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In spite of population and employment growth over the
past 30 years air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area has improved substantially.
Improvements to air quality are largely due to cleaner burning automobile
engines and fuels that emit fewer pollutants. Tighter regulatory controls
imposed on industrial and related sources of air pollutants have also
contributed to air quality improvements in the region.
Despite great improvements in air quality, the San
Francisco Bay Area still sometimes experiences unacceptable levels of
the air pollutants carbon monoxide, ozone and particulate matter. The
region is in compliance with federal and State of California (State) standards
for other major air pollutants.
San Francisco has not experienced exceedances of carbon
monoxide or ozone standards in recent years. The Bay Area Air Quality
Management District (BAAQMD or the Air District) recognizes the leadership
of San Francisco in promoting clean air as reflected in terms of the city's
population density and transportation system. However, San Francisco contributes
to air quality problems in the Bay Area air basin. Due to low summer temperatures,
ozone precursors in San Francisco do not result in ozone formation. Nevertheless,
westerly winds transport ozone precursors and other pollutants to the
northeast and especially to th southeast regions of the Bay Area where
air quality standards are sometimes exceeded. The San Francisco Bay Area
air basin consists of nine counties. Exceedance of air quality standards
in any county of the nine counties would result in violation of air quality
standards in the air basin.
Since emission from automobile tailpipes is the major
source of air pollution in the Bay Area, the considerable number of San
Francisco visitors and commuters who drive to the city contribute to air
pollution. It appears that, based on the projections of the Association
of Bay Area Government (ABAG), employment in San Francisco will continue
to increase at a faster rate than its residential population. New office
development and other types of land uses will create new job opportunities
that will attract employees from the region. This will result in more
commute trips which could result in greater air pollution, especially
if these trips are made by single occupant automobiles.
The nine counties of the Bay Area currently violate
State air quality standards for ozone and State and federal air quality
standards for particulate matter. Until recently the Bay Area exceeded
federal air quality standards for carbon monoxide as well as ozone. The
Bay Area has recently attained compliance status for ozone under the federal
designation and has achieved compliance with State and federal air quality
standards for carbon monoxide.
Exposure to air pollutants represents a health risk
to everyone living in the Bay Area, particularly children, the elderly
and people with respiratory problems. In addition to health problems,
poor air quality can also pose a threat to the economic growth of the
region, due to perceived degradation of the environment and potential
government-imposed sanctions against non-attainment areas. Recent federal
and State regulations have tied funding of new transportation projects
to air quality improvements in the affected air districts. Failure to
achieve these standards can result in the loss of funding for new transportation
projects and programs.
Under the California Clean Air Act, cities and counties
in the Bay Area are required to take all feasible control measures to
improve air quality in the region. The development of the Air Quality
Element of the General Plan is one of the steps taken by the City and
County of San Francisco to improve air quality and to achieve and maintain
compliance with State and federal air quality standards in the Bay Area.
The goal of clean air planning is to reduce the level
of pollutants in the air, to protect and improve public health, welfare
and quality of life of the citizens of San Francisco and the residents
of the metropolitan region. Opportunities for economic growth in the area
can also be enhanced through implementation of transportation, land use
and other policies in harmony with clean air goals.
Air quality standards are designed to achieve the following:
- to protect the most sensitive members of the population
from chronic and acute health effects, particularly the causation or
aggravation of chronic cardiorespiratory diseases including bronchitis,
emphysem, asthma and restrictive ventilatory disease;
- to protect the population at large from adverse
though often transitory effects, including irritation of eyes and respiratory
tract, headaches, chest pains and coughing, unpleasant odors, and impaired
visibility; and
- to protect against damage to agricultural crops
and landscape plants, and materials, such as building surfaces.
Excessive amounts of pollutants in the air can be the
cause of serious health problems especially for children, seniors and
people with heart and lung diseases. The most common health impacts of
air pollutants are impaired respiratory function and cardiac stress. Savings
in health care costs associated with air quality improvements are substantial.
