Public Workshops and California Environmental Quality Act Scoping Meetings on the Draft 2022 Air Quality Management Plan

News & Announcements

The South Coast Air Quality Management District announces the release of the Draft 2022 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) and invites you to participate in regional public workshops scheduled as shown in the table below. These meetings also serve as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meetings for the 2022 AQMP. Multiple meetings are scheduled to provide more opportunities for stakeholders to discuss the Draft 2022 AQMP as well as an environmental impact analysis of the AQMP in accordance with CEQA. Meeting materials will be posted 72 hours in advance of the workshop at http://www.aqmd.gov/2022aqmp.

Meeting InformationPursuant to Assembly Bill 361, the public workshops and CEQA scoping meetings will be conducted through a hybrid format of in-person attendance in the locations specified below and virtual attendance via videoconferencing and by telephone. Please follow the instructions below to join the meetings in-person or remotely.

 Date/Time

Draft 2022 AQMP Regional Public Workshops and CEQA Scoping Meetings

Location

May 25, 20221:00 p.m.

Meeting #1 for entire South Coast AQMD Jurisdiction – Hybrid Format

 Remotely via Zoom videoconference and by telephone:https://scaqmd.zoom.us/j/91200605609Zoom Webinar ID: 912 0060 5609Teleconference Dial In +1 669 900 6833In-person at South Coast AQMD HeadquartersDr. William A. Burke Auditorium21865 Copley DriveDiamond Bar, CA 91765

May 25, 20226:00 p.m.

Meeting #2 for entire South Coast AQMD Jurisdiction – Remote Only Format

 Remotely via Zoom videoconference and by telephone:https://scaqmd.zoom.us/j/91200605609Zoom Webinar ID: 912 0060 5609Teleconference Dial In +1 669 900 6833

May 26, 20226:00 p.m.

Meeting For Coachella Valley – Hybrid Format

 Remotely via Zoom videoconference and by telephone:https://scaqmd.zoom.us/j/95634334998Zoom Webinar ID: 956 3433 4998Teleconference Dial In +1 669 900 6833In-person at California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert CampusOliphant Auditorium37500 Cook StreetPalm Desert, CA 92211

BackgroundThe South Coast Quality Management District is the local government agency responsible for air quality in the greater Los Angeles region and the Coachella Valley. The region suffers from the worst ozone air quality in the nation, and does not meet state and national air quality standards. While great strides have been made in reducing air pollution, the South Coast Air Basin exceeds the 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and was designated as an “extreme” nonattainment area with a deadline to meet the standard by 2037. The Coachella Valley located downwind of the Basin is classified as a “severe-15” nonattainment area with a deadline to meet the standard by 2032. The Draft 2022 AQMP serves as the blueprint for how the region will meet the standard, and fulfills U.S. EPA’s nonattainment area requirements. It was developed in partnership with the California Air Resources Board, the U.S. EPA, and the Southern California Association of Governments with input from stakeholders throughout the region including local and state governments, businesses, academia, and environmental organizations. The Draft 2022 AQMP includes a variety of strategies relying on NOx emissions reductions through economy-wide transition to zero emission technologies when cost-effective and feasible, and ultra-low emission technologies in other applications, best management practices, co-benefits from existing programs such as climate and energy efficiency policies, and incentive approaches where applicable. The Draft 2022 AQMP also includes a voluntary reclassification request to “extreme” nonattainment for the Coachella Valley to provide additional time for that area to meet the standard, extending the deadline to 2037.

Documents AvailabilityThe Draft 2022 AQMP is available online at http://www.aqmd.gov/2022aqmp. All the chapters and Appendix IV-A – South Coast AQMD’s Stationary and Mobile Source Control Measures, are available for public review and comments. The rest of appendices will be released soon, and a subsequent notification of availability will be provided.

Public CommentsPublic comments on the Draft 2022 AQMP should be submitted by Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to AQMPteam@aqmd.gov or through the online comment submission form at https://forms.office.com/g/PV2q42uBjy.

For more information, please contact:(AQMP) Sang-Mi Lee at slee@aqmd.gov or (909) 396-3169(CEQA) Kevin Ni at kni@aqmd.gov or (909) 396-2462

Americans with Disabilities Act and Language AccessibilityDisability and language-related accommodations can be requested to allow participation in the AQMP Advisory Group Meeting. The agenda will be made available, upon request, in appropriate alternative formats to assist persons with a disability (Gov’t Code Section 54954.2(a)). In addition, other documents may be requested in alternative formats and languages. Any disability or language-related accommodation must be requested as soon as practicable. Requests will be accommodated unless providing the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden to the South Coast AQMD. Please contact Sang-Mi Lee, Planning and Rules Manager, at (909) 396-3169 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or send the request to AQMPTeam@aqmd.gov.