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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationAlternative B4 would result in significant air quality impacts, since neither would exceed one or more of theNAAQS. Based on the NAAQS assessment there would be no new violation of the NAAQS, and the amount ofozone precursors emitted by Alternatives B2 and B4 are less than the General Conformity de minimis thresholds.In addition, the proposed T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program would not be regionally significant.The results of the air quality assessment are compared to various criteria and standards established by the federaland state regulations and listed in Table 5-73. For example, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO X) and volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) are compared to the General Conformity Rule de minimis thresholds. The atmospheric dispersionmodeling results for carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO X), and particulate matter particles of 10micrometers or less or less than 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter (PM 10/2.5) are compared to the NAAQS. 369,370For the CO “Hot-Spot” dispersion modeling analysis, the results are compared to the NAAQS for CO. 371Table 5-73Summary of Air Quality Significance ThresholdsAnalysisCriteria and StandardsEmissions Inventory Criteria only exist for non-attainment poll utants. See General Conformity Rule Applicabili ty Analysis, below.Atmospheric Dispersion NAAQS for the following poll utants:Analysis• CO: 1-hour = 40,000 µg/m 3 , 8-hour = 10,000 µg/m 3• NO2: 1-hour = 188 µg/m 3 , Annual = 100 µg/m 3• SO2: 1-hour = 196 µg/m 3 , 3-hour = 1,300 µg/m 3 , 24-hour = 365 µg/m 3 , Annual = 80 µg/m 3• PM10: 24-hour = 150 µg/m 3• PM2.5 : 24-hour = 35 µg/m 3 , Annual = 15 µg/m 3• Lead: 3-month rolli ng average = 0.15 µg/m 3CO “Hot-Spot” Analysis NAAQS for CO:• 1-hour = 40,000 µg/m3, 8-hour = 10,000 µg/ m 3HAPs Emissions Inventory No formal criteria or standards; data provided to disclose the types and amounts of HAPs associated withthe proposed acti on.General Conformity Rule De minimis Thresholds for O3 Non-attainment Areas:Applicability Analysis • NOX < 100 tpy (and not regionally significant)• VOCs < 50 tpy (and not regionally significant)Transportation Conformi ty Included in State Transportation Improvement Pl anSource: KB Environmental Sciences, Inc., 2011. PM10/2.5 Particulate matter (10 and 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameters). CO Carbon monoxide. tpy Tons per year.NOX Nitrogen oxides. VOC Volatile Organic Compounds.NO 2 Nitrogen dioxide. µg/m 3 Micrograms/cubic meter.SO2 Sulfur dioxides. GSE Ground Support Equipment.HAPS Hazardous Air Pollutants.Note: Under the CAA, aircraft, GSE, and airport-related motor vehicles are not classifiable under the regulatory definitions of HAPs emission sources. 372,373 Therefore,the emissions from these sources are not compared to any regulatory thresholds or standards in this assessment. Rather, the results of the HAPs emissionsinventories are provided here for disclosure purposes and to aid in the comparison of the alternatives.369 The NAAQS are ambient levels and timeframes that are established by the EPA to protect human health and the environment.370 In a conservative approach, the highest predicted concentrations (including background concentrations) are used in the analysis. It is also assumed that allNO Xfrom airport-related sources is converted to nitrogen dioxide (NO 2); the species of NO Xagainst which the NAAQS for this pollutant is compared.371 Ambient concentrations of the EPA criteria pollutants O 3, SO 2and PB are not predicted as part of the atmospheric dispersion analysis. O 3are not included in the atmosphericdispersion analysis as it is a “secondary” pollutant formed from the reaction of other precursors – mainly NO xand VOC. Lead is not included as it is not commonlyassociated with airport sources of air emissions in large quantities. Sulfur dioxide (SO 2) is also not included as the quantity of this pollutant from airport sources is small.372 HAPs are pollutants that do not have established NAAQS, but present potential adverse human health risks from short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic)exposures. Because the analysis of airport-related HAPs is not an FAA requirement for NEPA documents, the approach described herein is designed toaddress RIDEM concerns as well as those of the general public raised during the EIS scoping process. (For the purposes of this discussion, the terms“HAPs”, “toxic air pollutants” and “air toxics” are considered to be synonymous.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-149 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc