FRAQMD BEST AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
[Effective January 2004]

Contact: Sondra Andersson, Air Quality Planner

 Feather River Air Quality Management District (Yuba and Sutter Counties)

 938 14th Street, Marysville, CA 95901
530-634-7659 x210; Email: sandersson@fraqmd.org; Website: www.fraqmd.org/

CEQA Thresholds of Significance   (Mass Emission, pounds per day)

Projects that are estimated to result in daily construction phase emissions greater than 25 pounds per day for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), 25 pounds per day for reactive organic gases (ROG), or 80 pounds per day for respirable particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) may result in significant air quality impacts ("significant effect") and should be required to implement all of the following mitigation measures to reduce air emissions to the maximum extent feasible. Projects that do not exceed the thresholds should implement all feasible measures to reduce local impacts and cumulative impacts to downwind regions of the Sacramento Valley Air Basin.

1.      Implement the FRAQMD Fugitive Dust Control Plan which may be downloaded at http://www.fraqmd.org/PlanningTools.htm .

2.      The proponent shall assemble a comprehensive inventory list (i.e. make, model, engine year, horsepower, emission rates) of all heavy-duty off-road (portable and mobile) equipment (50 horsepower and greater) that will be used an aggregate of 40 or more hours for the construction project and apply the following mitigation measure:

Reducing NOx emissions from off-road diesel powered equipment

The project shall provide a plan for approval by FRAQMD demonstrating that the heavy-duty (equal to or greater than 50 horsepower) off-road equipment to be used in the construction project, including owned, leased and subcontractor vehicles, will achieve a project wide fleet-average 20 percent NOx reduction and 45 percent particulate reduction¹ compared to the most recent CARB fleet average at time of construction. A Construction Mitigation Calculator (MS Excel) may be downloaded from the SMAQMD web site to perform the fleet average evaluation  http://www.airquality.org/ceqa/index.shtml .

¹Acceptable options for reducing emissions may include use of late model engines, low-emission diesel products, alternative fuels, engine retrofit technology (Carl Moyer Guidelines), after-treatment products, voluntary offsite mitigation projects, provide funds for air district offsite mitigation projects, and/or other options as they become available. The District should be contacted to discuss alternative measures.

3.      Construction equipment exhaust emissions shall not exceed FRAQMD Regulation III, Rule 3.0, Visible Emissions limitations (40 percent opacity or Ringelmann 2.0). Operators of vehicles and equipment found to exceed opacity limits shall take action to repair the equipment within 72 hours or remove the equipment from service. Failure to comply may result in a Notice of Violation.

4.      The primary contractor shall be responsible to ensure that all construction equipment is properly tuned and maintained.

5.      Minimize idling time to 5 minutes – saves fuel and reduces emissions.

6.      An operational water truck should be onsite at all times.  Apply water to control dust as needed to prevent dust impacts offsite.

7.      Utilize existing power sources (e.g., power poles) or clean fuel generators rather than temporary power generators.

8.      Develop a traffic plan to minimize traffic flow interference from construction activities.  The plan may include advance public notice of routing, use of public transportation, and satellite parking areas with a shuttle service. Schedule operations affecting traffic for off-peak hours. Minimize obstruction of through-traffic lanes. Provide a flag person to guide traffic properly and ensure safety at construction sites.

9.      No open burning of removed vegetation during infrastructure improvements.  Vegetative material should be chipped or delivered to waste to energy facilities.

10.  Portable engines and portable engine-driven equipment units used at the project work site, with the exception of on-road and off-road motor vehicles, may require California Air Resources Board (ARB) Portable Equipment Registration with the State or a local district permit. The owner/operator shall be responsible for arranging appropriate consultations with the ARB or the District to determine registration and permitting requirements prior to equipment operation at the site.