### 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 C ALIFORNIA ENVIRO NMENTAL QUALITY ACT

PROJECT TITLE: P M10 REDESIGNATION RE QUESTS AND MAINTENANCE PLANS FO R THE SOUTH COAST AI R BASIN AND COACHELLA VALLEY

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the South Coast Air Quality Management Distric t (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 do cument 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 standard s. 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 ad ministrative 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 t he 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 Ange les, 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) a t the above ad dress. Mr. Inabinet can a lso 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 , 20 0 9 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 Manag ement 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 ju risdiction 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 qu ality 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

model ing 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 PM1 0 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 Reso urces 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 Manag ement 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

environme ntal 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 Guide lines §15061(b)(3)

- Review for Exemption.

Certification Date:

SCAQMD Governing Board Hearing: January 8 , 20 10 , 9:00 a.m.; SCAQMD Headquarters

CEQA Contact Person:

Mr. Jeff Inabinet Phone Number:

(909) 396

- 2453 Fax Number:

(909) 396

- 3324 Email:

< jinabin et @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. Progra m Supervisor Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources