April 14, 2010 > Air District seeks public input for updates to CEQA guidelines Air District seeks public input for updates to CEQA guidelines Submitted By Ana Sandoval The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), the regional agency chartered with protecting air quality in the Bay Area, will conduct workshops on April 15 and 26, 2010, to seek public input on proposed updates to its California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. "Cities and counties need planning tools that will help them better manage development," said Jack Broadbent. "We believe these guidelines will provide certainty as cities work to ensure that new development does not create greater pollution challenges in Bay Area communities." The CEQA Guidelines document provides guidance to public agencies, consultants and stakeholders in evaluating the air quality impacts and assessing mitigation measures for proposed projects and plans in the Bay Area. The proposed updates to the document include recommended thresholds of significance for criteria pollutants, toxic pollutants, odors and greenhouse gases. The document was last updated in 1999. The proposed thresholds of significance are available on the Air District's web site at http://tinyurl.com/ybd3nx4. The Air District's Board will consider adopting the proposed significance thresholds in June 2010. The workshops will be held at the following times and locations: Thursday, April 15, 2010 9:30 a.m. - 12 pm City of Mountain View Council Chambers 500 Castro Street, Mountain View Monday, April 26, 2010 1:30 - 4 p.m. Metropolitan Transportation Commission Auditorium 101 Eighth Street, Oakland For more information, visit www.baaqmd.gov