Certain air pollutants also contribute to depletion
of the beneficial stratospheric ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Some
air pollutants cause acid rain and global warming. Man-made materials
can also be damaged by air pollutants. Metal deterioration, paint erosion,
damage to surfaces such as glass, concrete, brick and tile can occur with
high levels of pollutants in the air.
The majority of air pollutants in the Bay Area are
generated on congested roadways from vehicle emissions (referred to as
mobile sources of air pollution). Industry and other sources of non-mobile
(stationary) pollutants contribute relatively less to most of the air
quality problems in the Bay Area. Stationary sources of air pollution
have generally been regulated by the BAAQMD in the past and new restrictions
have been imposed under recent laws. In order to achieve further air quality
improvements, cities, counties and regional agencies especially need to
focus their efforts on the reduction of pollutant emissions from mobile
sources. Reducing the number of automobiles on roadways and vehicle miles
traveled will result in air quality improvements as well as less congestion
on the roadways and other benefits.
Poor air quality can be a serious threat to the economic
growth of San Francisco and the region. State and federal legislation
has tied funding of transportation projects to air quality improvements
and congestion reduction. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
penalties on non-attainment areas or air districts that exceed federal
air quality standards and moratoria on new industrial and highway facilities
that generate air pollution can threaten the economic growth of the region.
Poor air quality can limit the growth of industries and can make cities
less desirable to live and work in.
Improved air quality has indirect benefits in terms
of energy conservation. Reduction in vehicles mile traveled will result
in reduced fuel consumption. Electric cars and trolleys do not generate
tailpipe pollution and even natural gas used in the Bay Area to generate
electricity for electric automobiles would create much less pollution
than the gasoline burned in internal combustion engines.
Land use planning and transportation planning and policies
have direct implications on air quality in a region. High density developments
served by a transportation infrastructure that encourages the use of public
transit and discourages the use of single occupant vehicles will contribute
less to air quality problems compared to dispersed developments that are
highly dependent on private automobiles.
Transportation policies that encourage the use of transit
and other alternative means of transportation such as bicycling and walking
and discourage the use of private automobiles improve air quality.
In summary, implementation of land use and transportation
policies can improve air quality which, in turn, results in health benefits
and facilitates economic growth. Increased visibility because of clarity
of the air is an additional benefit. Air quality improvements will result
in energy conservation and preservation of building and other materials
affected by air pollutants. Thus, improvement in air quality benefits
our environment, health,living standards, and the economy.
The Plan for air quality improvement is composed of
six sections, each of which focuses on different aspects of air quality
improvement efforts. The plan sections are (1) adherence to air quality
standards, (2) improvements related to mobile sources, (3) land use planning,
(4) public awareness, (5) reduction of dust, and (6) energy conservation.
Each of these sections consists of an objective and
policies regarding air quality improvements related to emission reduction,
linkages to other policy areas such as transportation, and to public education.
A separate document contains implementation actions.
Implementation actions cite examples regarding how each policy can be
implemented to achieve the objective under which it is described.
Give high priority to air quality improvement in San
Francisco to protect its population from adverse health and other impacts
of air pollutants.
OBJECTIVE 1
ADHERE TO STATE AND FEDERAL AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND REGIONAL PROGRAMS.
POLICY 1.1
Cooperate with regional agencies to promote air quality improvement in
San Francisco which, in turn, will contribute to air quality improvements
at the regional level.
Air pollutants tend to sprawl throughout the region
and do not recognize municipal boundaries. Although San Francisco has
not violated air quality standards in recent years, westerly winds carry
the pollutants generated in the city to the eastern and southern areas
of the region. Air quality improvement in the Bay Area requires the cooperation
of all of the cities and counties in the air basin. Any improvement in
the air quality in the city contributes to air quality improvements at
the regional level. San Francisco should cooperate with regional agencies
to implement all feasible programs developed to improve air quality at
the regional level.
POLICY 1.2
Adhere to State and Federal air quality standards in the future through
sustained efforts and continued budgetary resources.
