HomeMy Public PortalAbout4-7_GreenhouseGasEmissions.pdf4.7 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
4.7-1
This section discusses the regulatory framework for global climate change,
provides data on the existing global climate setting, and evaluates potential
global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the proposed project.
Modeled project emissions are estimated based on the expected waste genera-
tion, energy consumption, and water use of the proposed project. Fuel com-
busted by motor vehicle trips generated by the proposed project is also ac-
counted and reported as carbon dioxide emissions.
This section then evaluates whether the proposed project could cause a cumu-
latively considerable contribution to climate change by conflicting with re-
duction measures under State regulations. The information and analysis pro-
vided in this section rely primarily on the Climate Action Team 2006 Final
Report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment
Reports, and various California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff reports.
Other related global climate change documents are also cited that provide
background information on the impacts of GHG emissions.
A. Regulatory Framework
This section summarizes existing regulatory framework and other govern-
mental activities addressing GHG emissions and global climate change.
1. Federal Laws and Regulations
In February 2002, the United States government announced a comprehensive
strategy to reduce the GHG intensity of the American economy by 18 per-
cent over the 10-year period from 2002 to 2012. GHG intensity measures the
ratio of GHG emissions to economic output. New and refined technologies
offer great promise to reduce GHG emissions significantly. The federal gov-
ernment established the multi-agency Climate Change Technology Program
(CCTP) in February 2002 to accelerate the development and deployment of
key technologies.
In February 2002, the United States government also announced a climate
change research initiative to focus on key remaining gaps in climate change
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science. To meet this goal, the federal multiagency Climate Change Science
Program (CCSP) was established to investigate natural and human-induced
changes in the Earth’s global environmental system; to monitor, understand,
and predict global change; and to provide a sound scientific basis for national
and international decision-making. The CCTP works closely with CCSP to
make further progress in understanding and addressing global climate change.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) primary role in CCSP
is evaluating the potential consequences of climate variability and the effects
on air quality, water quality, ecosystems, and human health in the United
States.
Currently there are no adopted federal regulations to control global climate
change. However, recent authority has been granted to the EPA that may
change the voluntary approach currently taken to address this issue. On
April 2, 2007, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has the
authority to regulate CO2 emissions under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA).
Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty, the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to begin
to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with the
physical and socioeconomic effects of climate change. More recently, a num-
ber of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol,
which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.
Because it will affect virtually all major sectors of the economy, the Kyoto
Protocol is considered to be the most far-reaching agreement on environment
and sustainable development ever adopted. Most of the world’s countries
eventually agreed to the Protocol, but some nations (including the United
States) chose not to ratify it. The Kyoto Protocol became law on February
16, 2005 for signatory nations.
As of July 2008, 182 countries have ratified the agreement. Participating na-
tions are separated into Annex 1 countries (i.e., industrialized nations) and
Non-Annex 1 countries (i.e., developing nations) that have different require-
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ments for GHG reductions. The goal of the Protocol is to achieve overall
emissions reduction targets for six GHGs by 2012. The six GHGs regulated
under the Protocol are CO2, CH4, N2O, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluoro-
carbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). Each nation must reduce
GHG emissions by a certain percentage below 1990 levels (e.g., 8 percent re-
duction for the European Union, 6 percent reduction for Japan). The average
reduction target for nations participating in the Kyoto Protocol is approxi-
mately 5 percent below 1990 levels. Although the United States has not rati-
fied the Protocol, on February 14, 2002, it established a goal of an 18 percent
reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2012. GHG intensity is the ratio of
GHG emissions to economic output (i.e., gross domestic product).
2. State Laws and Regulations
Recent state law requires projects to evaluate potential emissions of GHGs
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). According to
California’s Office of the Attorney General and other State guidance, global
climate change can be considered an “effect on the environment” and an indi-
vidual project’s incremental contribution to global climate change can have a
cumulatively considerable impact.
¤ Assembly Bill 1493. In a response to the transportation sector’s signifi-
cant contribution to California’s CO2 emissions, Assembly Bill 1493 (AB
1493, Pavley) was enacted in 2002. AB 1493 requires ARB to set GHG
emission (essentially fuel economy) standards for 2009 passenger vehicles
and light trucks and subsequent model years. When fully phased-in, the
near-term (2009 to 2012) standards would reduce GHG emissions approx-
imately 22 percent compared to the 2002 fleet. The midterm (2013 to
2016) standards would provide a 30 percent reduction. The U.S. De-
partment of Transportation has recently adopted similar measures (fleet
fuel economy) for the rest of the country.
