ATTACHMENT E

South Coast

Air Quality Management District

21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4182

(909) 396-2000  www.aqmd.gov

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF EXEMPTION FROM THE CALIFORNIA 

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT

PROJECT TITLE: PM10 REDESIGNATION REQUESTS AND 

MAINTENANCE PLANS FOR THE SOUTH COAST AIR 

BASIN AND COACHELLA VALLEY

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the South Coast Air 

Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is the Lead Agency and will prepare a Notice of 

Exemption for the project identified above.

The SCAQMD has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines §15002 

(k)(1), the first step of a three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project 

subject to CEQA. SCAQMD is requesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to 

redesignate the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley from non-attainment to attainment 

of the federal PM10 ambient air quality standards. As part of its request, SCAQMD is also 

submitting PM10 maintenance plans, which will ensure that the PM-10 attainment status is 

maintained. Because the PM10 Attainment Redesignation Requests for the South Coast Air 

Basin and Coachella Valley are an administrative process and the PM10 Maintenance Plans 

would impose no additional requirements that will generate adverse significant environmental 

impacts, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed project in 

question has the potential to have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Thus, the 

proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) - Review 

for Exemption. The Notice of Exemption will be filed with the county clerks of Los Angeles, 

Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties immediately following the adoption of the 

proposed project.

Any questions regarding this Notice of Exemption should be sent to Jeff Inabinet (c/o Planning, 

Rule Development & Area Sources) at the above address. Mr. Inabinet can also be reached at 

909.396.2453. Questions regarding the PM10 Redesignation Requests and Maintenance Plans

should be directed to Mr. Joe Cassmassi at 909.396.3155.

Date: December 22, 2009 Signature:

Steve Smith, Ph.D.

Program Supervisor

Planning, Rule Development & 

Area Sources

Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 14
NOTICE OF EXEMPTION

To: County Clerks of

Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, 

San Bernardino

From: South Coast Air Quality Management District

21865 Copley Drive

Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Project Title:

PM10 Redesignation Requests and Maintenance Plans for the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley

Project Location:

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) area of jurisdiction consisting of the four-county South 

Coast Air Basin (Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties), 

and the Riverside County portions of the Salton Sea Air Basin and the Mojave Desert Air Basin.

Description of Nature, Purpose, and Beneficiaries of Project:

SCAQMD is requesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redesignate the South Coast Air Basin and 

Coachella Valley from non-attainment to attainment of the federal PM10 ambient air quality standards. As part of its 

request, SCAQMD is also submitting PM10 maintenance plans, which will ensure that the PM-10 attainment status is 

maintained. The plans include the 2003 PM10 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) attainment inventory and 

modeling demonstration, as well as the transportation conformity budgets, which have been updated to include the latest 

planning assumptions and emissions inventory used in the 2007 AQMP. The maintenance plans also provide a 

commitment to maintain a future PM10 monitoring network in the Basin and Coachella Valley to verify continued 

attainment of the federal PM10 standards. Finally, the maintenance plans provide contingency measures that discuss the 

implementation of adopted 2007 AQMP SCAQMD and state Air Resources Board control measures that are projected 

to further reduce directly emitted particulates and aerosol precursors.

Public Agency Approving Project:

South Coast Air Quality Management District

Agency Carrying Out Project:

South Coast Air Quality Management District

Exempt Status:

General Concepts [CEQA Guidelines §15002 (k)(1)]; and

General Rule Exemption [CEQA Guidelines §15061 (b)(3)];

Reasons why project is exempt:

The SCAQMD has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15002(k)(1). Because the PM10 

Attainment Redesignation Requests for the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley are an administrative process 

and the PM10 Maintenance Plans would impose no additional requirements that will generate adverse significant 

environmental impacts, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed project in question has 

the potential to have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Thus, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA 

pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) - Review for Exemption.

Certification Date:

SCAQMD Governing Board Hearing: January 8, 2010, 9:00 a.m.; SCAQMD Headquarters

CEQA Contact Person:

Mr. Jeff Inabinet

Phone Number:

(909) 396-2453

Fax Number:

(909) 396-3324

Email:

<jinabinet@aqmd.gov>

Rule Contact Person:

Mr. Joe Cassmassi

Phone Number:

(909) 396-3155

Fax Number:

(909) 396-3324

Email:

<jcassmassi@aqmd.gov>

Date Received for Filing Signature Signed upon certification

Steve Smith, Ph.D.

Program Supervisor

Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources