Planning

California Environmental Quality Act

The Imperial County CEQA Air Quality Handbook was last amended in 2007. Since then, many changes have occurred to land use development in Imperial County. With the introduction of non-traditional residential and commercial projects, all project proponents are strongly encouraged to call and discuss the changes that may impact how you model your projects air emissions. For example, all projects are required, except under very special circumstances, to utilize CalEEMod as the modeling tool for a project's air emissions. Contact the Air District at (442) 265-1800 and ask for Monica Soucier.

Hot air Balloon

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a statute that can be traced back to the passage of the first federal environmental protection statute in 1969, the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA. The essence of CEQA generally requires the identification of potential adverse environmental impacts resulting from proposed projects. Once identified, CEQA requires decision makers to impose feasible mitigation measures which either reduce or avoid the identified adverse environmental impacts.

 

The laws and rules governing the CEQA process are contained in the CEQA statute (Public Resources Code Section 21000 and following), the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 and following), published court decisions interpreting CEQA, and locally adopted CEQA procedures.

CEQA §15022 requires each public agency to adopt objectives, criteria and specific procedures, consistent with CEQA and the Guidelines for the proper evaluation of local projects and mitigation of identified impacts. In order to fulfill its requirements under CEQA, the Air District adopted its first CEQA Air Quality Handbook in February 2005. After two years of implementation, the Air District noted inconsistencies and deficiencies and began amending its CEQA Air Quality Handbook in 2006. The Air District adopted its amended CEQA Air Quality Handbook in November of 2007.

Whether a project is developing a Negative Declaration, a Mitigated Negative Declaration, Environmental Impact Report, an Environmental Assessment, or an Environmental Impact Statement, the AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS requires, at its core, the use of preliminary modeling to assess impacts, if any, to air. Since 2011, the Air District recommends the use of the California Emissions Estimator Model, or CalEEMod. Complimentary to CalEEMod is the 2022 updated CAPCOA (California Air Pollution Control Officers Association) handbook for analyzing greenhouse gas emission reductions, assessing climate vulnerabilities and advancing health and equity. Before commencing with any modeling, the Air District highly recommends that a project proponent contact the Air District to discuss any essential parameters.

Negative Declaration for the Imperial County 2013 State Implementation Plan for the 2006 24-Hr PM2.5 Moderate Nonattainment Area

On October 23, 2014, the Environmental Evaluation Committee reviewed the Initial Study for the IC 2013 SIP for the 2006 24-Hr-PM2.5 MNA for any significant environmental impact. The EEC concluded that a proposed Negative Declaration was appropriate.

  • Final Negative Declaration.

Important Documents

Construction Forms

Forms are downloadable and work best when saved to your computer. Please contact our office, should you need assistance with the forms.

Forms are downloadable and work best when saved to your computer. Please contact our office, should you need assistance with the forms.

Development - Rule 310 Forms

For Residential Developments with several APN's please use Page 2

State Implementation Plans

  •  OZONE   
  • PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5    
  • PARTICULATE MATTER 10
  • RACT SIP
 OZONE   

OZONE (O3)

  • Effective March 12, 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) tightened the 8-Hr Ozone Standard to 0.075 ppm.
  • Effective May 21, 2012, the US EPA designated Imperial County “Marginal” non-attainment for the 2008 8-Hr Ozone Standard with an attainment date set for July 20, 2015.
  • Effective April 6, 2015, the US EPA revoked the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard.
  • Effective November 12, 2015, the US EPA approved the Imperial County Reasonably Available Control Technology State Implementation Plan (RACT SIP) (80 FR 69876; Nov 12, 2015).

On May 4, 2016, the US EPA published a final ruling indicating that Imperial County failed to meet attainment of the 2008 8-Hr Ozone standard by July 20, 2015 and therefore was reclassified to “Moderate” non-attainment. The reclassification triggered the development and submittal of a 2008 8-Hr Ozone SIP and RACT SIP by January 1, 2017. After a long and cooperative effort between the US EPA, the California Air Resources Board, and the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors adopted the 2017 Imperial County 2008 8-Hr Ozone State Implementation Plan (2007 Ozone SIP) which scientifically demonstrated that Imperial County attained the 2008 8-Hr Ozone Standard “but for” emissions from Mexico. This is also known as a “179B demonstration”.

PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5    

2006 24-Hour Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5)

On November 15, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule to clarify PM2.5 implementation requirements to the states for current 1997 and 2006 nonattainment areas. In response to a D.C. Circuit Court decision addressing the role subpart 4 of Part D, title 1 of the Clean air Act in implementing the fine particle pollution (PM2.5) air quality standards.

As part of the actions taken by EPA areas that were designated nonattainment for the 1997 and/or 2006 PM2.5 standards were initially designated as “moderate” by operation of law. The deadline for submitting attainment related and nonattainment NSR SIP elements required under subpart 4 was December 31, 2014.

On December 2, 2014 the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors fully approved the Imperial County 2013 SIP for the 2006 24-hr PM2.5 Moderate Nonattainment Area plan.

On December 18, 2014 the California Air Resources Board approved the Imperial County 2013 State Implementation Plan for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 Moderate Nonattainment Area. Final PM2.5 Plan

2012 Annual Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5)

On January 15, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its revision to the suite of standards for PM to provide requisite protection of public health and welfare and made corresponding revisions to the data handling conventions for PM and to the ambient air monitoring, reporting and network design requirements.

With regard to the primary (health-based) standards for fine particles (PM2.5) the EPA revised the annual PM2.5 standard by lowering the level to 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter so as to provide increased protection against health effects associated with long- and short-term exposures.

In addition, the EPA designated the previously determined Non-attainment area in Imperial County as a "Moderate" non-attainment area for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 primary standard.

On August 24, 2016 the EPA finalized its implementing rule for the newly established primary annual standard for PM2.5. Moderate non-attainment areas are required by Code of Federal Regulations section 51.1003(a) to submit a State Implementation Plan no later than 18 months from the date of designation (October 2016).

On April 24, 2018 the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors fully approved the Imperial County 2018 Annual Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Microns in Diameter State Implementation Plan.

On May 25, 2018 the California Air Resources Board approved the Imperial County 2018 Annual Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Microns in Diameter State Implementation Plan Final Annual PM2.5 Plan.

PARTICULATE MATTER 10

Particulate Matter 10 (PM10)

On October 23, 2018 the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors fully approved the Imperial County 2018 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for Particulate Matter less than 10 Microns in Diameter.

The California Air Resources Board during a December 13, 2018 Public Hearing approved the Imperial County 2018 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for Particulate Matter less than 10 Microns in Diameter. The Public Hearing was held in Sacramento the information and links below provide additional information regarding the Public Hearing. Final PM10 Document as approved.

18-10-4: Public Meeting to Consider the PM10 State Implementation Plan for Imperial County

Staff will present to the Board the proposed Imperial County 2018 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for the 150 24-hour PM10 standard. The Plan shows that Imperial County has attained and will maintain the 24-hour PM10 standard out to 2030 and addresses all requirements under the federal Clean Air Act. If adopted, CARB will submit the Plan to the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan. Staff will also provide an informational update on recommendations and actions developed by the Imperial County - Mexicali air quality working group to improve air quality in the border region.

2009 Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) State Implementation Plan

Settlement between EPA, California State Parks and Imperial County Regarding Imperial's Fugitive Dust Regulations July 27, 2012: EPA, Imperial County Air Pollution Control District and California Parks Department announced a settlement to enhance Imperial's regulations for inhalable particulate matter (PM-10). The settlement agreement will be published in the Federal Register in about two weeks. There will be a 30-day public comment period on the agreement upon publication in the Federal Register.

Please visit our public participation page under Past Public Hearings for a detail of the information provided to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control Board of Directors on August 11, 2009.

RACT SIP

RACT SIP

The Clean Air Act requires SIP's for non-attainment areas to require emission controls that are economically and technologically feasible. Emissions control technologies that meet these criteria are known as "RACT". The phase 2 rule sets forth guidelines for making RACT determinations in 8-hour Ozone non-attainment areas. (70 FR 71612)