¤ Executive Order S-3-05. In June 2005, then Governor Schwarzenegger
established California’s GHG emissions reduction targets in Executive
Order S-3-05. The Executive Order established the following goals:
GHG emissions should be reduced to 2000 levels by 2010; GHG emis-
sions should be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020; and GHG emissions
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should be reduced to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Execu-
tive Order requires multi-agency coordination to reduce GHG emissions
to the target levels. The Climate Action Team was formed to comply
with the Executive Order, which released a report in 2006 which outlines
various actions business, local government, and communities could take
through State incentive and regulatory programs which would help the
State achieve the emission reduction targets.
¤ Assembly Bill 32 (California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006).
California’s major initiative for reducing GHG emissions is Assembly
Bill 32 (AB 32), the “Global Warming Solutions Act,” passed in 2006. This
law aims at reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, a reduction
of approximately 30 percent, and then an 80 percent reduction below
1990 levels by 2050, essentially the same goals as EO S-3-05. The ARB
has established the State 1990 baseline CO2e emissions at 427 million
metric tons (MMT). This means the State must reduce emissions by 169
MMT below expected business-as-usual emissions by 2020.
¤ Senate Bill 97 (SB 97, 2007) required the Governor’s Office of Planning
and Research (OPR) to modify the existing State CEQA Guidelines to de-
scribe how lead agencies should evaluate and mitigate a project’s GHG
emissions. On December 30, 2009, the Natural Resources Agency adopt-
ed amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines related to climate change.
OPR published the amendments on January 1, 2010, and they became ef-
fective on March 18, 2010.
¤ Senate Bill 375. Senate Bill 375 (SB 375), signed into law in 2008, pro-
vides emissions reduction goals and incentives for local governments and
developers to adopt climate-friendly growth patterns. SB 375 directed
ARB to develop regional emission reduction targets. Regional planning
agencies are also required to submit land use and transportation plans to
meet these GHG targets.
Additionally, SB 375 provides incentives for creating attractive, walkable, and
sustainable communities and revitalizing existing communities. The bill ex-
empts home builders from certain CEQA requirements if they propose pro-
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jects consistent with the new sustainable community’s strategies. SB375 is
also intended to encourage the development of additional alternative trans-
portation options to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce traffic congestion.
California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Title 24, Part 6 of the Cali-
fornia Code of Regulations, known as the Building Energy Efficiency Stand-
ards, was established in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce
California’s energy consumption. The standards are updated periodically to
allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficiency
technologies and methods. On January 12, 2010, the California Building
Standards Commission adopted CALGreen and became the first state in the
United States to adopt a statewide green building standards code. CALGreen
will require new buildings to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert
50 percent of construction waste from landfills, and install low pollutant-
emitting materials. The mandatory provisions of CALGreen are effective on
January 1, 2011.
3. Local Regulations and Policies
As discussed in Section 4.3, Air Quality, the Town’s General Plan has nu-
merous policies that are related to improving air quality including over 100
policies that would have a positive impact on air quality and reduction of
emissions, including policies that focus on bicycle and pedestrian programs,
mixed-use and open space development, transit, and transportation control
measures. Goals and policies that support energy conservation and waste
reduction are shown in Table 4.7-1. A detailed policy consistency analysis is
included in Section 4.10, Land Use and Planning, of this Draft EIR. The
Town does not have an adopted Climate Action Plan or similar document
that focuses on the issue of GHG. It should be noted that the Northern Sier-
ra Air Quality Management District (NSAQMD) has adopted Rule 522 for
permitting of stationary sources that would produce GHG emissions at levels
that would require a Federal reporting permit. However, the NSAQMD has
not adopted a Climate Action Plan or other policies or regulations which
specifically regulate project-related GHG emissions.
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TABLE 4.7-1 TRUCKEE GENERAL PLAN POLICIES PERTAINING TO
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Policy or
Goal No. Goals and Policies
Goal H-4 Balance the need and provision of housing in the community
with its impacts on the environment and needed public facilities
and services.
H-P4.1 Encourage residential design that promotes energy efficiency and
sustainable building practices and reduces greenhouse gas emis-
sions.
H-P4.2 Encourage residential development that reduces infrastructure
and other development costs, preserves and enhances important
environmental resources, and maintains important areas as open
space.
Goal COS-15 Encourage conservation of energy and fuel resources, strive to
reduce generation of solid waste, and promote environmental
sustainability.
COS-P15.1 Support recycling programs town-wide, including the curbside
recycling and business waste reduction programs.
COS-P15.5 Encourage new private and public development to maximize
opportunities for use of passive or natural heating and cooling
and encourage sites with solar opportunities to be designed with
natural heating and cooling principles.
COS-P15.6 Maintain or surpass the 2003 annual solid waste reduction rate of
approximately 70 percent throughout the life of the General
Plan.
