Our Board has adopted Environmental Review Guidelines that identify the procedures for environmental review, adopted thresholds of significance, time limits, fees, forms, and APCD approved exemptions to CEQA review. We apply these guidelines when acting as a Lead Agency under CEQA for its own discretionary actions, such as air quality plans, rules, and permits (when necessary). 

Note: Air quality impacts for land use projects that we are not a Lead Agency for should be evaluated using the thresholds of significance adopted or used by the jurisdiction in which the project is located. In the absence of locally-adopted thresholds, our air quality thresholds are recommended for CEQA review of all other projects in Santa Barbara County for which we are a Responsible or Commenting Agency. 

To assist local agencies with the evaluation of air quality impacts and concerns in CEQA documents, we have prepared a CEQA Handbook. This document includes tools and methodologies to quantify air pollutant emissions and characterize impacts as well as strategies to mitigate impacts. It also includes discussion of CalEEMod and guidance for its use. 

The APCD Quick Reference Guide is a short informational document intending to support project proponents and local planning staff to understand the air quality information, regulatory requirements, and air quality concerns relevant to evaluating new or modified development projects during the land use permitting and CEQA review process.

We maintain a list of measures commonly required and recommended to reduce and/or control emissions of fugitive dust and diesel exhaust during project construction and operation. For more information and guidance on the evaluation of these impacts see the CEQA Handbook.

• For construction-phase dust control measures, see Attachment A Fugitive Dust Control Measures.
• For construction-phase diesel exhaust control measures, see Attachment B Construction Diesel Particulate and NOx Emission Measures.
• For operational-phase diesel exhaust control measures, see Attachment C Operational Diesel PM and NOx Emission Measures.  

The following resources aid with quantifying emissions for winery projects. Please refer to the CEQA Handbook for more guidance and discussion on assessing winery-related emissions for CEQA.

• Winery Project Information Worksheet – this worksheet lists all the required project information to use the Winery Fermentation Emission Calculator and CalEEMod for project emission estimates.
• Winery Fermentation Emissions Calculator – this Excel tool estimates emissions (ROC and GHGs) from the winery fermentation process.  

For resources relating to the cannabis industry and APCD rules and regulations, please visit Cannabis Permitting.

The Peak Day Trip Rate Calculator is an Excel tool that calculates peak day trip rates for projects with special events. It is designed to be used in conjunction with CalEEMod to estimate mobile source emissions.

We have filed the following environmental documents and notices:

• Notice of Exemption – Platforms Hogan and Houchin Plugging and Abandonment Project
• Notice of Exemption – Santa Barbara Mountain Communities Defense Zone Project
  • In compliance with Public Resources Code Section 4799.05(d)(4)(A), the applicable NEPA analysis for this project can be found in the Decision Memo (dated March 21, 2017) for the Santa Barbara Mountain Communities Defense Zone Project, as well as an applicable Categorical Exclusion via 36 CFR 220.6(d)(3).”