environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

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Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 The Ramona Tribe is in the early planning stages of developing an Eco-tourist site. The current plans are conceptual, but could foreseeably be completed in the next two to five years. The Eco-tourist site would consist of eight or more individual lodges and a central conference building. Several of the lodges are already constructed, which would minimize new development. The lodges would support 2-4 persons. Additional day visitors could visit the Eco-Center conference building where Tribal members will teach people Cahuilla Culture including basketry, pottery, gathering, health and healing, and flora and fauna. This facility would be supplied by clean energy sources, solar and wind. Typical vehicle traffic is not expected to increase, as guests will be required to park off-site on private property and access to the Center will be in a vehicle driven by employees of the Center. Hiking, biking, bird watching and other outdoor activities would likely be attractions. Human presence would be in small, occasional groups. Guests will be directed to stay along the existing roads and trails when participating in outdoor activities. Impacts will be reduced by information and restrictions being provided to guests at the Center and by the placement of signs along the roadway asking visitors to stay on the road and educating them about the presence of sensitive and endangered species in an attempt to promote good stewardship and reduce future habitat or sensitive plant impacts. Based on the site being a center for Eco-tourism every effort is expected to minimize impacts to the natural environment, although recreational impacts are inherently difficult to quantify. Air Quality The purpose of the air quality analysis is to determine whether emissions from a proposed new or modified source of air pollution, in conjunction with emissions from existing sources, would cause or contribute to the deterioration of the air quality in the area. Direction relevant to the proposed action as it affects air resources includes the following: Federal Clean Air Act Regional Haze Rule (1990 Clean Air Act Amendments) 40 CFR Part 51 General Conformity Rule (1990 Clean Air Act Amendments) (Section 176 (c) of the Clean Air Act (part 51, subpart W and part 93, subpart B)) California Clean Air Act (H&S §§ 39660 et seq.) South Coast Air Quality Management District Rules LMP Direction (Air 1 and Air 2) Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 29 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. NAAQS include two types of air quality standards (40 CFR 50.1(e)). Primary standards protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings. In addition to being subject to the requirements of the CAA, air quality in California is also governed by more stringent regulations under the California Clean Air Act (CCAA). The CCAA, amended in 1992, requires all air districts in the State to endeavor to achieve and maintain State Ambient Air Quality Standards. The CCAA is administered statewide by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The State of California has also established ambient air quality standards, known as the California Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) These standards are generally more stringent than the corresponding federal standards and incorporate additional standards for sulfates, hydrogen sulfide, vinyl chloride and visibility reducing particles CARB regulates mobile air pollution sources (such as motor vehicles) and also oversees the functions of local air pollution control districts and air quality management districts, which in turn administer air quality activities at the regional and county level The CCAA is administered by CARB at the state level and by the numerous Air Quality Management Districts at the regional level. Within the Project area, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) have responsibility for preparing the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), which address federal and state Clean Air Act requirements. The AQMP details goals, policies, and programs for improving air quality and establishes thresholds for daily operation emissions. Environmental review of individual projects within the region must demonstrate that daily construction and operational emissions thresholds as established by the SCAQMD would not be exceeded, nor would the number or severity of existing air quality violations. Analysis Area – Spatial and Temporal Boundaries The Project is located within the SCAQMD. Air districts are the local authority and primary agency for managing pollutant emitting activities within their boundaries. As illustrated in Figure 7, Air Quality Management Districts, the SCAQMD extends across Orange County, most of Los Angeles County and the western, highly urbanized portions of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Short-term effects are based on a 1-year duration and long-term effects are based on 20 years. Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 30 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Page 1 and 2: FINAL FRANK SPRINGER & ASSOCIATES,
Page 3 and 4: LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Mitigation
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environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

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