COS-P15.8 Reduce the use of non-biodegradable and non-recyclable materi-
als.
Source: Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan.
B. Existing Conditions
1. Greenhouse Gases and Global Climate Change
Carbon dioxide and other compounds are called GHGs because they allow
visible light to pass through but strongly absorb energy in the infrared and
near-infrared spectrums. This infrared energy absorption causes the atmos-
phere to warm. Global climate change is the observed increase in the average
temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. The
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Earth’s average near-surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 ± 0.2° Celsius
(°C) or 1.1 ± 0.4° Fahrenheit (°F) in the 20th century. The prevailing scien-
tific opinion on climate change is that most of the warming observed over the
last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Other aspects of the climate
are also changing such as rainfall patterns, snow and ice cover, and sea level.
The increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other GHGs are the
primary causes of the human-induced component of warming. GHGs are
released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other
activities, and lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect.1
Naturally occurring GHGs, such as water vapor, are released into the atmos-
phere by processes such as ocean evaporation. Other naturally-occurring
GHGs, such as methane (CH4), are created by biological process in the guts of
termites and by biological decomposition. The production of these gases has
been balanced by natural processes that remove them from the atmosphere,
and the climate system has been in a relative balance for the past 10,000 years.
This balance has changed since the Industrial Revolution as human activities
have put more GHGs into the atmosphere than natural processes have been
able to absorb and remove.
The gases that are recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) as principal contributors to human-induced global climate change are:
¤ carbon dioxide (CO2)
¤ methane (CH4)
¤ nitrous oxide (N2O)
¤ HFCs
1 The temperature on Earth is regulated by a system commonly known as
the “greenhouse effect.” Just as the glass in a greenhouse lets heat from sunlight in and
reduces the heat escaping, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide in the atmosphere keep the Earth at a relatively even temperature. Without the
greenhouse effect, the Earth would be a frozen globe; thus, although an excess of
greenhouse gas results in global warming, the naturally occurring greenhouse effect is
necessary to keep our planet at a comfortable temperature.
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¤ PFCs
¤ sulfur hexaflouride (SF6)
Over the last 200 years humans have caused substantial quantities of GHGs to
be released into the atmosphere. These extra emissions are increasing GHG
concentrations in the atmosphere and enhancing the natural greenhouse ef-
fect. According to the US EPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini-
stration (NOAA), and other scientific organizations, this build-up is causing
global warming. While manmade GHGs include naturally-occurring com-
pounds such as CO2, CH4, and N2O, some gases, like HFCs, PFCs, and SF6
are completely new to the atmosphere.
Certain gases, such as water vapor, are short-lived in the atmosphere. Others
remain in the atmosphere for significant periods of time, contributing to cli-
mate change in the long term. Water vapor is excluded from the list of
GHGs above because it is short-lived in the atmosphere and its atmospheric
concentrations are largely determined by natural processes. For the purposes
of this EIR the term “greenhouse gases” will refer collectively to the gases
listed above only.
These gases vary considerably in terms of their Global Warming Potential
(GWP), a comparison of the ability of each GHG to trap heat in the atmos-
phere relative to a reference gas. The GWP is based on several factors, includ-
ing the relative effectiveness of a gas to absorb infrared radiation and length of
time that the gas remains in the atmosphere (“atmospheric lifetime”). By in-
ternational convention, the GWP of each gas is measured relative to CO2, the
most abundant GHG. The GWP for a particular GHG is the ratio of heat
trapped by one unit mass of the GHG to the ratio of heat trapped by one unit
mass of CO2 over a specified time period. GHG emissions are typically
measured in terms of pounds or tons of “CO2 equivalents” (CO2e). Table
4.7-2 shows the GWPs for each type of GHG.
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TABLE 4.7-2 GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIALS
Gas
Atmospheric
Lifetime
(Years)
Global Warming
Potential
(100-Year Time
Horizon)
Carbon Dioxide 50-200 1
Methane 12 25
Nitrous Oxide 114 298
HFC-23 270 14,800
HFC-134a 14 1,430
HFC-152a 1.4 124
PFC: Tetrafluoromethane (CF4) 50,000 7,390
PFC: Hexafluoromethane (C2F6) 10,000 12,200
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) 3,200 22,800
Source: IPCC, 2007. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working
Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC.
