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manufacturing and commercial activities. National climatic air patterns also transport pollutants <br />from metropolitan areas in the western U.S. to the Four Corners region. <br />Lands in the project area are generally rural with numerous unpaved and gravel-surfaced roads, <br />which contribute PM to the atmosphere. 03 in the project area can be produced by the <br />combination of NOx and hydrocarbon gases in sunlight, and levels can increase during the <br />summer due to hot air trapping 03 near the ground surface. Over the past several years, regional <br />ozone concentrations have approached the 8-hour standard, and are considered quite high for a <br />rural area (Environ 2008, USDA-Forest Service 2006). CO levels are impacted by fuel-burning <br />equipment in the project area. <br />Sensitive Receptors <br />Sensitive receptors include land uses and individuals and/or wildlife that could be adversely <br />affected by changes in air quality due to emissions from the Proposed Action. Examples of <br />sensitive land uses include residences, schools, playgrounds, parks, and hospitals. Since gravel <br />mining and processing currently occurs on adjoining lands, sensitive land uses are not expected. <br />The only sensitive receptors would be wildlife that inhabit and frequent the project area, nearby <br />residents, and potential recreational trail users in the surrounding area. <br />V r a al e e e <br />An alternative would be considered to have a significant effect on air quality if it violated any <br />ambient air-quality standard, contributed on a long-term basis to an existing or projected air- <br />quality violation, exposed sensitive species or humans to substantial pollutant concentrations, or <br />did not conform to applicable federal, state or local standards. <br />The Proposed Action could have short-term, local impacts on air quality. Air-quality impacts <br />may include increased emissions of CO, PM, and hydrocarbon compounds from the operation of <br />mining equipment and vehicles. The Proposed Action anticipates the use of excavators, loaders, <br />bulldozers, haul/dump trucks, and pickup trucks to mine and transport aggregate materials. A <br />variety of portable crushers, screen plants, non-road generator and direct-drive engines, and <br />conveyor systems will be utilized for aggregate processing. Additionally, a hot-mix asphalt <br />production plant may be occasionally staged and operated at the project area. The expected <br />equipment types and estimated material throughputs will be detailed in C and J's APCD <br />Construction Permits for the Proposed Action. Air quality impacts are expected to be confined <br />to the boundary of the site with no expected exceedances of established air quality standards <br />primarily because the permits required by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) <br />detail mitigation measures associated with emissions, on-going monitoring, record keeping, and <br />inspection programs. <br />In 2006, the Mercy Regional Medical Center (MRMC) relocated to the Grandview Ridge Area in <br />a development called Three Springs. The MRMC is located just over 1 mile northeast of the <br />Proposed project area and employs approximately 800 staff members, including a child care <br />facility on the west side of the medical campus. Since prevailing winds in the area are generally <br />south to southwest, and operations are surrounded by pit walls, air quality impacts are expected <br />to be confined to the site boundary. In addition, the APCD permit regulations have mitigation <br />requirements for air quality. This population of sensitive human receptors will be adequately <br />protected. <br />Grandview Gravel Pit Expansion Environmental Assessment 14