Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

3.11 Climate Change
3.11 Climate Change
This section presents details about the existing setting and regulatory setting related to climate
change. It also presents an analysis of the climate change impacts that would result from
implementing the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan, including constructing and operating the
headquarters facilities.
3.11.1 Existing Setting
This section describes setting information to supplement the setting information on climate
provided in Section 2.3.1, “Physical Resources,” of the General Plan. The General Plan describes
how the topography of the area surrounding Clay Pit SVRA affects the area’s climate, the general
nature of greenhouse gases (GHGs), and the emission of GHGs from OHVs at the SVRA.
Butte County Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Butte County General Plan 2030 Draft EIR included a GHG emissions inventory for 2006 of on‐
road vehicles, off‐road vehicles and equipment, electricity, natural gas, agricultural vehicles and
equipment, stationary sources, and landfills (Figure 3.11‐1). Butte County emissions totaled
601,086 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), or 0.11% of California’s emissions.
On‐road vehicles (49%) and energy consumption (electricity and natural gas, 28%) accounted for
the majority of emissions, similar to the State of California and other jurisdictions.
3.11.2 Regulatory Setting
State Plans, Policies, Regulations, and Laws
Pavley Clean­Air Standards (Assembly Bill 1493)
On September 24, 2009, CARB adopted amendments to the “Pavley” regulations, which reduce
GHG emissions in new passenger vehicles from 2009 through 2016. The Pavley regulations are
expected to reduce GHG emissions from California passenger vehicles by about 22% in 2012 and
about 30% in 2016, while improving fuel efficiency and reducing costs for motorists (CARB 2010).
The new approach also includes efforts to support and accelerate the numbers of plug‐in hybrids
and zero‐emission vehicles in California.
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program is part of the California Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill [AB] 32), under the Governor’s Executive Order S‐01‐07. The
LCFS provides incentives for fuel manufacturers to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in all types of
fuels (e.g., gasoline, biodiesel, electricity, hydrogen) throughout the lifecycle of the fuel (i.e., from
developing the fuel to transporting it to consumers). By 2020 the standard is expected to cut GHG
emissions by 10%, replace 20% of the gasoline and diesel currently used with cleaner fuels,
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 3.11-1 February 2012