environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 Coarse particles (larger than 2.5 but smaller than 10 micrometers, or PM10) come from a variety of sources, including windblown dust and grinding operations. Fine particles (less than 2.5 micrometers, or PM2.5) often come from fuel combustion, power plants and diesel buses and trucks. Fine particles can also be formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions. The SCAB is designated as a nonattainment area for both state and federal PM10. Sulfur Dioxide: SO2 is a colorless, pungent gas formed primarily by the combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels. SO2 irritates the respiratory tract, injures lung tissue when combined with fine particulate matter and reduces visibility and the level of sunlight. The SCAB is designated as an attainment area for both federal and state sulfur dioxide standards. Lead: Pb is a gray-white metal that is soft, malleable, and resistant to corrosion. Sources of lead resulting in concentrations in the air include industrial sources and weathering of soils, followed by fugitive dust emissions. The SCAB is designated as an attainment area for both federal and state lead standards. Direct and Indirect Effects For purposes of meeting Federal requirements, impact significance is related to Federal conformity with the U.S. EPA-approved State Implementation Plan (SIP) and with the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Air quality impacts would be considered significant if they are expected to cause or contribute to an air quality violation in a non-attainment or maintenance area. However, if total direct and indirect project emissions fall below designated Applicability threshold levels established under the Conformity Rule, no adverse change in attainment status is expected. For purposes of meeting State requirements, Air Quality Management District (AQMD) thresholds of significance for project emissions serve the same purpose as the Federal applicability thresholds. No Action: The No Action alternative includes the continuing operation of Hog Lake Road without the implementation of any road improvements. This would cause no new adverse impacts to air quality, however there would continue to be impacts from vehicle emissions (ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide), and the fugitive dust produced from driving on the unpaved surface would add to particulate pollution (PM2.5 and PM10). Proposed Action: The implementation of the Proposed Action is not expected to have any long-term detrimental effect on air quality. Long term, the paving of the road is expected to actually reduce particulate matter pollution, as dust generation by vehicles would be much less on a paved surface than on an unpaved one. Additionally, paving the road will result in less friction, which will improve vehicle gas mileage and reduce exhaust emissions, due to improved engine efficiency. Traffic volumes are not forecast to increase significantly with implementation of the proposed project and traffic Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 35 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 congestion is forecast to remain the same or improve at all intersections affected by the proposed project Short-term and temporary air quality impacts would result from construction related activities and would include fugitive dust and exhaust emissions from construction equipment. The primary impact would be due to dust generated by constructionrelated vehicles and equipment during the paving process. Fugitive dust could be emitted as a result of wind erosion of exposed earth surfaces. Organic gas emissions would occur from construction vehicle exhaust. Because the proposed newly paved road would be built on an already existing unpaved road, grading activities would be minimal. Excavation and earthmoving are also anticipated to be minimal. Construction would be a relatively short duration and air-pollutant emissions would be dispersed relatively quickly. It is very unlikely that air quality standards would be approached or exceeded given the small size and short duration of the construction Project. With the linear nature of the Project any increase in emissions and/or fugitive dust would be continually progressing along the Project area, which would limit the time any one area would be exposed. This Project would be consistent with the federally approved State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the San Diego Air Pollution Control District’s Air Quality Management Plan. Cumulative Effects The No Action Alternative, along with past, present and reasonably foreseeable actions, would result in a lower overall air quality for the region compared to what the overall air quality of the region would be with the proposed project implemented. The Proposed Action would not be expected to lead to a significant increase of population on the Ramona Reservation nor result in larger visitor traffic volumes that would generate larger amounts of air pollutants because Hog Lake Road is a short, residential road primarily servicing the existing residences on the Ramona Reservation. Implementing the project would result in the users of Hog Lake Road contributing less particulate matter and vehicle emission pollution to the area. Conclusions With mitigation measures / design criteria implemented, the Project demonstrates conformity with the State Implementation Plan under the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and does not exceed the SCAQMD daily Project emissions significance thresholds for either the Proposed Action or the No Action alternatives. No adverse change in attainment status is expected to occur as a result of this Project. Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 36 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Page 1 and 2: FINAL FRANK SPRINGER & ASSOCIATES,
Page 3 and 4: LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Mitigation
Page 5 and 6: Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Pr
Page 37: Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Pr

environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?