Seasonal and daily meteorological conditions affect
the formation of some pollutants in the ambient air. For example, the
formation of ozone only occurs during warmer temperatures in the presence
of ozone precursors and sunlight. Since weather conditions vary greatly
in the Bay Area from one year to another, assuming the same level of air
pollutants in the air, air quality standards can be achieved in one year,
yet can be violated in a subsequent year.
Although San Francisco has not violated air quality
standards in recent years, it contributes to the regional air quality
problems. Maintaining and adhering to air quality standards will require
ongoing efforts by all cities and counties in the Bay Area. The City of
San Francisco should continue to undertake all necessary measures to assure
adherence to air quality standards.
POLICY 1.3
Support and encourage implementation of stationary control measures established
by the State.
Stationary sources refer to industrial or commercial
activities that emit air pollutants into the atmosphere through fixed
vents or stacks. The Air District is the State agency responsible for
implementation of stationary control measures in the Bay Area. To encourage
and ensure implementation of stationary sources control measures there
needs to be better coordination between the City and State agencies to
make sure that development of new stationary sources of pollution are
reviewed and permitted for air quality impacts evaluation by the Air District.
OBJECTIVE 2
REDUCE MOBILE SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION
ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN
Mobile sources refer to motor vehicles that create
air pollution when moving or operating.
The focus of the objectives and policies of the Transportation
Element of the General Plan, updated in July of 1995, is to accommodate
the transportation needs of the city by:
- reducing congestion on roadways;
- giving priority to public transit, as mandated by
the "Transit First" policy;
- encouraging the use of modes of travel other than
single occupant vehicles such as transit, carpooling, walking, and bicycling;
- managing the supply of parking in the downtown area.
- promoting coordination between land use and transportation
to improve air quality; and
The objectives and policies of the Transportation Element
listed below have direct implications on the Air Quality Element. These
policies strive to reduce automobile trips and traffic congestion in the
city and thereby improve air quality in the city and the region.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 10 - Policies 10.1-10.4 >
The objectives and policies under the Congestion Management
Section of the Transportation Element focus on developing and employing
methods of measuring the performance of the city's transportation system
that respond to its multi-modal nature rather than conventional methods
that focus on vehicle movements only.
These policies improve the performance of the existing
transportation system and encourage the use of non-automobile modes of
travel. By encouraging travel mode shifts from single occupant vehicles
to transit and other modes, the number of vehicle trips in the city will
be reduced and air quality improvement goals will be achieved.
Smoother flowing traffic generates less pollution than
stop and go congestion. However, road and signalization improvements should
be analyzed to assure that they do not induce increased traffic.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 11 - Policies 11.1-11.4 >
The "Transit First" policies of the Transportation
Element are aimed at improving overall mobility for all residents and
visitors of the city by promoting the use of public transportation and
by improving local and regional transit systems. These policies are intended
to reduce the use of private automobiles within the city and the regional
transportation system and will result in emission reduction and thereby
improve air quality.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 12- Policies 12.1-12.8 >
OBJECTIVE 13- Policies 13.1-13.3 >
The objectives and policies of this section of the
Transportation Element are designed to meet the transportation needs of
the city for work and non-work trips by facilitating and encouraging the
use of transit and other alternatives modes of transportation such as
bicycling and walking. These policies will contribute to air quality improvements
by reducing pollution emissions from mobile sources.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 14- Policies 14.1-14.7 >
The policies of this section of the Transportation
Element are structured to optimize and improve the efficiency of the use
of existing transportation facilities. These policies will result in better
operation of the transportation system and will reduce congestion which
in turn will improve air quality.
