Goal 2 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Goal NR-2: Improve the health and sustainability of the community through continued local efforts to improve regional air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce community exposure to health risks associated with toxic air contaminants and fine particulate matter.

Air quality is an important natural resource that influences public health and welfare, the local and regional economy, and quality of life. Air quality addresses concentrations of various pollutants in the atmosphere within a specific location. Air quality conditions at a particular location are a function of the type and amount of air pollutants emitted into the atmosphere, the size and topography of the regional air basin, and the prevailing weather conditions. Air pollutants have the potential to adversely impact public health, the production and quality of agricultural crops, native vegetation, visibility, buildings, and other structures.

The Planning Area is located in the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin, which is currently (2013) designated as a nonattainment area for a number of different types of air pollutants (e.g., ozone precursors and various forms of particulate matter) under State and Federal ambient air quality standards. A nonattainment area is defined as an area or air basin that does not meet State or Federal ambient air quality standards for a given pollutant. 

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases (such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride). These gases have the potential to adversely affect the environment because, on a cumulative basis, they contribute to global climate change. In turn, global climate change has the potential to result in rising sea levels, which can inundate low-lying areas; affect rain and snow fall, leading to changes in water supply; and affect habitat, leading to adverse effects on biological and other resources.

Because greenhouse gas emissions come from many different sources in both current and expected future activities in the Planning Area, identification and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is an important consideration in long-range planning efforts.

The goal and policies in this section provide for air quality improvements and the reduction of greenhouse gases, which are fundamental objectives that underlie policies throughout the General Plan. The goal and policies in this section strive to reduce toxins, support regional coordination, and improve air quality in Hayward. These policies also provide land use, mobility, energy conservation, and similar strategies that reduce automobile trips, energy consumption, and pollution. Air quality policies provide for the management of commercial and industrial uses, as well as human activities, to reduce emissions and pollution and improve human health.

The City shall work with the California Air Board and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to meet State and Federal ambient air quality standards in order to protect all residents from the health effects of air pollution.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)

The City shall review proposed development applications to ensure projects incorporate feasible measures that reduce construction and operational emissions for reactive organic gases (ROG), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and particulate matter ( and ) through project location and  design.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall require development projects that exceed Bay Area Air Quality Management District reactive organic gas (ROG), nitrogen oxide (NOX) operational thresholds to incorporate design or operational features that reduce emissions equal to at least 15  percent below the level that would be produced by an unmitigated project.  

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall work with the community to reduce community-based GHG emissions by 20 percent below 2005 baseline levels by 2020, and strive to reduce community emissions by 61.7 percent and 82.5 percent by 2040 and 2050, respectively.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 2005 baseline level by 2020, and strive to reduce municipal emissions by 61.7 percent and 82.5 percent by 2040 and 2050, respectively.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall reduce potential greenhouse gas emissions by discouraging new development that  is primarily dependent on the private automobile; promoting infill development and/or new development that is compact, mixed use, pedestrian friendly, and transit oriented; promoting energy-efficient building design and site planning; and improving the regional jobs/housing balance ratio.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall coordinate with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to ensure projects incorporate feasible mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution if not already provided for through project design.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)

The City shall promote reduced idling, trip reduction, routing for efficiency, and the use of public transportation, carpooling, and alternate modes of transportation for operating City departments and City employees.

City Services and Operations (CSO)Public Information (PI)

The City shall continue to purchase low-emission or zero-emission vehicles for the City’s fleet and to use available clean fuel sources such as bio-diesel for trucks and heavy equipment.

City Services and Operations (CSO)

The City shall encourage the use of zero-emission vehicles, low-emission vehicles, bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles, and car-sharing programs by requiring sufficient and convenient infrastructure and parking facilities throughout the City.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)Public Information (PI)

The City shall collaborate with regional, State, and Federal entities to promote the use of alternative fuels and increased vehicle fuel efficiency standards, and to advocate for higher fuel-economy standards, or contribute to regional and state marketing and outreach efforts.

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)

The City shall give preference to contractors using reduced-emission equipment for City construction projects and contracts for services (e.g., garbage collection), as well as businesses that practice sustainable operations

City Services and Operations (CSO)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)

The City shall promote the replacement of non-EPA certified fireplaces and woodstoves and encourage city residents to participate in Bay Area Air Quality Management District programs, such as the Wood Stove Rebate Program.

City Services and Operations (CSO)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)

The City shall educate the public about air quality standards, health effects, and efforts they can make to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Public Information (PI)

The City shall maintain and implement the General Plan as Hayward’s community risk reduction strategy to reduce health risks associated with toxic air contaminants (TACs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in both existing and new development.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall minimize exposure of sensitive receptors to toxic air contaminants (TAC), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and odors to the extent possible, and consider distance, orientation, and wind direction when siting sensitive land uses in proximity to TAC- and PM2.5-emitting sources and odor sources in order to minimize health risk.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall coordinate with and support the efforts of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the California Air Resources Board, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies as appropriate to implement source reduction measures and best management practices that address both existing and new sources of toxic air contaminants (TAC), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and odors.

Public Information (PI)

The City shall require development projects to implement all applicable best management practices that will reduce exposure of new sensitive receptors (e.g., hospitals, schools, daycare facilities, elderly housing and convalescent facilities) to odors, toxic air contaminants (TAC) and fine particulate matter ().

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall work with area businesses, residents and partnering organizations to provide information about best management practices that can be implemented on a voluntary basis to reduce exposure of sensitive receptors to toxic air contaminants (TAC) and fine particulate matter ().

Public Information (PI)