Certified Final Connect SoCal 2020 Program Environmental Impact Report

Overview

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), as Lead Agency, prepared a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) (SCH#2019011061) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for Connect SoCal 2020 (2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy). The PEIR serves as a programmatic document that conducts a region-wide assessment of potential significant environmental effects of Connect SoCal 2020.

The Connect SoCal 2020 Draft PEIR was released Dec. 9, 2019, for a 45-day public review and comment period, which ended Jan. 24, 2020. A public workshop took place at SCAG’s main office located at 900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1700, Los Angeles, CA 90017 on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Following a cooperative and comprehensive planning process with stakeholders, SCAG incorporated public input into the Connect SoCal 2020 Final PEIR through corrections and additions and responding to all comments. The Final PEIR is a continuation to the Draft PEIR and is comprised of the following: Complete Connect SoCal 2020 Draft PEIR, Chapter 8.0, Introduction, Chapter 9.0, Response to Comments, and Chapter 10.0, Corrections and Additions, and Appendices.

The Connect SoCal 2020 Final PEIR was certified on May 7, 2020, by the Regional Council.

The complete Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR is available for download by chapter or as one file. Please note that due to the large file size of the complete report, we strongly recommend that you download it onto your computer before opening the file. All files are in the PDF format.

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Certified Final Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR

Complete Connect SoCal PEIR (25 MB)
Executive Summary
Table of Contents

1 Introduction
2 Project Description (25 MB)
3 Environmental Setting, Impacts and Mitigation Measures
3.1 Aesthetics
3.2 Agriculture and Forestry
3.3 Air Quality
3.4 Biological Resources
3.5 Cultural Resources
3.6 Energy
3.7 Geology and Soils (15 MB)
3.8 Greenhouse Gases
3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
3.10 Hydrology and Water Quality
3.11 Land Use and Planning (18 MB)
3.12 Mineral Resources
3.13 Noise
3.14 Population and Housing
3.15 Public Services
3.16 Parks and Recreation
3.17 Transportation, Traffic and Safety (13 MB)
3.18 Tribal Cultural Resources
3.19 Utilities and Service Systems
3.20 Wildfire
3.21 Cumulative Impacts
4 Alternatives
5 Other CEQA Considerations
6 List of EIR Preparers
7 Glossary
8 Introduction to the Final PEIR
9 Responses to Comments (77MB)
10 Corrections and Additions

Appendices

Appendix 1 Notice of Preparation and Comments (13 MB)
Appendix 2 Plan Project List
Appendix 3.3 Health Risk Assessment Technical Report
Appendix 3.4 Biological Resources Technical Report
Appendix 3.5 Updated Cultural Resources Technical Report
Appendix 3.7 Paleontological Resources Technical Report
Appendix 3.13 Aviation Noise Technical Report

Errata to the Final Connect SoCal PEIR

Resolution

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Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR Addendum #1

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), SCAG has prepared the Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR Addendum #1 to address technical refinements to the growth forecast in relation to entitlements and to address two comment letters from the Center of Biological Diversity (CBD) on May 1, 2020 and May 6, 2020. Upon evaluation, SCAG found that technical refinements resulted in minimal impacts to Connect SoCal’s performance results and Connect SoCal would continue to achieve federal air quality conformity and meet the State’s per-capita GHG reduction targets for 2020 and 2035.

The Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR Addendum #1 was approved by the SCAG Regional Council on September 3, 2020.

Resolution

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Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR Addendum #2

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), SCAG has prepared Addendum #2 to the Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR, which analyzes the changes documented in the Final Connect SoCal Amendment #1. Upon evaluation, SCAG finds that the proposed changes would not result in a substantial change to the region-wide impacts when compared to the certified PEIR with Addendum #1. SCAG staff also finds that the projects identified in Connect SoCal Amendment #1 are programmatically consistent with the analysis, mitigation measures, and Findings of Fact contained in the previously certified PEIR with Addendum #1. The amended Connect SoCal would continue to achieve federal transportation conformity and meet the State’s per-capita GHG reduction targets for 2035.

Addendum #2 to the Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR was approved by the SCAG Regional Council on November 4, 2021.

Complete Connect SoCal PEIR Addendum #2

Resolution

Resolution No. 21-637-2 Approving Addendum No. 2 Connect SoCal PEIR

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Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR Addendum #3

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), SCAG has prepared Addendum #3 to the Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR, which analyzes the changes documented in Connect SoCal Amendment #2. Upon evaluation, SCAG finds that the proposed changes would not result in a substantial change to the region-wide impacts when compared to the certified PEIR with Addendums #1 and #2. SCAG staff also finds that the projects identified in Connect SoCal Amendment #2 are programmatically consistent with the analysis, mitigation measures, Findings of Fact, and Statement of Overriding Considerations contained in the previously certified PEIR with Addendums #1 and #2.

Addendum #3 to the Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR was approved by the SCAG Regional Council on October 6, 2022.

Complete Connect SoCal PEIR Addendum #3

Resolution

Resolution No. 22-647-4 Approving Addendum No. 3 Connect SoCal PEIR

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Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR Addendum #4 

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), SCAG has prepared Addendum #4 to the Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR, which analyzes the changes documented in Connect SoCal 2020 Amendment #3. Based on the evaluation, SCAG finds that the changes would not result in either new significant environmental impacts or a substantial change in the severity of the previously analyzed and disclosed region-wide environmental impacts in the certified Connect SoCal 2020 PEIR with Addendums #1, #2, and #3.