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CRAPTERFOUR Entnronmenta~ conseyuences <br />To determine the impacts from subsidence, subsidence monitoring would be performed <br />throughout the life of the Yankee Gulch Project. Details concerning the mitigation effects for <br />subsidence aze found in Section 4.1. <br />4.4.4 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts <br />Under the three alternatives, no unavoidable impacts aze foreseen. Impacts ma}~ occur as a result <br />of failure of equipment, operator failure, or unforeseen mining conditions. <br />4.5 METEOROLOGY AND AIR QUALITY <br />4.5.1 Introduction <br />Air quality in the study azea would be affected during the construction and operation of the <br />proposed project. However, no significant impact will occur. <br />The proposed Yankee Gulch Project would involve air emissions resulting from the installation <br />of various stationary sources associated with the process facilities at both the Pi~:eance Site and <br />the Pazachute Site, and fugitive dust sources including roads and construction activity. The <br />primary effect to air quality would be a result of paRiculate emissions from product processing <br />and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. There is also a <br />potential for significant cazbon monoxide (CO) emissions resulting from the product dryer. The <br />solution mining and drilling/construction processes aze not expected to break dawn the organic <br />(oil shale) deposits, therefore, there would be negligible levels of volatile organic compounds <br />(VOCs) released to the atmosphere from any of the proposed Yankee Gulch processes. <br />The Proposed Action includes several environmental protection measures as part of the project <br />design. Specific to air quality, fugitive dust control is considered in the estimate of impacts from <br />construction activities, including unpaved roads. Process emission sources include air pollution <br />control and pollution prevention in the design. These control measures have bef;n taken into <br />consideration in this impact assessment, as well as in the modeling. <br />Air Quality Modeling Analysis Protocols for both the Piceance and Parachute commercial mine <br />facilities were prepared by Steigers Corporation and submitted to the CDPHE in September of <br />]998 (Steigers 1998d,e). Additional coordination was conducted with BLM, U.S. Forest <br />Service, National Pazk Service, and the CDPHE during the prepazation of the air quality <br />construction permit applications that have been submitted to the CDPHE (RTP ].998a,b). <br />Air quality impacts would be considered significant if the emissions from the proposed project <br />aze estimated to cause exceedances of the ambient air quality standazds that havc: been <br />established to protect public health and welfaze with an adequate mazgin of safety. Significant <br />impact levels have also been established for the protection of Air Quality Related Values <br />(AQRVs). <br />All activities associated with the Yankee Gulch Project must comply with applicable federal, <br />state, and local air quality regulations and implementation plans. The CDPHE has the <br />responsibility and authority to enforce the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) <br />program, including determining Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and tracking <br />4-18 Groundwater <br /> <br />