Laserfiche WebLink
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST <br />Less Than <br />Potentially <br />Significant <br />Less Than <br />No <br />Significant <br />Impact with <br />Significant <br />Impact <br />Impact <br />Mitigation <br />Impact <br />Incorporated <br />7. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Would the project: <br />a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either <br />directly or indirectly, that may have a significant <br />❑ <br />❑ <br />® <br />❑ <br />impact on the environment? <br />b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or <br />regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing <br />❑ <br />❑ <br />® <br />❑ <br />the emissions of greenhouse gases? <br />ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING <br />Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are released as byproducts of fossil fuel combustion, waste disposal, <br />energy use, land use changes, and other human activities as well as many natural processes. This <br />release of gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20), creates <br />a blanket around the earth that allows light to pass through but traps heat at the surface, <br />preventing its escape into space. Table 3.7-1 describes the primary GHGs attributed to global <br />climate change, including a description of their physical properties and primary sources. <br />TABLE 3.7-1 <br />GREENHOUSE GASES <br />Greenhouse <br />Description <br />Gas <br />CO2 is a colorless, odorless gas and is emitted in a number of ways, both naturally and through human <br />Carbon dioxide <br />activities. The largest source of CO2 emissions globally is the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, <br />(CO2) <br />oil, and gas in power plants, automobiles, industrial facilities, and other sources. The atmospheric <br />lifetime of CO2 is variable because it is so readily exchanged in the atmosphere. a <br />CH4 is a colorless, odorless gas that is not flammable under most circumstances. CH4 is the major <br />Methane (CH4) <br />component of natural gas, about 87 percent by volume. It is also formed and released to the <br />atmosphere by biological processes occurring in anaerobic environments. CH4 is emitted from both <br />human -related and natural sources. Methane's atmospheric lifetime is about 12 years. n <br />N20 is a clear, colorless gas with a slightly sweet odor. N20 is produced by natural and human -related <br />Nitrous oxide <br />sources. Primary human -related sources are agricultural soil management, animal manure <br />(N20) <br />management, sewage treatment, mobile and stationary combustion of fossil fuels, adipic acid <br />production, and nitric acid production. The atmospheric lifetime of N20 is approximately 120 years. <br />Sources: a. EPA 2016a, b. EPA 2016b, c. EPA 2016c <br />Each GHG differs in its ability to absorb heat in the atmosphere based on the lifetime, or <br />persistence, of the gas molecule in the atmosphere. Estimates of GHG emissions are commonly <br />presented in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), which weighs each gas by its global warming <br />potential. Expressing GHG emissions in CO2e takes the contribution of all GHG emissions to the <br />greenhouse effect and converts them to a single unit equivalent to the effect that would occur if <br />only CO2 were being emitted. GHG emissions quantities in this analysis are presented in metric tons <br />(MT) of CO2e. From the standpoint of CEQA, GHG impacts on global climate change are <br />inherently cumulative. <br />1388 Bancroft Avenue Project City of San Leandro <br />Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration November 2018 <br />3.0-34 <br />