Improved traffic operations generally encourage more
people to drive. Caution should be used to minimize generation of additional
motor vehicle traffic, which sometimes is the undesirable outcome of transportation
improvement programs.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 7 - Policies 7.1-7.3 >
OBJECTIVE 16 - Policies 16.1-16.6 >
OBJECTIVE 17 - Policies 17.1 and 17.2 >
OBJECTIVE 30 - Policies 30.1-30.7 >
OBJECTIVE 31 - Policies 31.1-31.3 >
OBJECTIVE 32 - Policies 32.1-32.5 >
OBJECTIVE 33 - Policies 33.1 and 33.2 >
OBJECTIVE 34 - Policies 34.1-34.5 >
OBJECTIVE 35 - Policies 35.1 and 35.2 >
The policies listed under this section of the Transportation
Element are aimed at discouraging automobiles in the city by limiting
the amount of new long-term parking in the downtown area, by pricing strategies,
and other measures to discourage commuter parking. Parking strategies
can be a very powerful tool for limiting automobile use in the city which
results in fewer pollutant emissions in the air.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 20 - Policies 20.1-20.12 >
OBJECTIVE 21 - Policies 21.1-21.11 >
OBJECTIVE 22 - Policies 22.1-22.3 >
The objectives and policies of the Mass Transit section
of the Transportation Element give priority to improving transit, aim
at developing transit as the primary mode of access to centers of employment
and activities, and encourage the development of privately operated transit
systems that would complement the existing systems. An extensive and more
efficient local and regional transit system will encourage a shift of
travel mode from private automobiles to public transit which in turn will
contribute to air quality improvements in the city and the region.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 23 - Policies 23.1-23.9 >
OBJECTIVE 24 - Policies 24.1-24.4 >
OBJECTIVE 25 - Policies 25.1-25.6 >
OBJECTIVE 26 - Policies 26.1-26.4 >
The objectives and policies of this section of the
Transportation Element are aimed at facilitating pedestrian movements
throughout the city by providing an inviting environment and an extensive
walking network. Theses policies will encourage pedestrian activities
and will reduce the number of private automobiles as the result of mode
shift from automobiles to walking. Reductions in the number of on-road
vehicles will improve air quality.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 9 - Policies 9.1 and 9.2 >
OBJECTIVE 27 - Policies 27.1-27.10 >
OBJECTIVE 28 - Policies 28.1-28.4 >
OBJECTIVE 29 - Policies 29.1-29.4 >
The objectives and policies of the bicycle section
of the Transportation Element promote the use of bicycles by providing
safe, convenient, and pleasant environments for bicycle riders in the
city. These policies will encourage travel mode shifts from private automobiles
to bicycles and would result in fewer automobiles on the roadways and
thereby will improve air quality.
Transportation Element
OBJECTIVE 36 - Policy 36.3 >
OBJECTIVE 37 - Policies 37.2-37.4 >
OBJECTIVE 38 - Policies 38.1 and 38.2 >
OBJECTIVE 39 - Policies 39.1-39.3 >
OBJECTIVE 40 - Policies 40.1-40.9 >
The objectives and policies of the Urban Goods Movement
of the Transportation Element are aimed at facilitating the movement and
delivery of freight throughout the city. These policies will result in
improvement of traffic flow and therefore will improve air quality.
OBJECTIVE 1 - Policy 3 >
OBJECTIVE 2 - Policies 4 and 8 >
These objective and policies aim at improving public
transit service to parks and creating bike and hiking trails, discouraging
the use of automobiles in and around public open spaces and developing
a citywide trail system that would tie city parks and public open spaces.
Implementation of these policies would result in fewer automobile trips
in the city, and improved transit, pedestrian and bicycle access and thereby
improve air quality in San Francisco.
OBJECTIVE 4 - Policies 1 and 4 >
These policies call for compliance with air quality
standards of the BAAQMD through monitoring sources of air pollution.
OBJECTIVE 3
DECREASE THE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT BY COORDINATION OF LAND
USE AND TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS.
POLICY 3.1
Take advantage of the high density development in San Francisco to improve
the transit infrastructure and also encourage high density and compact
development where an extensive transportation infrastructure exists.
High density development and a good transit system
are the keys to successful urban planning. Development serviced by an
efficient transit system allows for growth without increasing dependency
on automobiles. The city already has a very dense downtown area and dense
residential areas served by various transit modes. Dense development of
downtown would have not been so successful if the development relied on
automobiles. Currently the percentage of transit ridership in the city
is very high. During the peak hours the city's transit system is operating
close to current capacity.
To encourage increased transit ridership and to accommodate
future growth, the city needs to improve its current transit system in
terms of frequency of service and area coverage. Also, new infill development
should be promoted around existing or proposed transit lines to reduce
reliance on automobiles.
POLICY 3.2
Encourage mixed land use development near transit lines and provide retail
and other types of service oriented uses within walking distance to minimize
automobile dependent development.
Mixed land uses and pedestrian-friendly developments
minimize automobile use. New designs should encourage sustainable communities
where retail and other service oriented uses are within walking distance
of residential areas and workplaces. These communities should also be
close to transit lines to reduce vehicle work trips.
OBJECTIVE 6 - Policies 5 and 9 >
The policies under this section of the Commerce and
Industry Element focus on allowing new commercial development in conjunction
with new residential development and considering transportation capacity
and regulating land uses to minimize transportation impacts. The negative
traffic impacts of new development will be minimized if housing is provided
in conjunction with commercial development where there is capacity for
transit.
POLICY 3.3
Continue existing city policies that require housing development in conjunction
with office development and expand this requirement to other types of
commercial developments.
Providing housing in conjunction with new employment
centers encourages living near work sites and therefore reduces auto commute
trips to the city. In the past decade as the result of the housing requirement
for new office development, many residential units have been built in
the city. This requirement should be expanded to be applicable to other
types of commercial development to respond to the housing needs of new
developments within the city's boundaries.
POLICY 3.4
Continue past efforts and existing policies to promote new residential
development in and close to the downtown area and other centers of employment,
to reduce the number of auto commute trips to the city and to improve
the housing/job balance within the city.
During the past two decades the city has encouraged
housing near the financial district and as the result of this policy a
substantial number of residential units have been built near the downtown
area. Also, in the Neighborhood Commercial Districts provision of housing
is encouraged. In these districts the maximum building envelope could
be filled with residential development only.
The policies that provide housing near work sites should
be maintained and expanded. To the extent possible, these policies should
apply to all potential development sites for all types of uses that are
likely to attract workers from outside the city. Incentives should be
given to housing development in all aspects of the review and development
process to encourage provision of housing in San Francisco.
POLICY 3.5
Continue existing growth management policies in the city and give consideration
to the overall air quality impacts of new development including its impact
on the local and regional transportation system in the permit review process.
Ensure that growth will not outpace improvements to transit or the circulation
system.
During the seventies and early eighties extensive new
development occurred in the downtown area that impacted the transportation
system of the city and the region. Following that period various policies
were established to control and manage growth. To ensure manageable growth
in terms of the transportation impacts of new development, planning for
growth and meeting the transportation needs of new development should
be closely linked. The City needs to continue to implement and expand
its current growth control and management policies so that new development
will not impede the city's transportation and transit systems.
POLICY 3.6
Link land use decision making policies to the availability of transit
and consider the impacts of these policies on the local and regional transportation
system.
Land use decisions made in the city have direct implications
on the transit and transportation system of the city and the region. Intensive
development of the downtown area in the past two decades has considerably
impacted the circulation and transit system of the city as well as the
region. Land use designations and zoning should be tied directly to existing
or proposed transit systems at the city and the regional level. Where
compact development patterns are located, land use policies should encourage
pedestrian and bicycle oriented sustainable communities
POLICY 3.7
Exercise air quality modeling in building design for sensitive land uses
such as residential developments that are located near the sources of
pollution such as freeways and industries.
Project review and approval in the City should consider
air quality implications. Certain land uses such as some types of industrial
uses and freeways generally emit air pollutants that could be hazardous
to human health, particularlythat of sensitive receptors such as children,
elderly and people with respiratory diseases. When reviewing new housing
projects or other land uses to be used by sensitive receptors, location
of industrial sites or other sources of air pollution should be considered
in the design of the building to orient the air intake of the building
away from the sources of pollution. Conversely, future industrial and
other air polluting development should consider the existence of sensitive
receptors in the vicinity.
POLICY 3.8
Promote the development of non-polluting industries and insist on compliance
with established industrial emission control regulations by existing industries.