The following discussion summarizes the characteristics of the GHGs listed
above.
a. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
In the atmosphere carbon generally exists in its oxidized form as CO2. Natu-
ral sources of CO2 include the respiration of animals and plants, volcanic out-
gassing, and decomposition of organic matter. Human-caused sources of CO2
include burning fossil fuels and wood, waste incineration, mineral produc-
tion, and deforestation. Natural removal processes, such as photosynthesis by
land- and ocean-dwelling plant species, cannot keep pace with this extra input
of man-made CO2. Consequently the gas is building up in the atmosphere by
about 3 parts per million (ppm) each year. Since the advent of the Industrial
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Revolution (about 1750) ambient CO2 levels have increased from about 275
ppm to 388 ppm today; a change of about 30 percent.
b. Methane (CH4)
Methane is produced when organic matter decomposes in environments that
are low in oxygen. Natural sources include wetlands, termites, and oceans.
Garbage decomposing in landfills creates the majority of human-generated
CH4 emissions in the State and nationally. Agricultural processes at dairies
and rice cultivation are also significant sources of CH4 in California.
Total planetary annual CH4 emissions are approximately 500 million tons,
with man-made emissions accounting for the majority. As with CO2, the
major removal process of atmospheric CH4—a chemical breakdown in the
atmosphere—cannot keep pace with source emissions, and CH4 concentra-
tions in the atmosphere are increasing. The amount of atmospheric CH4 has
increased since the start of the industrial period from 0.7 ppm to 1.75 ppm
today.2
c. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Nitrous oxide is produced naturally by a wide variety of biological sources,
particularly microbial action in soils and water. Tropical soils and oceans
account for the majority of natural source emissions. Nitrous oxide is a
product of the reaction that occurs between nitrogen and oxygen during fuel
combustion. Both mobile and stationary combustion emit N2O, and the
quantity emitted varies according to the type of fuel, technology, and pollu-
tion control device used, as well as maintenance and operating practices.
Chemical fertilizers also degrade into N2O, and conventional agriculture is a
major source of N2O.
2 Schmidt, Gavin, 2004. Methane: A Scientific Journey from Obscurity to Cli-
mate Super-Stardom. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Insti-
tute for Space Studies. Website: www.giss.nasa.gov/research/features/
200409_methane/. Accessed November 2010.
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d. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur Hex-
afluoride (SF6)
HFCs are primarily used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances regu-
lated under the Montreal Protocol.3 PFCs and SF6 are emitted from various
industrial processes, including aluminum smelting, semiconductor manufac-
turing, electric power transmission and distribution, and magnesium casting.
There is no aluminum or magnesium production in California; however, the
rapid growth in the semiconductor industry leads to greater use of PFCs.
HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 accounted for about 3.5 percent of man-made GHG
emissions (CO2e) in California in 2002.
The latest projections, based on state-of-the art climate models, indicate that
temperatures in California are expected to rise 3 to 10.5°F by the end of the
century.4 Man-made GHGs persist for a long time in the atmosphere, accu-
mulate over time, and are generally well-mixed in the atmosphere. Thus, a
specific point of emission usually cannot be tied to a discrete global warming
impact.
Changes to the global climate system, ecosystems, and the environment of
California could include but are not limited to:
¤ Loss of sea ice and mountain snow pack, resulting in higher sea levels and
higher sea surface evaporation rates. There would be a corresponding in-
crease in water vapor due to the atmosphere’s ability to hold more water
vapor at higher temperatures;
¤ Rise in global average sea level from thermal expansion and melting in
the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Melting ice also reduces solar re-
3 The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that was approved on
January 1, 1989, and was designated to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the
production of several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons believed to be responsible
for ozone depletion.
4 California Climate Change Center, 2006. Our Changing Climate. Assessing
the Risks to California. July.
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flectance (albedo) and increases the ocean and terrestrial solar energy heat
absorption;
¤ Weather changes include different rain patterns, ocean salinity, and wind
patterns, and more energetic aspects of extreme weather, including
droughts, heavy precipitation, heat waves, extreme cold, and stronger
tropical cyclones because of warmer ocean water;
¤ Decline of the Sierra snowpack, which accounts for approximately half
of the surface water storage in California, by 70 percent to 90 percent
over the next 100 years;
¤ Increase in the number of days conducive to ozone formation by 25 to 85
percent (depending on the future temperature scenario) in high ozone ar-
eas such as Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley;
¤ Sea levels are projected to rise up to 6 feet in the coming century,5 result-
ing in a high potential for erosion of California’s coastlines and seawater
intrusion into the Delta and levee systems.
¤ Increased levels of ocean acids, because CO2 dissolved in water is carbonic
acid. The ocean uptakes about 70 percent of all CO2 currently emitted
into the atmosphere. According to the EPA, “…marine snails, shrimp
and crabs will be adversely affected by ocean acidification. Other groups
of marine organisms will be impacted in ways that are not yet fully un-
derstood but could significantly impact ecosystem structure and produc-
tivity.”6 Ocean acidification is not a result of climate change but of CO2
emissions.
