T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationaddress high levels of NO 2near roadways, it could also be relevant near airports where NO xis viewed as an“indicator” pollutant for aircraft emissions.SO 2– The EPA also recently completed a review of the SO 2NAAQS and revised the existing standards toinclude a 1-hour standard of 75 ppb. The new 1-hour standard is assessed based on the 3-year average of the99th percentile of the maximum 1-hour average concentrations. The new standard became effective onAugust 23, 2010. As aviation is not considered to be a significant source of SO 2, it is unlikely that this newstandard will have any effect on airports.Ozone – The EPA also proposed on January 6, 2010 to revise the 8-hour ozone NAAQS from the current0.075 parts per million (ppm) to a range between 0.06 and 0.07 ppm. Due to overwhelming response fromindustry groups and other stakeholders, EPA has postponed the finalization of the new ozone NAAQS untillater in 2011. When the new standard takes effect, many areas of the U.S. that are now in attainment of theNAAQS for O 3will be designated non-attainment and a number of current non-attainment areas will bedesignated with greater severity.Lead – On October 15, 2008 the EPA reset the lead NAAQS at 0.15 µg/m 3 , ten times lower than the previousstandard of 1.5 µg/m 3 . The averaging time associated with the standard has also changed from quarterlyaverages over a three-year period to a “rolling three-month” average over a three-year period. If anythree-month average within this three-year period reveals a violation of the new standard, the area will bedesignated “non-attainment” of the new standard. The new rule also requires airports emitting greater than1.0 tons per year of lead to conduct ambient lead monitoring.Attainment/Non-Attainment StatusThe current attainment/non-attainment designations for Rhode Island (including the area nearT.F. Green Airport) are summarized in Table 4-20.The area encompassing the Airport is designated as attainment for all of the criteria air pollutants, with theexception of O 3for which the classification is “non-attainment” classification (Moderate). 186 In the immediateterm, RIDEM expects the EPA will designate the region as “unclassifiable” for the new 1-hour NO 2and SO 2standards as well as for lead, due to lack of monitoring or modeling data.186 “Moderate” denotes that Rhode Island must attain the standard within six years after designation, or by the end of 2010.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-32 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc