The AQMD,
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
and Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) have each adopted complimentary
documents that encourage local government decision-making that leads to
improved air quality and public health. Environmental Justice is identified
as the impetus for the development of AQMD’s Guidance Document and CARB’s
Air Quality and Land Use
Handbook.
- California state law requires each city and county to adopt a
General Plan for the physical development of the county or city, and any
land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning. The
General Plan must contain seven required elements, and may include other
optional elements such as an air quality element.
- The South Coast Air Quality Management District adopted the
Guidance Document for Addressing Air Quality Issues
in General Plans and Local Planning on May 6, 2005 which addresses the following six topics:
- Land Use. Scientific studies clearly show that adverse health impacts
are minimized with increased separation distances between sources of air
pollution and sensitive receptors. The land use section provides
policies/strategies that address the relationship between land use and air
quality to protect public health and minimize impacts on existing land use
patterns and future land use development.
- Transportation. Transportation policies/strategies that achieve a
reduction in air pollution from mobile sources.
- Stationary Sources of Air Pollution. Stationary source
policies/strategies that achieve a reduction in air pollution from
stationary sources.
- Reduction of Fugitive Dust. Fugitive dust policies/strategies that
achieve ambient levels of particulate matter that meet state and federal
clean air standards.
- Energy. Energy policies/strategies that reduce air pollution through
greater energy efficiency, conservation and use of renewable resources.
- Public Awareness and Education. Public awareness and education
policies/strategies that encourage changes in personal behavior that can be
chosen to minimize air pollution.
- Approximately 25% of local governments in the South Coast Air Basin
have adopted Air Quality Elements as part of their General Plans.
-
Local government use of the AQMD’s Guidance Document as a planning tool
is voluntary.
-
The document is outlined in a three-tier format of suggested goals,
objectives and policies/strategies.
-
Local jurisdictions have complete discretion to select the appropriate mix of
pertinent air quality goals, objectives, and to determine the level of detail of
policies and strategies that will effectively reduce air pollution and
protect public health in their communities.
-
Local governments have the flexibility to address air quality issues through
ordinances, local circulation systems, transportation services, and land use
decisions.
- It is recognized that local governments, to make the best decisions for
the benefit of their residents, must weigh and balance multiple issues,
demands and concerns, including but not limited to the need for housing,
existing development and development patterns, environmental
responsibilities, when making land use decisions.
- The South Coast Air Basin has the most severe air quality in the country
for ozone and particulate matter.
- Average increased cancer risk from ambient measurements of air toxics in
the South Coast Air basin was found to be 1400 in a million.
- Diesel exhaust is responsible for about 70 percent of the total cancer
risk from air pollution.
- “Sensitive receptors” such as children, pregnant women, the elderly and
those with existing health problems are especially vulnerable to cancer and
non-cancer effects of air pollution. Studies on air pollution from freeways
and high traffic roads show that exposure to vehicle-related air
contaminants and the potential for adverse health effects is greatly reduced
at approximately 300 feet from the edge of the roadway.
- The
California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted an
Air Quality and Land Use
Handbook: A Community Health Perspective on April 28, 2005. The purpose of
this informational Handbook is to highlight the potential health impacts of
incompatible land uses, such as sensitive populations located in close
proximity to air pollution sources. The Handbook includes proximity
information and air quality/land use questions that local planners can use
to help consider potential health risks from siting sensitive land uses near
sources of emissions.
- The Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) is in the preliminary
phase of amending their Regional
Comprehensive Plan (RCP). The RCP is an
advisory document that lays out steps that local government and other
stakeholders may take to support regional objectives that aim to improve air
quality and land use. A preliminary draft RCP update is scheduled to be
released for public comments in the summer of 2005, and will incorporate
applicable information and guidance from the AQMD
Guidance Document and
the CARB Handbook.
More Information
Questions, comments, suggestions for future revisions, request for additional information, or technical assistance may
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