Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Refuge Resources
set parameters for certain pollutants, such as particulate matter and ozone, that provide greater
protection of public health than the respective Federal standards. California has also set
standards for some pollutants that are not addressed by Federal standards, including sulfates
(SO 4), hydrogen sulfide (H 2S), and visibility reducing particles.
Air pollution controls established by SCAQMD have had a positive impact on the Basin’s air
quality, but some air quality standards are still being exceeded. Orange County was declared an
attainment area for NO 2 in 1998 and an attainment area for CO in June 2007. The 8-hour ozone
levels have been reduced by half over the past 30 years, but the USEPA continues to identify
Orange County as a severe non-attainment area for 8-hour ozone. Orange County is also
designated by the USEPA as a serious non-attainment area for PM-10 and a non-attainment area
for PM-2.5 (USEPA 2008a). In March 2008, the USEPA adopted a new 8-hour ozone standard of
0.075 ppm (the previous standard was 0.08 ppm). California’s recommendations for which areas
should be designated as non-attainment areas are due to the USEPA in March 2009. The USEPA
is expected to make final area designations by March 2010.
To address 8-hour ozone and PM-2.5 issues, SCAQMD prepared and approved a Final Air Quality
Management Plan (AQMP) for the SCAQMD in 2007. The AQMP is intended to meet both state
and federal Clean Air Act planning requirements for all areas in the district, including Orange
County. The AQMP, which incorporates a variety of new control strategies, requires more focused
control of SOx, directly-emitted PM2.5, and NOx supplemented with volatile organic compounds
(VOC) to achieve federal PM-2.5 standards. The AQMP’s 8-hour ozone control strategy, which
builds upon the previous PM-2.5 strategy for the district, has been augmented with additional NOx
and VOC reductions in an effort to meet the federal standard. The control measures in the 2007
AQMP consist of four components: 1) SCAQMD's Stationary and Mobile Source Control Measures;
2) the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) proposed State Strategy; 3) SCAQMD staff’s
proposed policy options to supplement CARB’s control strategy; and 4) Regional Transportation
Strategy and Control Measures provided by the Southern California Association of Governments.
The 2007 AQMP relies on a comprehensive and integrated control approach aimed at achieving the
PM-2.5 standard by 2015 through implementation of short-term and midterm control measures
and achieving the 8-hour ozone standard by 2024 based on implementation of additional long-term
measures.
Conditions in the vicinity of the Refuge differ to some extent from the rest of the basin due in large
part to the prevailing sea breeze which transports polluted air inland. This is particularly true for
ozone. Monitoring results indicate that at no time in 2005 was the federal ozone, PM-10, or PM-2.5
standards exceeded in the vicinity of the Refuge (SCAQMD 2007). The local source of air
pollutants near the Refuge is primarily vehicle exhaust from Pacific Coast Highway to the south
and Interstate 405 (I-405) to the north. In addition, a local major point source (defined as a source
generating a minimum of 100 tons per year of primary air pollutants) is the Haynes Steam Plant,
located approximately one mile northeast of the Refuge (USFWS and U.S. Navy 1990).
In addition to monitoring regional ambient air quality, SCAQMD also evaluates and issues air
quality permits to ensure that proposed new and changed operations and industrial equipment
meet emission standards. Construction and operation permits are required for any operation or
equipment capable of emitting air contaminants. Persons building, altering, or replacing
equipment, which may emit air pollutants, are required to obtain an Authority to Construct
Permit. Persons operating equipment, which may emit air pollutants, are also required to obtain a
Permit to Operate.
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment 4-31