2017-05-23_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1977472

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OEM 5.2.1. Affected Environment The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), as directed by the Clean Air Act(CAA), has established national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants. Criteria pollutants are air contaminants that are commonly emitted from the majority of emissions sources and include carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), sulfur dioxide (S02), particulate matter smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns (PM io and PM2 s, respectively), ozone (03), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Please note that ozone is generally not directly emitted from sources, but is chemically formed in the atmosphere via interactions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight and under certain meteorological conditions (NOx and VOCs are ozone precursors). Exposure to air pollutant concentrations greater than the NAAQS has been shown to have a detrimental impact on human health and the environment. The EPA regularly reviews the NAAQS (every five years)to ensure that the latest science on health effects, risk assessment, and observable data such as hospital admissions are evaluated, and can revise any NAAQS if the data supports a revision. The current NAAQS levels are shown in Table 2 below. Ambient air quality standards must not be exceeded in areas where the general public has access. The CAA established two types of NAAQS: Primary standards: Primary standards set limits to protect public health, including the health of"sensitive" populations (such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly). Secondary standards: Secondary standards set limits to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings. In addition to the criteria pollutants, regulations also exist to control the release of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). HAPs are chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. EPA currently lists 188 identified compounds as hazardous air pollutants, some of which can be emitted from oil and gas development operations, such as benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. Ambient air quality standards for HAPs do not exist; rather these emissions are regulated by the source type, or specific industrial sector responsible for the emissions. The EPA has delegated regulation of air quality to the State of Colorado (for approved State Implementation Plan(SIP) elements). The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Air Pollution Control Division(APCD) administers Colorado's air quality control programs, and is responsible for enforcing the state's air pollution laws. DOI-BLM-CO-N020-2017-0003 12