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

3.11 Climate Change
This information is presented for informational purposes only, and the lead agency does not
intend to adopt any of the above‐listed emission levels as a numeric threshold. Rather, the
purpose is to put the project’s GHG emissions in the appropriate statewide context to evaluate
whether the project’s contribution to the global impact of climate change would have a significant
impact on the environment.
3.11.4 Environmental Evaluation
Evaluation Methodology
Neither CARB nor Butte County AQMD has formally adopted a recommended methodology for
evaluating GHG emissions associated with new development. The construction and operational
emissions associated with implementation of the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan have been quantified
using the methods described below, pursuant to full disclosure and according to the State CEQA
Guidelines that state, “A lead agency should make a good‐faith effort, based to the extent possible
on scientific and factual data, to describe, calculate or estimate the amount of GHG emissions
resulting from a project.”
Construction‐related GHG emissions were estimated using methodology similar to that described
for criteria air pollutants in Section 3.2, “Air Quality.” URBEMIS2007 Version 9.2.4 also estimates
CO2 emissions associated with construction‐related GHG sources such as off‐road construction
equipment, material delivery trucks, soil haul trucks, and construction worker vehicles.
Operational emissions of GHGs, including GHGs generated by direct and indirect sources, were
evaluated according to the recommended methodologies from CARB and the California Climate
Action Registry (CCAR). Direct sources include emissions such as vehicle trips, OHV use, and
propane consumption. Direct emissions associated with area and on‐road mobile sources were
estimated using URBEMIS2007 and the CCAR General Reporting Protocol (CCAR 2009). Off‐road
OHV emissions were estimated using CARB’s OFFROAD2007 model, which estimates emissions
from off‐road equipment including equipment used for agricultural work, construction, gardening,
and recreation. Modeling was based on project‐specific data (e.g., size and type of near‐term
improvements) and vehicle trip information from the traffic analysis prepared for the General
Plan. Table 3.11‐1 summarizes the modeling results.
Indirect sources could include off‐site emissions occurring as a result of the project’s use of
electricity, sewage treatment, and water consumption. However, with the use of on‐site wells and
vault toilets, anticipated indirect energy needs for sewage treatment and water provision would
be minimal, and no expansion of electrical, sewage treatment, or water treatment capacity or
facilities would be anticipated. (See Section 3.9, “Public Services and Utilities,” and Section 3.8,
“Hydrology and Water Quality.”) In addition, the emissions created by off‐site electrical, sewage
treatment, and water treatment facilities are evaluated under CEQA at the time that these types of
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 3.11-5 February 2012