Final FONSI and EA for hot cargo pad on Kirtland AFB - Kirtland Air ...

<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad
Expose sensitive receptors to substantially increased pollutant concentrations
Represent an increase of 10 percent or more in an affected AQCR emissions inventory
Exceed any Evaluation Criteria established by a SIP.
Effects on air quality in NAAQS “nonattainment” areas are considered significant if the net changes in
project-related pollutant emissions result in any of the following scenarios:
Cause or contribute to a violation of any national or state ambient air quality st<strong>and</strong>ard
Increase the frequency or severity of a violation of any ambient air quality st<strong>and</strong>ard
Delay the attainment of any st<strong>and</strong>ard or other milestone contained in the SIP.
With respect to the General Con<strong>for</strong>mity Rule, effects on air quality would be considered significant if the
proposed Federal action would result in an increase of a nonattainment or maintenance area’s emissions
inventory by 10 percent or more <strong>for</strong> one or more nonattainment pollutants, or if such emissions exceed de
minimis threshold levels established in 40 CFR 93.153(b) <strong>for</strong> individual nonattainment pollutants or <strong>for</strong>
pollutants <strong>for</strong> which the area has been redesignated as a maintenance area.
In addition to the de minimis emissions thresholds, Federal PSD regulations define air pollutant emissions
to be significant if the source is within 10 kilometers of any Class I area, <strong>and</strong> emissions would cause an
increase in the concentration of any regulated pollutant in the Class I area of 1 μg/m 3 or more (40 CFR
52.21(b)(23)(iii)).
4.4.2 Environmental Consequences
4.4.2.1 Proposed Action
Demolition <strong>and</strong> construction activities at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB under the Proposed Action would result in
impacts on air quality resources; however these impacts are expected to be less than significant. Air
quality impacts during construction <strong>and</strong> demolition activities would result primarily from site-disturbing
activities <strong>and</strong> operation of construction equipment. All emissions associated with demolition <strong>and</strong>
construction operations would be temporary in nature. The proposed project includes the construction
<strong>and</strong> operation of a 4.2-acre <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> <strong>and</strong> elements to tie the existing <strong>pad</strong> <strong>and</strong> the proposed <strong>pad</strong>
together. The project also involves demolishing <strong>and</strong> removing existing aboveground infrastructure
elements such as light poles, a personnel shelter, a storage shed, <strong>and</strong> various utility <strong>and</strong> lagoon
infrastructures. It is not expected that emissions from the Proposed Action would contribute to or affect
local or regional attainment status with the NAAQS. Emissions from the Proposed Action are
summarized in Table 4-3. Emissions estimation spreadsheets <strong>and</strong> methodology are included in
Appendix C.
The Proposed Action would generate particulate matter emissions as fugitive dust from ground-disturbing
activities (e.g., road surface demolition, paving, <strong>and</strong> construction). A fugitive dust-control construction
permit from AEHD-AQD prescribing fugitive dust minimization procedures would be required <strong>for</strong> the
Proposed Action because the action would result in ground disturbance of greater than 0.75 acres.
Appropriate fugitive dust-control measures would be employed during demolition activities to suppress
emissions. Combustion emissions of all criteria pollutants would result from the operation of
construction equipment <strong>and</strong> portable generators during demolition activities, hauling demolition wastes
from the project site, <strong>and</strong> construction workers commuting to the project site. Fugitive dust <strong>and</strong>
combustion emissions associated with construction equipment would produce slightly elevated air
pollutant concentrations. However, the effects would be temporary, fall off rapidly with distance from the
Proposed Action site, <strong>and</strong> would not result in any long-term impacts.
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
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