||
|
Particulate Matter < 10 microns |
0.782 |
0.615 |
-21% |
|||||||
|
Particulate Matter < 2.5 microns |
0.662 |
0.493 |
-26% |
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|
*Emissions from natural sources are excluded. |
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Data Compiled From: Air Resources Board, 2006. |
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There
is currently a Ffederal
standard for the Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
pollutant, but no state standard for California. The North Coast Unified Air
Quality Management District has been monitoring for this pollutant since
January 1999. The federal EPA (http://www.epa.gov/oar/primer/timeline.htm) has
provided the following timeline for implementing the PM2.5
standards:
1998-2000 Monitors
for PM 2.5
put in place nationwide.
1998-2000 Collect monitoring data.
2002- EPA
completes 5-year scientific review of particulate matter standards.
2002-2005 EPA designates areas.
2005-2008 States submit plans to EPA outlining how they will meet PM2.5 standards. States needing reductions begin implementing programs.
2012-2017 Following designation, states may have up to twelve years under the Clean Air Act to meet PM2.5 standards.
Based
on the timeline shown above, it is not known what control measures, if any,
will apply to Humboldt County. However, reduced motor vehicle emissions overall are expected to reduce
emissions of fine particulate matter, and thereby support attainment and/ or maintenance of the federal PM2.5
standard.
Based
on the analysis in Table VI-2of, daily
regional VMT on freeways, arterials and collectors, daily
regional VMT is expected to increase 41 28 percent
between 20035
and 202520.
This
represents an average annual increase of 1.9 percent on the CountyÕs state
highway system.This
represents an average annual increase of 1.8 percent on the CountyÕs state
highway system. Although VMT is expected to increase over
time, the resulting emissions are predicted to decrease due to cleaner
vehicle emissions on the road by the year 20250.
Transportation improvements from projects contained in the Action Element of the RTP will further reduce emissions in the future as well as alleviate congestion in the peak hours at peak locations.
Table VI-2: Air
Quality Analysis Without Improvements: Total Daily Levels
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