2008-06-09_REVISION - C1980007 (3)

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Air Quality • radius around the City of Gunnison-general area of nearest Class II sensitive viewshed). Activities occurring within the study area that affect air quality include fixed facilities such as coal mining and subsequent coal mining operations (e.g., loading), concrete mix plants, gravel pits, lime storage facilities, natural-gas fired electrical generating plants, natural gas dehydration facilities, landfills, and crematoriums, etc. Portable source examples include facilities such as gravel crushers, associated processing equipment, anal asphalt plants. Smoke from grass and forest fires from late spring through early fall. can affect air quality depending on the year. Potential impacts to air quality from installation of the methane drainage wells and the ventilation/escapeway shaft were evaluated using the type and source of priority pollutants (e.g., equipment engines emissions and dust from construction activities) and air regulations (including emission standards, as applicable) pertinent to the project. It is estimated that 6 to 8 MDWs would be in operation at any given time and life of an MDW varies from one to 3 years depending on placement in the panel. Baseline information for air resources in the study area was derived from. the 2002 Coal Methane Drainage Project Panels 16-24 Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine Environmental Assessment (USDA FS 2002a), 2006 Supplement to Coal Methane Drainage Project Panels 16-24 Environmental Assessment for Sylvester Gulch Road Construction, Long Draw Saddle Extension Road Upgrade (USDA FS 2006a), and the Final North Fork Coal EIS (USDA FS 2000). Base information includes data such as area impacted by construction activities (e.g., drill pad areas, length of roads, etc.) equipment type, and duration of construction and the project. Approximately 7.4% of US emissions of methane come from coal mining and approximately 75% (or 5.6% of US methane emissions) of that comes from underground coal mining activities. Comparative information, such as ambient air quality, atmospheric conditions, and existing air emission sources, were derived from databases maintained by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA 2006a) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Commission (CAPCC 2006a). Regulatory standards for air quality (e.g., criteria pollutants) were obtained from U.S. EPA (U.S. EPA 2006b) and Colorado Department of Public Health and the Envirorunent Air Pollution Control Commission (CAPCC 2006b). Area Air Quality The federal govermnent and CAPCC have established ambient air quality standards for criteria air pollutants. The criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), sulfur dioxide (SOZ), particulate matter smaller than 10 microns (PMIO), ozone (03), and nitrogen dioxide (NOZ). In 1997, the U.S. EPA revised the federal primary and secondary particulate matter standards by establishing annual and 24- hour standards for particulate 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller (PMZ.s)• Ambient air quality standards must not be exceeded in areas where the general public has access. Table 3-1 lists federal and state air quality standards. National primary standards are levels of air quality necessary, with an adequate margin of safety, to protect public health. National secondary standards are levels of air quality necessary to protect public welfare from known or anticipated adverse effects of a regulated air pollutant. The attairnnent status for pollutants in the project area is determined by monitoring levels of criteria pollutants (CO, Pb, SOz, PM~o, 03, and NOZ) for which National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and Colorado Ambient Air Quality Standards exist. Air Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seain Methane Drainage Wells FEIS 57