2. Emissions Inventories
An emissions inventory quantifies the primary human-generated sources and
sinks of GHGs. It accounts for the amount of GHGs emitted to or removed
5 California Climate Change Center, 2009. The Impacts of Sea Level Rise on
the California Coast, CEC-500-2009-024-f. May.
6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010. Climate Change – Science,
Future Ocean Acidification. Website: www.epa.gov/climatechange/ sci-
ence/futureoa.html. Accessed November 8, 2011.
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from the atmosphere over a specific period of time by source categories (e.g.
transportation). An inventory is a well-recognized and useful tool for ad-
dressing climate change. This section summarizes the latest information on
global, United States, California, and local GHG emission inventories.
a. Global Emissions
Worldwide emissions of GHGs in 2004 were 30 billion tons of CO2e per
year7 or about 4.3 tons/year/person (including both ongoing emissions from
industrial and agricultural sources, but excluding emissions from land-use
changes).
b. U.S. Emissions
In 2004, the United States emitted about 8 billion tons of CO2e or about 25
tons/year/person. Of the four major sectors nationwide – residential, com-
mercial, industrial and transportation – transportation accounts for the high-
est fraction of GHG emissions (approximately 35 to 40 percent); these emis-
sions are entirely generated from direct fossil fuel combustion. Between 1990
and 2006, total U.S. GHG emissions increased approximately 15 percent.7
c. State of California Emissions
According to ARB emission inventory estimates, California emitted approx-
imately 480 million metric tons8 of CO2e emissions in 2004.9 This large
7 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
2007. Sum of Annex I and Non-Annex I Countries Without Counting Land-Use, Land-
Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). Predefined Queries: GHG total without LULUCF
(Annex I Parties). Bonn, Germany. Website: unfccc.int/ghg_emissions_data/
predefined_queries/items/3814.php. Accessed May 2.
7 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008. The U.S. Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Sinks: Fast Facts. Website: www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/
downloads/2008_GHG_Fast_Facts.pdf.
8 A metric ton is 1000 kilograms, equivalent to approximately 1.1 tons.
9 California Air Resources Board, 2008. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data -
1990 to 2004. Website: www.arb.ca.gov/ cc/inventory/data/data.htm. Accessed No-
vember 8, 2011.
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number is due primarily to the sheer size of California compared to other
states. By contrast, California has the fourth lowest per-capita carbon dioxide
emission rate from fossil fuel combustion in the country, due to the success of
its energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. State commitments
have lowered the GHG emissions growth rate by more than half of what it
would have been otherwise.10 ARB staff has projected 2020 unregulated
GHG emissions, or the emissions that would be expected without any GHG
reduction actions, at 596 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2e.
d. Northern Sierra Air Basin Emissions
At the time this Draft EIR was prepared, the NSAQMD had not prepared a
GHG emission inventory.
e. Town of Truckee Emissions
At the time this Draft EIR was prepared, Truckee had not prepared a GHG
emission inventory.
C. Standards of Significance
The proposed project would have a significant impact with regard to GHG
emissions if it would:
¤ Generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a
significant impact on the environment.
¤ Conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the
purpose of reducing the emissions of GHGs.
As discussed above, neither the Town of Truckee nor the NSAQMD has yet
established significance thresholds for GHG emissions from project opera-
10 California Energy Commission, 2007. Inventory of California Green-
house Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 to 2004 - Final Staff Report, publication # CEC-
600-2006-013-SF, Sacramento, CA, December 22, 2006; and January 23, 2007 update to
that report.
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tions. At the State level, in January 2009 the ARB published though never
adopted its recommended interim GHG threshold. The ARB’s document
“Recommended Approaches for Setting Interim Significance Thresholds for
Greenhouse Gases under CEQA” recommends if a proposed residential pro-
ject were to emit more than 1,600 metric tons of CO2e per year, such a project
would be required to achieve a series of performance standards in order to be
considered less than significant. These performance standards are intended to
address the generation of GHG emissions from construction, energy use,
waste generation, water conveyance, and vehicle emissions.
Other air districts within the State have developed GHG significance criteria.
For example, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
recently adopted a numeric threshold of 1,100 metric tons of CO2d per year as
its GHG threshold. However, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air District
(SMAD) took a different approach and suggests several methods for determin-
ing significance primarily based on the project’s consistency with the State’s
strategy for implementing AB 32.
For the purposes of evaluating the project project’s GHG impacts, emissions
resulting from implementation of the proposed project will be quantified and
the quantified emissions will then be compared with the ARB’s recommended
interim GHG threshold for residential projects.
