Breaking Down the Plastic Bag Ban EIR

Rincon Consultants gave an overview of the areas that have been deemed as having a "potentially significant" impact and those with "less significant" in regards to a single-use plastic bag ordinance .

According to Rincon Consultants Environmental Planner Matthew Maddox the purpose of last night's meeting in relation to the California Environmental Quality Act is:

• to disclose the significant environmental effects of the proposed ordinance,
• identify ways to avoid or reduce environmental damage,
• consider feasible alternatives to proposed actions,
• and enhance public participation in the planning process.

Below are the "significant" and "less significant" areas being researched as part of this EIR, according to Maddox.

 Impacts Less than Significant on:

• Aesthetics.
• Agricultural and forestry resources.
• Cultural resources.
• Geology and soils.
• Hazards and Hazardous Materials.
• Hydrology and Water Quality.
• Land use and planning.
• Mineral resources.
• Noise.
• Population and housing.
• Public services.
• Recreation.
• Transportation.
• Utilities and service systems.

 Potentially Significant Impacts on:

• Air Quality--For instance, if there's an increase in manufacturing of paper bags, the transportation and decay of these bags, and the associated released emissions.
• Biological Resources--Will there be impacts to sensitive species or impacts to sensitive habitat.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions--With the manufacturing, transportation and degradation of paper bags, would it (greenhouse gas) increase and how does that relate to the local thresholds.
• Hydrology and Water Quality--Effects on water quality in manufacturing of bags.
• Groundwater supplies--Because reusable bags need to be washed for sanitary purposes, would that affect these supplies?
• Utilities.
• Wastewater treatment systems--The additional wastewater from the washing of the reusable bags.
• Water supply--Is there a significant use of water in washing reusable bags.
• Solid waste--If there's an increase/decrease of solid waste, will this affect the local landfills?

The last scoping meeting is taking place tonight, May 3 in Redwood City.