South Coast Air Basin Contingency Measure State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)
Summary
SCH Number
2025080029
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
South Coast Air Basin Contingency Measure State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/1/2025
Document Description
The 2022 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) established a strategy for meeting the 2015 8-hour ozone standard, for which the South Coast Air Basin is classified as “extreme” nonattainment. The 2022 AQMP did not formally address the contingency measure requirements set forth in federal Clean Air Act (CAA) Sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9) due to the absence of United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) guidance at the time of its adoption. In response to U.S. EPA’s contingency measures guidance that was finalized in December 2024, the South Coast Air Basin Contingency Measure SIP Revision for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS (South Coast Ozone Contingency SIP Revision) has been developed which includes: 1) contingency measures for stationary point and area sources; 2) a mobile source contingency measure; 3) a comparison of emission reductions to be achieved by contingency measures to the recommended amount of reductions specified in U.S. EPA’s guidance; and 4) a demonstration that there are no other feasible stationary and mobile source contingency measures beyond the aforementioned contingency measures for stationary point and area sources, and mobile sources. All four contingency measures included in the South Coast Ozone Contingency SIP Revision have been previously adopted by the South Coast AQMD and California Air Resources Board. Therefore, the South Coast Ozone Contingency SIP Revision is an administrative exercise to fulfill U.S. EPA requirements and will benefit stakeholders by having improved clarity when implementing the applicable requirements.
Contact Information
Name
FARZANEH KHALAJ
Agency Name
South Coast AQMD
Job Title
Air Quality Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
The proposed project is located within the four-county South Coast Air Basin portion of South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (South Coast AQMD) jurisdiction, which includes all of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15308
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project (South Coast Ozone Contingency SIP Revision) pursuant to: 1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15002(k) – General Concepts, the three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project subject to CEQA; and 2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 – Review for Exemption, procedures for determining if a project is exempt from CEQA. No adverse environmental impacts are expected because the South Coast Ozone Contingency SIP Revision is comprised of an administrative update to meet federal CAA requirements without proposing new requirements that would result in additional physical modifications. Thus, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed project may cause a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption. The proposed project is also categorically exempt because it is intended to further protect or enhance the environment pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 – Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. Further, there is no substantial evidence indicating that any of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 – Exceptions apply to the proposed project.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption. The proposed project is also categorically exempt because it is intended to further protect or enhance the environment pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 – Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. Further, there is no substantial evidence indicating that any of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 – Exceptions apply to the proposed project.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.