The Land Use and Air Quality Connection

Presented By:

Larry RobinsonSMAQMD Land Use &

Transportation Section

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Why is Air Quality Important?

Ozone: non-attainment

Particulate Matter: non-attainment

Climate Change: worsens air pollution

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The Health Effects

Aggravated asthma & new

cases • 20% of children in Sacramento County have asthma (4th highest in the state; Lake & Mendocino Counties at 8%)• Costs for asthmatics exceed $1.3 billion annually in CA

Increased respiratory and cardiovascular problems

• 14% higher heart disease rate in Sacramento County vs. CA average

Reduced resistance to infection, increased fatigue, or weakened athletic performance

• 1.3 million school absence days could be avoided annually

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The Environmental Effects

• Ozone can damage crops, forests, native plants and property

• Particulate contributes to reduced visibility in urban and pristine areas

• Climate change has the potential to increase air pollution and energy demand

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Why is Land Use Important to Air Quality?

Sacramento Nonattainment Region

VOC - 168 Tons Per Day

Other6%

Off-RoadEquipment

8%

Rec Boat15%

Other7%

Auto/Light-Med Duty

Trucks34%

Other5%

Arch Coatings5%

ConsumerProducts

9%

Other6%

Solvent/Coatings

5%

Area-Wide19%

Stationary11%

On-Road Mobile41%

Other Mobile29% • Mobile sources remain the primary

source of ozone in the Sacramento region; contribute largely to greenhouse gases and to a lesser extent particulate emissions

• Land use directly influences travel, therefore mobile source emissions

• Individual land use decisions dictate overall travel behavior

Sacramento Nonattainment Region

NOx - 176 Tons Per Day

Other11%

FarmEquipment

7%Trains7%

Construction

& Mining Equip

9%Other

5%

Automobiles12%

Lt/Med Duty Trucks

15%

Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks

23%

Boilers/Heaters/

Ag Pumps

Other Mobile35%

On-Road Mobile54%

Stationary9%

Area -Wide(Residential Fuel

Comb. & Ag

Burn)

2%

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Why is Land Use Important to Air Quality?

• Blueprint modeling for the 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan shows that Vehicle Miles Traveled per household can be reduced by 11% through better land use decisions

• Blueprint is also the basis of the SMAQMD’s air quality attainment planning efforts

• Not implementing Blueprint could jeopardize transportation funding

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Air Quality Considerations Should be an Integral Part of Your Decision Making Process

• Include air quality considerations in all your decisions

• Utilize your experts

• More information to be provided on land use studies

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SMAQMD’s Project Review Process

1. Staff receives project documents from local jurisdictions and other agencies (CEQA and others)

2. Various tools utilized to evaluate the air quality impacts of each project

3. Staff coordinates with other agencies and individuals4. Mitigation measures recommended5. Design modifications may be recommended6. Testimony provided to recommending and approving bodies

as necessary

Please contact SMAQMD staff if you have project specific questions…

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Staff Contact Information

Jeane Borkenhagen 916-874-4885 Climate Change

Joseph (J.J.) Hurley 916-874-2694 Cities of Sacramento and Folsom

Rachel DuBose 916-874-4876 City of Citrus HeightsNorth & Central Sacramento

County

Karen Huss 916-874-4881 City of Galt

Charlene McGhee 916-874-4883 City of Elk GroveSouth Sacramento County

Paul Philley 916-874-4882 City of Rancho Cordova

Land Use & Transportation Section

Larry Robinson, Program Coordinator 916-874-4816

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Thank You for Your Time

Questions and Comments?

www.airquality.org