Developing an environmental impact report for San Diego’s 2021 regional plan
挑战
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) had a condensed schedule to produce the 环境al Impact Report (EIR) for their Regional Plan. They needed the document prepared, vetted through a QA/QC process in cooperation with SANDAG staff and their attorneys, and approved by the SANDAG Board in a period of approximately six months.
In addition to the tight time frame, the EIR had to navigate complex environmental issues associated with future regional growth and land use change and $163 billion worth of proposed transportation network investments associated with the Plan—the most challenging of which related to 空气质量, 气候变化, 车辆行驶里程, 还有温室气体.
解决方案
SANDAG selected ICF to lead this important work. Our project management team relied on their excellent relationship with SANDAG staff to develop an open line of communication that proved crucial in anticipating issues before they arose, 快速应对挑战, and devising innovative solutions during the preparation of the document. We also assembled and managed a sub-consultant team with unique SANDAG expertise. This team allowed us to effectively navigate technical areas related to 车辆行驶里程 and greenhouse gas emissions.
Our 空气质量 team—in collaboration with ICF staff from a variety of fields including transportation, 空气质量, and public health—prepared 空气质量 modeling and technical analysis that evaluated and quantified localized pollutant concentrations along transportation corridors and the potential human health outcomes associated with that exposure. The team analyzed 空气质量 and health impacts ranging from the project level to region-wide scale. This effort also involved cross collaboration with ICF’s diverse team of 气候变化, 可持续性, and resiliency experts to evaluate whether the proposed Plan would exacerbate 气候变化 impacts based on known climate projections.
结果
SANDAG published the draft EIR in August 2021 without any delays to the schedule, a feat that garnered much praise of the ICF team from SANDAG staff. 特别是, our unique approach to the 空气质量 analysis demonstrates our innovation and technical expertise for complex projects.
跟随公众流通, revisions were made as applicable to the EIR—along with responses to 51 comment letters received—and the document was subsequently approved by the SANDAG Board in December 2021.
