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I)IJ'21n7 Summary the base area development. For the ski area expansion and the base area development, traffic volumes on Maroon Creek Road would continue to be well below that roadway's calculated theoretical capacity. Estimated backup from SH 82 to Castle Creek Road would increase only during p.m. peak traffic by 4 percent to 39 percent without the base area development and to 47 percent with the base area development. Parking demand would increase by 54 vcl1icles to 549 vehicles on an average weekend, which would be well within the current parking capacity but would exceed the base area parking capacity by 22 percent if the base area is developed. Daily total transit demand would increase by tOO riders to between 2,940 and 4,190 riders per day without and with the base area development, respectively, including 1,535 skiers in both cases. Since alternatives B and C are expected to have the same delivery capacity, there would be no difference in additional traffic volumes, and parking and transit demand between these two alternatives. POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES Since the ski area expansion would not result in any significant transportation-related impacts, there would be no need for measwes to mitigate such impacts. However, at the request of the Elected Officials Transportation Council, a preliminary analysis of the impacts of a gondola connection between the top of Buttermilk and the parking area at Aspen Highlands was conducted. It indicated that this coDDection would serve to further reduce traffic volumes in the Maroon Creek corridor, thereby representing a possible enhancement measure. AIR QUALITY AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) have been establisbed for six criteria air pollutants. These are sulfur dioxide (S02)' carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (Q ), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide (Nq ), and fme particulates with an aerod)1lllmic diameter of 10 microns or less (PMIO). In the Aspen region, there are no major sources of SO" 0,. or Pb. The primary sources of carbon oxides and nitrogen oxides are direct vehicle tail-pipe emissions and fireplaces. Current concentration levels of these pollutants are below the NAAQS, and therefore, no State lmplementation Plan (SIP) requirements exist. Particulate air pollution consists of tiny panicles of solid or semi-solid material found in the atmosphere. Total suspended particulates (TSP) range in size from less than 0.1 to 50 micrometers. Particles exceeding this range tend to settle out of the air through gravity, and do not contribute to air quality degradation. PMIO particulate matter is inhalable by humans and certain health problems and visibility limitations have been associated with particles in this size range. Since there are many PMlO sources in the region, this is the pollutant of greatest concern in the Aspen area. Based on measurements and exceedances of TSP standards, the Aspen region is classified as a moderate nonattainment area for PMlO. Consequently, a State lmplementation Plan (SIP) was established for the area and was revised September 22. 1994. The nonattainment boundary and legal description for Aspen have been modified from what is in the SIP. Several mitigation measures have already been put in place to reduce PMlO emissions. Three land use classifications exist for prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) of air quality standards. Generally, the Oass I air quality/land use classification is designated for clean, pristine airsheds and permits little or no development; Class IT designation is applied to clean air areas where a moderate amount of development could be permitted; and Class ill is designated for clean air areas where a significant amount of development would be permitted as long as the NAAQS are not exceeded. There are five Class I areas within a 62.5-mile radius of Aspen Highlands. Since visibility (the degree to which the atmosphere is transparent to visible light) is an important air quality value in the western U.S., particularly in scenic and recreational areas, the EPA has included regulations requiring protection of air quality-related values (AQR Vs) in its PSD for Oass I areas. The Forest Service has defined the acceptable limits of visibility changes as not more than 5 percent change in contrast at sensitive view areas. Camera systems used to measure visibility have been placed at Black Canyon of the Section J/J Air Quality 31