Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Section 3.11. Air Quality
Under NEPA, there are no federal requirements mandating that climate change
impacts be analyzed in NEPA documents at the time the NOP was issued.
However, in 1997, the CEQ issued a draft guidance memorandum titled,
Guidance Regarding Consideration of Global Climatic Change in Environmental
Documents Prepared Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.
Although the guidance was never approved in a final version and thus was never
formally published, the findings and conclusions in the document are nonetheless
useful for NEPA practitioners.
The draft document states that “the NEPA process provides an excellent
mechanism for consideration of ideas related to global climate change” and that
“…federal agencies must determine whether and to what extent their actions
affect GHGs. Further, federal agencies must consider whether the actions they
take, e.g., the planning and design of federal projects, may be affected by any
changes in the environment which might be caused by global climatic change.”
The draft document also points out that the scope of NEPA and the CEQ
regulations is broad enough to include global climate change and its predicted
effects. For example, section 1508.8 defines “effects” to include ecological,
aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, or health effects.
Further, several federal court rulings (including Centers for Biological Diversity
vs. NHTSA) have found that GHG emissions should be analyzed within NEPA
documents.
Impacts and Mitigation Measures
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, construction of the Project would not occur.
Construction activities would be limited to construction of a new access road to
the USFWS headquarters and California red-legged frog habitat enhancement.
The Black Point Sports Club use of the Dickson Ranch would be discontinued
prior to the property transfer to CDFG. Hunting would likely shift to primarily
waterfowl hunting, although some upland hunting could also be permitted.
Limited other recreational use (hiking, bird watching) may occur, although no
formal hiking trails would be constructed. Agricultural use may continue, but
would be reduced to portions of the site under the management of the USFWS.
Because only minor changes in activities are expected under the No -Action
Alternative, no substantial change in PM10, CO, ozone precursors, or other
pollutants would be likely to occur.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
3.11-17
April 2012