Introduction
State law requires each city and county to prepare and regularly update a
comprehensive, long-term plan – called a General Plan – which serves as the
foundation for local planning and development. The General Plan must contain
seven specific elements that focus on circulation, conservation, housing,
land use, noise, open space and safety.
In Southern California, where we breathe some of the most unhealthful air in the nation, AQMD believes it
is important that local governments also address air quality in their
General Plans. AQMD worked with local government agencies to develop a
draft Guidance Document for Addressing Air Quality Issues in General Plans
and Local Planning (previously referred to as the Model Air Quality
Element), which city and county governments may voluntarily use as a
reference.
The Guidance Document development is an outgrowth of proposed
enhancements to AQMD's 2002
environmental justice program. The environmental justice program is
designed to protect the rights of the residents in the South Coast Basin to
live and work in an environment of clean air, free of airborne health
threats. One of the proposed program enhancements was the development of a
model air quality element that considers the health risks to community
residents associated with local government land use planning and
decision-making. To that end, the Guidance Document was developed as a tool
to assist local governments as they develop or update their General Plans
and make other planning decisions.
The Guidance Document for Addressing Air Quality Issues in General
Plans and Local Planning provides suggested policies that local governments
can use in their General Plans or through local planning to prevent or
reduce potential air pollution impacts and protect public health. The
objective of the guidance document is to facilitate stronger collaboration
between local governments and the AQMD to reduce community exposure to source-specific and cumulative air pollution impacts.
Guidance Document
The Guidance Document for
Addressing Air Quality Issues in General Plans and Local Planning, adopted
May 6, 2005 (Agenda item #35) by the
AQMD Governing Board, is available for review. The Guidance Document for Addressing Air Quality
Issues in General Plans and Local Planning will be presented to
city and county governments within Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San
Bernardino counties for their voluntary consideration.
The Air Quality Issues in School Site Selection
Guidance Document (PDF - 731k) is a
reference for school districts within SCAQMD's jurisdiction. It
provides suggested policies that school districts can use to prevent or
reduce potential air pollution impacts and protect the health of their
students and staff. The objective of the guidance document is to
facilitate stronger collaboration between school districts and the SCAQMD to
reduce exposure to source-specific air pollution impacts.
More Information
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