| Section 9. Air Quality and Atmospheric Impacts |
A complete project description is essential for defining impacts and possible mitigation. Projects impacts such as Land Use compatibility, geology, fiscal, infrastructure, traffic, water & air, visual, biological, construction, etc. cannot be fully assessed with the project definitions and plans currently provided. Refer to Section 1. Project Description.
| 9.1 Areas of Concern |
In general, the EIR should address issues of the impacts of this project on air quality in the El Granada area, the accumulative impacts throughout the MidCoast of this and other planned projects, and the cumulative impact of the project's potential precedent setting use of low density lands for higher density development on air quality. The public health and specific impacts on the health of persons living near or adjacent to project sites should be carefully evaluated. There is simply no good reason why the health of any neighboring resident should be adversely affected. We know of no overriding considerations which would justify this impact. Refer to Section 15. Health.
| 9.2. Airborne Pollutants and Contaminants |
The impacts on the air and water in natural areas have been removal of vegetation which further reduces the oxygen producing capacity of plants and degrades air quality. We are becoming aware that increase in lung cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema are related to air pollution.
The study of asbestos exposure and airborne dust contaminants on a cumulative basis needs to be extended back to the construction of the neighborhood. The El Granada area has a great many long term residents. Currently, there is continuous building, with excessive grading, taking place in Shoreview Acres (adjacent to the Mirada Surf Project) and in El Granada, in general. As we have pointed out, asbestos accumulates in body tissue and never goes away. Therefore, each and every development which requires extensive grading increases the amount of asbestos in the tissues of people breathing the air. Even though one project may not trigger the Environmental Protection Agency maximum allowable amount in the air, the issue of cumulative doses of asbestos on those residing in this neighborhood kicks up the amount of exposure with each and every project. Thus this project will add an absolute exposure of the residents to asbestos. We expect that a careful quantitative study will be carried out on this problem.
| 9.3. Light Pollution |
The issue of light pollution should be addressed - currently, the project area is very dark at night. Lighting in general throughout El Granada is minimal and localized by the substantial tree planting throughout the community. Street lighting from Santiago St. is minimal, the school does not light up its playing field at night and uses only direct pathway lighting, the groves of trees along the riparian corridor at the south and east ends of the project area shield the area from any lights from the Miramar/Shoreview Acres area, the area is shielded from lights from the Harbor-area by the school and surrounding trees, and the highway is oriented in such a way that passing headlights do not shine into the property.
The proposed project, as depicted in the preliminary plans available, would remove the shielding trees along the riparian corridor, allowing light in from Miramar and light out from the proposed housing. No specification is given for street lighting and individual house lighting, but assuming worse case, dozens of street lights and 35 exterior-lit houses unshielded from the surrounding neighborhood, in combination with the air-borne dust created by the housing would contribute greatly to the light pollution of the area. Proposed streets are oriented in a way that vehicles exiting the project area would shine their headlights in houses on Santiago St. Excessive lighting at night can affect neighborhood well-being and health, disrupt wildlife patterns and vegetation growing cycles. It can also affect the natural conditions and habitats of the open space areas to the East and West of the project area. Refer to Section 10. Impacts on Visual/Aesthetic and Architectural Conditions.
| 9.4. Areas of Assessment and Study |
These should be assessed in terms of the specific project, the project in accumulation to all other planned projects in the near future (1 - 10 years), and the cumulative impact of project's potential precedent setting use of low density lands for higher density development.
| 9.5. Precedents and Consequences |
| 9.6. Mitigation |