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SAN LEANDRO SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT DRAFT EIR <br />CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />AIR QUALITY <br />4.2 AIR QUALITY <br />This chapter describes the existing air quality setting and evaluates the potential environmental impacts <br />that could occur by adopting and implementing the San Leandro Shoreline Development (Project). <br />"Emissions" refers to the actual quantity of pollutant, measured in pounds per day or tons per year. <br />"Concentrations" refers to the amount of pollutant material per volumetric unit of air. Concentrations are <br />measured in parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), or micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m). <br />This chapter is based on the methodology recommended by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District <br />(BAAQMD) for project -level review, based on preliminary information available. The analysis contained <br />herein focuses on air pollution from regional emissions and localized pollutant concentrations from <br />buildout of the Project. Transportation sector emissions are based on trip generation provided by <br />Kittelson & Associates, Inc. Criteria air pollutant emissions modeling is included in Appendix D, Air Quality <br />and Greenhouse Gas Modeling, of this Draft EIR. A health risk assessment (HRA) for construction and <br />operational phases of the Project is included in Appendix E, Health Risk Assessment, of this Draft EIR. <br />4.2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING <br />California is divided geographically into air basins for the purpose of managing the air resources of the <br />State on a regional basis. An air basin generally has similar meteorological and geographic conditions <br />throughout. The State is divided into 15 air basins. San Leandro is in the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin <br />(SFBAAB or Air Basin). The discussion below identifies the natural factors in the Air Basin that affect air <br />pollution. Air pollutants of concern are criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants (TACs). Federal, <br />State, and local air districts have adopted laws and regulations intended to control and improve air quality. <br />The regulatory framework that is potentially applicable to the Project is also summarized below. <br />4.2.1.1 SAN FRANCISCO AIR BASIN <br />The BAAQMD is the regional air quality agency for the Air Basin, which comprises all of Alameda, Contra <br />Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties; the southern portion of Sonoma <br />County; and the southwestern portion of Solano County. Air quality in this area is determined by such <br />natural factors as topography, meteorology, and climate, in addition to the presence of existing air <br />pollution sources and ambient conditions.' <br />Meteorology <br />The Air Basin is characterized by complex terrain, consisting of coastal mountain ranges, inland valleys, <br />and bays, which distort normal wind flow patterns. The Coast Rangel splits in the Bay Area, creating a <br />western coast gap, the Golden Gate, and an eastern coast gap, the Carquinez Strait, which allows air to <br />flow in and out of the Bay Area and the Central Valley. <br />' This section describing the air basin is from Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 2010 (Revised 2011), Appendix C: <br />Sample Air Quality Setting, in California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines. <br />2 The Coast Ranges traverses California's west coast from Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County. <br />PLACEWORKS 4.2-1 <br />