D. Impact Discussion
1. Project Impacts
a. Generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a
significant impact on the environment.
i. Construction Emissions.
Construction would produce combustion emissions from various sources.
During construction of the project, GHGs would be emitted through the
operation of construction equipment and from worker and builder supply
vendor vehicles, each of which typically use fossil-based fuels to operate. The
combustion of fossil-based fuels creates GHGs such as CO2, CH4, and N2O.
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Furthermore, CH4 is emitted during the fueling of heavy equipment. Ex-
haust emissions from on-site construction activities would vary daily as con-
struction activity levels change.
The project would be constructed in eight phases over 20 or more years. CO2
is the primary GHG emitted during construction and based on the availabil-
ity of model output from URBEMIS, is the only GHG presented in the con-
struction emissions results table. Emissions for project construction were
estimated and are presented in Table 4.7-3.
TABLE 4.7-3 PROJECT CONSTRUCTION GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS IN METRIC TONS PER YEAR
CO2
Metric Tons
Phase 1 288.8
Phase 2 247.8
Phase 3 263.0
Phase 4 386.6
Phase 5 247.0
Phase 6 284.3
Phase 7 255.2
Phase 8 256.8
Source: LSA Associates, Inc., 2011.
As discussed in Section 4.3, Air Quality, of this Draft EIR, implementation of
construction emission control measures outlined in Mitigation Measure
AIR-2 would reduce GHG emissions during the construction period which
would reduce construction GHG emissions.
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These measures specifically are:
¤ Grid power should be used (as opposed to diesel generators) for job site
power needs where feasible during construction; and
¤ All self-propelled off-road diesel-powered equipment and vehicles greater
than 25 horsepower should be equipped with an engine meeting at least
Tier 2 emission standards.
ii. Operations-Related Emissions
Long-term operation of the proposed project would generate direct GHG
emissions from area and mobile sources, and indirect emissions from sources
associated with energy consumption, water use, and solid waste disposal.
Mobile-source GHG emissions would include project-generated vehicle trips
associated with residential trips. Area-source emissions would be associated
with activities such as landscaping and maintenance of the proposed homes
and property land use. Overall, the use of native landscaping materials would
help to minimize the level of landscaping and maintenance activities at the
project site. In general, increases in emissions would also occur at off-site util-
ity providers as a result of demand for electricity by the proposed project.
The URBEMIS 2007 and the recently released BAAQMD GHG model called
BGM were used to determine the project’s GHG emissions. The
BAAQMD’s model is also applicable for projects located outside the
BAAQMD because it uses statewide emission factors for its analysis sources.
As noted earlier, the NSAQMD does not have a recommended model or reg-
ulations for calculating project-related GHG emissions; therefore, for purpos-
es of this analysis the BGM model has been used. The BGM model output is
included in Appendix H, of this Draft EIR. Results of the BGM model indi-
cate that the total project operational emissions for all homes associated with
the project would be approximately 3,025 metric tons of CO2eq per year in-
cluding emissions from transportation, electricity and natural gas usage, water
and wastewater usage, and solid waste disposal. Each component of these
total emissions is discussed below.
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iii. Transportation.
Transportation associated with the project would result in emissions from the
combustion of fossil fuels in daily automobile and truck trips. Transporta-
tion is the largest source of GHG emissions in California and represents ap-
proximately 38 percent of annual CO2 emissions generated in the State. For
land use development projects, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and vehicle trips
are the most direct indicators of GHG emissions associated with the project.
The transportation emissions analysis assumes that full-time Truckee resi-
dents would occupy the project homes resulting in the emission of 1,913.42
metric tons of CO2eq per year.
iv. Electricity and Natural Gas.
Buildings represent 39 percent of United States primary energy use and 70
percent of electricity consumption.11 Electricity use can result in GHG pro-
duction if the electricity is generated by combusting fossil fuel. The project is
anticipated to increase the use of electricity and natural gas. Energy con-
sumption was estimated using the BGM resulting in a total of 988.79 metric
tons of CO2eq per year.
v. Water and Wastewater.
Energy use and related GHG emissions are based on water supply and con-
veyance, water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater treatment.
Each element of the water use cycle has unique energy intensities (kilowatt
hours [kWh]/million gallons). Recognizing that the actual energy intensity
in each component of the water use cycle will vary by utility, the California
Energy Commission (CEC) assumes that approximately 5,411 kWh per mil-
lion gallons are consumed for water that is supplied, treated, consumed, treat-
ed again, and disposed of in Northern California. The CEC usage rates for
the proposed project provide a conservative analysis of the expected water use
emissions as actual water usage for a Truckee resident would be expected to
be much less than for a resident in other parts of Northern California as the
snow cover for a portion of year reduces the need for landscape watering.