Currently all air polluting industries are subject
to permit requirements by the BAAQMD. However, the City should actively
encourage the development and expansion of industries which do not add
to the air pollution problem. The City should assist the Air District
in enforcing compliance for the existing industries in the city that do
not comply or in the past have violated industrial emission control regulations.
POLICY 3.9
Encourage and require planting of trees in conjunction with new development
to enhance pedestrian environment and select species of trees that optimize
achievement of air quality goals.
Planting trees on sidewalks and open areas enhances
the pedestrian environment and thus promotes walking. Some trees generate
more pollutants and ozone precursors than other trees.
POLICY 3.10
Continue and expand existing efforts to monitor odors that are a public
nuisance and are generated by fast food outlets, restaurants, coffee rosteries
and other food production establishments.
Restaurant are not currently regulated under the BAAQMD.
However, the BAAQMD has procedures set up to respond to complaints from
the restaurants and other eating establishments that generate odors. These
types of complaints are filed under the nuisance violations and the Air
District's inspectors are generally send to the site for bservations and
testing.
OBJECTIVE 2 - Policies 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 >
The policies under Objective 2 of the Transportation
Element promote using the transportation system as the means for guiding
development in the city. The policies aim at using transit and other transportation
improvements in the city and the region as the catalyst for desirable
development. Designing transit oriented communities would not have the
negative air quality impacts of new automobile oriented developments.
Supply of New Housing
OBJECTIVE 1 - Policies 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 >
OBJECTIVE 2 - Policies 2 and 3 >
OBJECTIVE 3 - Policies 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 >
The objectives and policies of this section of the
Residential Element are aimed at retaining existing housing units, providing
new housing to meet the housing demand created by employment growth, and
increasing the supply of housing in San Francisco. Provision of new housing,
particularly near employment centers reduce commute trips and improve
air quality.
Neighborhood Environment
OBJECTIVE 12 - Policies 1 and 2 >
The objective and policies of the Residential Element
of the General Plan propose provision of adequate public improvements
and appropriate neighborhood serving commercial activities in residential
areas. By providing an improved neighborhood environment in combination
with neighborhood oriented services within walking distance, pedestrian
activities as a substitute for vehicle travel are encouraged and as a
result fewer trips are made by automobiles and therefore air quality is
improved.
OBJECTIVE 4
IMPROVE AIR QUALITY BY INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS REGARDING THE NEGATIVE
HEALTH EFFECTS OF POLLUANTS GENERATED BY STATIONARY AND MOBILE SOURCES.
POLICY 4.1
Increase awareness and educate the public about negative health effects
of pollution caused by mobile sources.
Through dissemination of information and educational
programs, the City should increase public awareness about the mobile sources
of air pollutants and their negative health effects. These programs should
educate the public about how to reduce air pollutant emissions from automobile
exhaust by trip linking (going to several destinations in a single trip),
using public transit, walking and bicycling as alternatives to the single-occupant
vehicle.
POLICY 4.2
Educate the public about air polluting household consumer products and
activities that generate air pollution. Increase public awareness about
the environmental costs of using these products and activities.
Some household consumer products such hair sprays and
aerosol products produce air pollutants that can deplete the stratospheric
ozone layer. These products are not regulated by the State. Public awareness
through educational programs about the negative environmental impacts,
the true cost in terms air quality impacts and disposal charges will help
diminish the use of these products.
During hot summer days air quality standards, especially
ozone standards, are likely to be exceeded in the Bay Area. The Air District
issues warning about these days called "Spare the Air Day",
which encourage people to curtail air polluting activities. Educating
the public to observe these days and postpone activities such as using
gas power lawn mowers or barbecuing will diminish the emission of pollutants
during these days.
POLICY 4.3
Minimize exposure of San Francisco's population, especially children and
the elderly, to air pollutants.
Children and elderly people are the population groups
who are most susceptible and sensitive to air pollution in the ambient
air. Through
educational
programs public awareness needs to be increased to particularly protect
children and elderly people from exposure to air pollutants. OBJECTIVE 5
MINIMIZE PARTICULATE MATTER EMISSIONS FROM ROAD AND CONSTRUCTION SITES.
