BCC-67

[See page 5-176 for the original comment] The analysis contained in Draft EIR Impact 4.B-3 assesses construction-related risk and hazard impacts on both adults and school children and, consistent with BAAQMD guidance, applies age sensitivity factors to account for increased sensitivity to children and reflect the risks at the maximally exposed sensitive receptor. As discussed in the Draft EIR, none of the thresholds defining a significant impact would be exceeded. See also Response BCC-68.

BCC-68

[See page 5-176 for the original comment] There is no evidence provided to support the assertion that the proposed mitigation measures are inadequate. The analysis contained in Draft EIR Impact 4.B-3 assesses construction-related air quality risk and hazard impacts using the results of a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). The HRA was conducted in accordance with technical guidelines developed by federal, state, and regional agencies, including US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Guidance2, and the BAAQMD’s Health Risk Screening Analysis Guidelines.3 The results of this assessment identified a less than significant impact from construction-related air quality risks and hazards.

BCC-69

[See page 5-176 for the original comment] This comment does not raise any significant environmental issues regarding the adequacy of the Draft EIR or its analyses and conclusions. Differences in air pollutant emissions between proposed Baylands development and the alternatives evaluated in Chapter 5, Alternatives, of the Draft EIR will be considered as part of the City’s planning review and decisionmaking for the Baylands.

BCC-70

[See page 5-178 for the original comment] The annual bird counts have been incorporated into the EIR and specific references to the data are included in Section 4.C. The setting section of the Draft EIR is updated to add the following reference the fifth paragraph on page 4.C-10:

Over 87 bird species have been recorded from the Brisbane lagoon between 1990 and 2013 as documented in the Audubon bird count data base known as eBird4 (eBird 2012) At least 45 species have been

  1. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), 2003. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Guidance Manual for Preparation of Health Risk Assessments, http://www.oehha.org/air/hot_spots/pdf/HRAguidefinal.pdf
  2. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), 2005. BAAQMD Health Risk Screening Analysis Guidelines (http://www.baaqmd.gov/pmt/air_toxics/risk_procedures_policies/hrsa_guidelines.pdf), June 2005.
  3. Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird provides data sources for bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. eBird documents the presence or absence of species, as well as bird abundance through checklist data. Individual recreational and professional bird watchers enter when, where, and how they went birding, and then fill out a checklist of all the birds seen and heard during the outing. Automated data quality filters developed by regional bird experts review all submissions before they enter the database. Local experts review unusual records that are flagged by the filters. eBird collects observations from birders through portals managed and maintained by local partner conservation organizations.