11 United States Department of Energy, 2003. Buildings Energy Data Book.
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Using standard California rates, project water usage, and wastewater is ex-
pected to generate 34.97 metric tons per year CO2eq. Water factors used in
the analysis can be found in Appendix H of this Draft EIR.
vi. Solid Waste Disposal.
Solid waste generated by the project could contribute to GHG emissions in a
variety of ways. Landfilling and other methods of disposal use energy for
transporting and managing the waste and they produce additional GHGs to
varying degrees. Landfilling, the most common waste management practice,
results in the release of CH4 from the anaerobic decomposition of organic
materials. CH4 is 25 times more potent a GHG than CO2. However, landfill
CH4 can also be a source of energy. In addition, many materials in landfills
do not decompose fully, and the carbon that remains is sequestered in the
landfill and not released into the atmosphere. Assumptions used in the solid
waste disposal analysis can be found in Appendix H of this Draft EIR. Solid
waste disposal was estimated using the BGM resulting in 266 metric tons
CO2eq per year.
As shown Table 4.7-4, total project GHG emissions would be approximately
3,025 metric tons of CO2eq per year of which about 60 percent would be gen-
erated by vehicle trips associated with the project.
To reduce emissions from energy and water use, the proposed project would
be required to comply with all the Residential Mandatory Measures of
CalGreen 2010, the latest California building code. These measures include
overall minimum energy efficiency, water efficiency, and water conservation
requirements, assisting to reduce the project’s operational GHG emissions.
In addition, the project Draft Architectural and Site Design Guidelines (Draft
Design Guidelines), outlined below, include recommendations which, if im-
plemented would further reduce the project’s total annual GHG emissions
from the estimate shown in Table 4.7-4.
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TABLE 4.7-4 PROJECT RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Emission Source
Emissions (Metric Tons Per Year)
CO2 CH4 N2O CO2eq
Percent
of Total
Transportation 1,913.42 59.69
Area Sources 1.97 0.00 0.00 2.46 0.08
Electricity 500.75 0.00 0.00 501.55 15.65
Natural Gas 485.99 0.05 0.00 487.24 15.20
Waste and Wastewater 34.91 0.00 0.00 34.97 1.09
Solid Waste 1.85 12.58 NA 266.11 8.30
Total Annual Emissions 3,025.75 100
Source: LSA Associates, Inc., August 2011.
As described in Chapter 3 of this Draft EIR, the Draft Design Guidelines
have been developed for the project to achieve project goals and are included
in Appendix C of this Draft EIR. The Draft Design Guidelines were pre-
pared by the applicant with the intent of establishing a consistent design
theme and break-up the massing of homes throughout the project site. The
Draft Design Guidelines identify that individual house design would consider
the natural topography, sunlight exposure, and existing vegetation. The
Draft Design Guidelines include design features that would contribute a re-
duction in the project’s GHG. These features include the following:
¤ Utilize shading from tree canopies to incorporate natural cooling.
¤ Utilize southern exposure and south facing windows for passive heating.
¤ Landscaping should include native, naturalized, and adapted water con-
serving plants.
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¤ Harvest rainwater to reuse water from the roof, or collected from onsite
storm drain inlets.
¤ Utilize reclaimed wood and other recyclable building materials when
possible;
¤ Install skylights and solar panels into the design of the residences.
¤ Utilize pre-plumbing for solar water heating. Insulated copper pipes may
be pre-installed from the attic to a hot water closet or mechanical room
for future solar installation. This option allows the homeowner to install
an active solar system at a later date. Provide south facing roof area for
collectors and facing access for piping to a mechanical room.
¤ Install radiant heating systems. Radiant heating is up to 30 percent more
efficient than forced air heating systems. Radiant heating may be in-
stalled in zones that allow residents to adjust the temperature in various
areas of the house based on usage and desired comfort level.
¤ Install Energy Star Certified Appliances. These appliances are significant-
ly more efficient in their use of water and electricity. At a minimum, the
following appliances are recommended to be Energy Star rated: dish-
washers, refrigerator and clothes washers. Energy Star also certifies heat-
ing and cooling equipment such as air conditioners, furnaces, boilers,
heat-pumps and thermostats.
¤ Install Energy Star labeled windows.
Furthermore, the project would include on-site low-impact recreational op-
portunities for future residents and the public through the implementation of
the publicly accessible 4.5-mile trail system. The project’s trail system is con-
sistent with the Town’s Trails and Bikeways Master Plan, which illustrates a
proposed corridor for a recreational trail (surface to be determined) generally
crossing the project site in an east and west direction.12 Therefore, this pro-
ject design feature would reduce vehicular trips associated with travel for such
12 Town of Truckee Trails and Bikeway Master Plan Appendix D, Exhibit 1,
Existing and Proposed Trail and Bikeway Network, Section 42, as of May 17, 2007.