POLICY 5.1
Continue policies to minimize particulate matter emissions during road
and building construction and demolition.
Spraying sites with water or other dust inhibitors
during demolition, grading, and new construction is recommended by the
BAAQMD. The San Francisco Building Code also requires reduction in the
amount of airborne dust from building materials during the demolition
process. For excavation and construction projects spraying conditions
are normally components of conditions of approval prior to issuance of
building permits. Also, much of the building industry observes practices
to spray sites regardless of Code or other regulation requirements. The
City needs to maintain and continue to implement its current policies
regulating spraying of sites for all activities that generate particulate
matter emission in the ambient air. Other controls that reduce dust dispersion
in the air are:
- covering dirt piles,
- paving of roads, driveways, parking areas and lots,
- limiting of dusty work on windy days, and
- screening of demolition and construction sites.
POLICY 5.2
Encourage the use of building and other construction materials and methods
which generate minimum amounts of particulate matter during construction
as well as demolition.
Some building materials generate more particulate matter
during the construction process. To improve air quality, the City should
discourage the use of construction and building material that generate
excessive amounts of particulate matter in the air especially during windy
days.
OBJECTIVE 6
LINK THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF ENERGY CONSERVATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
TO EMISSION REDUCTIONS.
POLICY 6.1
Encourage emission reduction through energy conservation to improve air
quality.
Any form of energy consumption ranging from using electricity
to operating an automobile uses energy which, in the process of generation
or consumption, usually creates some air pollutin. Encouraging conservation
of energy facilitates improvements in air quality.
POLICY 6.2
Encourage recycling to reduce emissions from manufacturing of new materials
in San Francisco and the region.
Recycling reduces the use of new materials that during
their production process use energy therefore increasing overall air pollution.
Currently under the City's solid waste management program a considerable
amount of solid waste is being recycled. About half of the solid waste
generated in the city is planned to be recycled by the year 2000.
Through the Solid Waste Management Program, the City
oversees the activities of the garbage collection companies, hazardous
waste management and recycling programs. This program provides assistance
and educational programs on recycling to businesses and other entities.
This program also encourages reduction in the disposal of hazardous waste
and provides educational programs to the public on these issues.
POLICY 6.3
Encourage energy conservation through retrofitting of existing facilities.
Existing older commercial and residential facilities
in the city do not comply with recent energy conservation standards. These
facilities waste a considerable amount of energy that produce air pollution
in the process. Generation of any kind of energy used in these facilities
produces air pollution. Existing facilities should be encouraged to retrofit
to minimize the use of energy. Energy conservation in these facilities
will result into air quality improvements.
POLICY 6.4
Retain and upgrade the current network of trolley buses and, where feasible,
replace diesel buses with buses powered by electricity or retrofit these
buses to create less pollutants.
Diesel fuel in older motor vehicles creates a considerable
amount of air pollution including fine particulate matter (PMT10) and
therefore contributes to air quality problems in the Bay Area. Diesel
buses should be replaced by electric buses or other low or zero emission
power sources where feasible, or they should be retrofitted to create
less pollutants.
POLICY 6.5
Require energy efficient, low polluting fireplace inserts, and wood stoves
in all new residential development.
OBJECTIVE 12 - Policies 1-4 >
OBJECTIVE 13 - Policies 1-6 >
OBJECTIVE 14 - Policies 1-5 >
OBJECTIVE 15 - Policies 1-6 >
OBJECTIVE 16 - Policies 1-3 >
OBJECTIVE 17 - Policies 1-3 >
OBJECTIVE 18 - Policies 1-3 >
The objectives and policies of the Environmental Protection
Element of the General Plan listed above aim at conserving energy through
increasing energy efficiency of public and private activities within the
city. These objectives and policies are designed to enhance energy efficiency
of housing in San Francisco, to promote effective energy management of
commercial and industrial facilities, to increase energy efficiency of
transportation, and to promote the use of renewable energy sources.
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