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CHAPTERTHREE iuiecteld Environment assess the impact to air quality related values (AQRVs). A summary of the air quality assessment, including an estimate of emissions per source, and demonstration o1'compliance with the PSD requirements is presented in Section 4.5. Visibility is considered an AQRV, and received special consideration in Section 169 of the Clean Air Act. In accordance with the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Ap;ency (EPA) published a regional haze program in April of 1994, designed to protect the visu:il resources in the National Pazks and Wilderness areas. The Piceance Creek Basin and Parachute Creek valley aze Class II air quality areas, as are most regions of the state. Class II attainment areas under PSD regulations have specified allowable increases (increments) of pollutants that may never be exceeded. These azeas azc: also subject to state and/or national ambient standards. Class II PSD increments and applicable state and/or national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) aze listed in Table 3.5-2. Class 1 areas (Figure 3.5-2), which have more stringent air quality standards, are also located in the rel;ion. These include the Flat Tops and Mount Zirkel Wilderness Areas, which aze closest at 4l miles (68 km) and 89 miles (148 km), respectively; and the Maroon Bells, West Elk, and Ragged Wilderness Areas, which are each more than 100 miles away (167 km). Sources having significant levels of emissions are subject to New Source Review (NSR) permitting with the State of Colorado. Such sources are required to demonstrate that they would not cause or contribute to a violation of the NAAQS and the Colorado Ambient P.ir Quality Standards (CAAQS) (Table 3.5-2). BLM approval of the project is also dependent on the demonstration of compliance with all regulatory requirements. American Soda would be requited to comply with NSR requirements. This would include PSD review as described above. Specific sources may also be required to comply with New Source Performance Standards (Regulation 6) and the Colorado Air Pollution Emission Notice and construction permit process (Regulation 3). If the emissions exceed 100 tons per year, the facility would be subject to the Colorado Operating permit process (Regulation 3). The operating permit application is required to be submitted within one yeaz following: initial operation. Colorado Regulation 1 would also affect this facility. Regulation 1 re<_tricts visible emissions (opacity) to less than 20 percent, and has specific limitations for some types of sources, including fugitive dust control and open burning. The emission of hazardous air pollutants are controlled by the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) (40 CFR 61) and Colorado Regulation 8 which adopts portions of the Federal NESHAP regulations. 3.5.4 Air Quality in the Project Area The region is currently in "attainment" of the NAAQS and CAAQS. Representati~~e area levels were monitored for total suspended particulate matter (TSP), sulfur dioxide (SOz), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (03), and carbon monoxide (CO) extensively between 1979 ;rnd 1985 at the Occidental Oil Shale Tract Cb monitoring station located about 12 miles south-southeast of the Piceance Site. Existing air pollution emission sources in the project area are limited to a few industrial facilities, transportation emissions along the I-70 corridor, and residential emissions in the relatively small communities. 3-24 Meteorology and Air Quality