SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSF. AIR QUALITYSources of Air Pollutants and Air Quality Violations•Quarries have been operating within the Alameda Watershed since the 1950s. The SFPUCcurrently has two major leases for quarries, with all of the current operations confined to areassouth of I-680. A total of 750 acres of Watershed land are leased to Mission Valley RockCompany, while 300 acres are leased to RMC Pacific Materials (formerly RMC Lonestar). Both ofthese mining operations are subject to BAAQMD permitting. BAAQMD Compliance Divisionrecords were reviewed for air quality violations. Records indicate that between January 1, 1994 andFebruary, 2000, RMC Pacific Materials was cited for two violations of its Permit to Operate. Bothviolations occurred on April 27 th , 1994 and were issued for equipment or stockpile conditions,rather than an emissions violation. Between February, 1993 and February, 2000, Mission ValleyRock Company was cited for a total of 13 violations. None of the violations occurred on landsleased to Mission Valley Rock Company by SFPUC. Four of the violations involved visibleemissions due to equipment failures or operator error. The remaining violations were forexceedance of established throughput limits (five violations), lack of permit (two violations),violations of closed container requirements for diesel fuel (one violation), and lack of productionrecord (one violation). Records show that each of these violations has been addressed.Other sources of air pollutants in the project area consist primarily of mobile sources,automobiles in particular. No other significant sources of odors or toxic air contaminantscurrently exist or are planned in the project vicinity.1.5 SENSITIVE RECEPTORSLand uses such as schools, hospitals, and convalescent homes are considered to be relativelysensitive to poor air quality because infants, the elderly, and people with health afflictions(especially respiratory ailments) are more susceptible to respiratory infections and other air-qualityrelatedhealth problems than the general public. Residential areas are also considered to besensitive to air pollution because residents (including children and the elderly) tend to be at homefor extended periods of time and thus receive sustained exposure to any pollutants present.Sensitive receptors on and surrounding the Watershed area primarily include residential land usesnorth of the secondary Watershed area in the Town of Sunol and south of the City of Pleasanton.2.0 IMPACTS2.1 SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIAThe City has not formally adopted significance standards for air quality impacts, but it generallyconsiders that implementation of the Alameda Watershed Management Plan would have asignificant effect on air quality if it were to:! violate any ambient air quality standards;! contribute substantially to existing or projected air quality violations;! expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations; or! permeate its vicinity with objectionable odors.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.F-7 ESA / 930385January 2001