CEQA Guidance & Tools

​CEQA Guide

​The Guide to Air Quality Assessment in Sacramento County (CEQA Guide) provides methods to analyze air quality impacts from plans and projects, including screening criteria, thresholds of significance, calculation methods, and mitigation measures to assist lead agencies in complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  The CEQA Guide is available to download by individual chapters.

​Title and Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction (December 2016)

Chapter 1:  Link to current Air Monitoring Stations Map

Chapter 2: Environmental Review (May 2018)

Chapter 2 Appendix: Thresholds of Significance Table (May 2015)

Chapter 3: Construction (May 2017)

Chapter 3 Appendix: Basic Construction Emission Control Practices (Best Management Practices) (May 2017)

Chapter 3 Appendix: Enhanced Exhaust Control Practices (October 2013)

Chapter 3 Appendix: Enhanced Dust Control Practices (December 2009)

Chapter 3 Appendix: PM Dispersion Modeling (July 2013)

Chapter 4: Operational (August 2016)

Chapter 4 Appendix: Operational Screening Table (April 2018)

Chapter 4 Appendix: PM Best Management Practices (August 2016)

Chapter 4 Appendix: CO Dispersion Modeling (June 2014)

Chapter 5: Toxic Air Contaminants (September 2018)

Chapter 6: Greenhouse Gases (May 2018)

Chapter 6 Appendix: GHG Operational Screening Table (April 2018)

Chapter 6 Appendix: Construction GHG Reductions (May 2016)

Chapter 7: Odors (June 2016)

Chapter 7 Appendix: Odor Screening Table (December 2009)

Chapter 7 Appendix: Odor Reductions (June 2014)

Chapter 8: Cumulative (June 2016)

Chapter 9: Program Level Analysis (August 2016)

Revision History

​Tools & Guidance

Sac Metro Air District recommends these tools and guidance documents to assist in air quality impact analysis.

Tools: Models, Calculators & Data Files

California Emissions Estimator Model including User's Guide (Sac Metro Air District recommends using CalEEMod Version 2016.3.2 for projects being released for public review on or after January 1, 2018).

• Sac Metro Air District CalEEMod User's Tips (February 2019) NEW

Roadway Construction Emissions Model (version 9.0, May 2018).  This is a .zip file. Please save it and then open it to extract the .xlsm file.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  Version 9.0 includes emissions factors from EMFAC2017, which has not yet been approved by US EPA.  Version 8.1.0 is available for project analysis if US EPA approval of modeling tools is required (version 8.1.0). 

Harborcraft, Dredge and Barge Emission Factor Calculator for obtaining emission factors from marine equipment for planning and construction analysis (July 2017)

AERMOD meteorological data files:

• International Airport

• Executive Airport

Adopted Thresholds of Significance:

• Notice of Thresholds Adoption March 2002
• Resolution adopted October 2014 for Greenhouse Gases
• Notice of Change in Greenhouse Gases Analysis Recommendations  published January 2016
• Resolution adopted May 2015 for Particulate Matter

NEW:  Draft Proposed Update to the Greenhouse Gas Threshold of Significance for Operational Emissions from Land Development Projects

Sac Metro Air District staff hosted a workshop on January 9, 2019, to discuss and receive feedback on the draft proposed update to the greenhouse gas threshold of significance for operational emissions from land development projects. Download the workshop notice, report and presentation:

• Workshop notice

• Staff report on proposed update

• Workshop presentation

Guidance:  Protocol, Recommendations & Documents 

• Recommended mitigation measures for construction and operational emissions
• Mobile Sources Air Toxics Protocol for assessing potential cancer risk to receptors located near major roadways and railways (July 2018)

• Landscaping Guidance for Improving Air Quality near Roadways (April 2017)

• Recommendations for Siting New Projects Near Existing Sources that Emit Odors and Toxic Air Contaminants (May 2017)

• General Rules Statement for Development Projects (June 2018)

•  State CEQA Guidelines Appendix G (February 2019, courtesy of AEP)

• Sacramento Area Council of Government (SACOG) Regional Plans 

• In August 2018 the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) published Air Quality Analysis in CEQA Roadway Review to address frequently questioned topics in air quality analysis, including greenhouse gases, for roadway projects reviewed under CEQA. The guidance is intended for use by lead agencies in preparing air quality analysis and by air districts in reviewing and commenting on roadway project CEQA documents. Please note that this is not comprehensive guidance on air quality analysis for CEQA review of roadway projects. It only responds to common questions and current misconceptions. Air districts often have guidance on a full range of topics in CEQA air quality analysis, which is appropriate for overall air quality analysis in their geographic area. Please consult any of the Sac Metro Air District staff listed below to determine the appropriate methodology for project specific CEQA analysis.

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