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

1.11 Climate Change
states that a proposed project would have significant environmental impacts related to climate
change if it would:
generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant effect on
the environment or
conflict with any applicable plan, policy, or regulation of an agency adopted for the purpose
of reducing GHG emissions.
In addition, Section 15064.7 of the State CEQA Guidelines states that “a lead agency may consider
thresholds of significance previously adopted or recommended by other public agencies.” On
October 26, 2010, the Butte County General Plan 2030 was adopted. The EIR on the general plan
included a discussion of significance thresholds for climate change and referred to CARB’s scoping
plan, which recommends a goal of reducing emissions by 15% compared to current levels. The EIR
stated that implementing the General Plan would have a cumulatively significant impact on
climate change if it would:
result in GHG emissions that do not achieve a 15% reduction from current levels by 2020
or
subject property and persons to additional risk of physical harm related to flooding, public
health, wildfire risk, and other impacts resulting from climate change.
However, this approach is specific to the Butte County General Plan.
In the absence of other guidance or numerical threshold established by CARB or Butte County
AQMD, this analysis will estimate the GHG emissions associated with the implementation of the
Clay Pit SVRA General Plan and evaluate the net change in emissions against the adopted
thresholds of significance from other jurisdictions, as follows:
Facilities (i.e., stationary, continuous sources of GHG emissions) that generate greater than
25,000 MT CO2e per year are mandated to report their GHG emissions to the CARB
pursuant to AB 32 (CCR Subchapter 10, Article 2).
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) adopted a threshold of 10,000
MT CO2e per year for stationary sources (SCAQMD 2010).
SCAQMD proposed a significance screening level of 3,000 MT CO2e per year for residential
and commercial projects (SCAQMD 2010).
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted a significance threshold
for operational emissions of 1,100 MT CO2e per year (BAAQMD 2011).
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
February 2012 3.11-4 Draft EIR