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activities. While it can be assumed that project design features described in
Chapter 3 of this Draft EIR would be incorporated, at this stage in the plan-
ning and development process, it cannot be determined which exact features
would be incorporated into the final project design, nor can the exact reduc-
tion in GHG emissions be calculated for incorporation of each measure.
Construction of the project would be built using the latest building standards
for energy efficiency outlined in Title 24, which currently is the CalGreen
program. The CalGreen program reduces GHG emissions by implementing
energy efficiency in residences of over 10 percent from the previous Title 24.
Implementation of the project design feature outlined in Chapter 3 of this
Draft EIR and described in the Draft Design Guidelines would reduce the
project’s impact related to GHG emissions.
Based on the emission results shown in Table 4.7-4, the proposed project
would exceed the 1,600 metric tons of CO2e. However, this threshold has not
been adopted by the ARB and it should be noted that neither the NSAQMD,
nor the Town of Truckee has established a numeric threshold for project
GHG emissions. The proposed project is located in an area that has been
previously zoned for residential uses and is consistent with the General Plan
and Zoning designations for the project site. Implementation of the energy
saving home features and water efficient landscaping would help to reduce
GHG emissions by reducing the overall electrical demands for lighting, heat-
ing, and cooling, as well as reduce water consumption and the associated en-
ergy use and therefore would not generate GHG emissions, either directly or
indirectly, that would have a significant impact on the environment. There-
fore, with implementation of project design features outlined in this Draft
EIR, GHG emissions impacts as a result of the proposed project would be less
than significant.
b. Conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the
purpose of reducing the emissions of GHGs.
i. Assembly Bill 32 Early Action Measures.
The early action items adopted by ARB in October 2007 focus on industrial
production processes, agriculture, and transportation sectors. Early action
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items associated with industrial production and agriculture do not apply to
the proposed project. The transportation sector early action items such as
truck efficiency, low carbon fuel standard, proper tire inflation, truck stop
electrification, and strengthening light duty vehicle standards are either not
specifically applicable to the proposed project or would result in a reduction
of GHG emissions associated with the project. The project thus would not
conflict with the early action measures.
ii. Assembly Bill 32 Scoping Plan.
Most of the AB 32 Scoping Plan measures are only recommendations at this
time and have not yet been adopted by the ARB. Those few measures that
have already been adopted (for example, the Stationary Equipment Refriger-
ant Management Program that is in effect as of January 2011) are either not
specifically applicable to the proposed project or would result in a reduction
of GHG emissions associated with the project.
iii. Senate Bill 375.
Although the GHG emissions reduction targets have been adopted by ARB,
no Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) has yet been prepared for the
region pursuant to Senate Bill 375 (SB 375). SB 375 requires federally desig-
nated metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) to prepare SCS. Through
an SCS, each MPO demonstrates how its plans and policies meet the GHG
reduction targets set by the ARB. However, the Town is part of Nevada
County, which does not have a federally designated MPO. Therefore, the
provisions of SB 375 do not directly apply and the project would not conflict
with SB 375 implementation.
iv. Town Policies.
The project would be in conformance with the Town of Truckee 2025 General
Plan policies related to energy conservation and solid waste reduction as out-
lined in Table 4.7-1, which would reduce the project’s GHG emissions.
The proposed project is a residential development project. Overall, the pro-
ject would not conflict with the reduction strategies identified in AB 32, the
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Governor’s EO S-3-05, and other strategies to help reduce GHG emissions to
the level proposed by the governor. Therefore, the proposed project would
not conflict with any applicable plan, policy, or regulation for the purpose of
reducing GHG emissions. Therefore, the proposed project would not con-
flict with any applicable plan, policy, or regulation for the purpose of reduc-
ing GHG emissions resulting in a less-than-significant impact.
2. Cumulative Impacts
It is the increased concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere resulting in
global climate change and the associated consequences of climate change that
results in adverse environmental effects (e.g. sea level rise, loss of snowpack,
severe weather events). A project’s incremental contribution to GHGs in the
atmosphere is a contribution to the cumulative effect that is global climate
change. However, as discussed above, GHG emissions emitted individually at
the project level would not result in an adverse climate change impact.
Therefore, the individual GHG emissions identified in Table 4.7-4 would re-
sult in a less than significant cumulative impact.
E. Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Project and cumulative impacts related to GHG emissions would be less than
significant and no mitigation measures are warranted.