Iv. Environmental Impact Analysis C. Air Quality
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IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS C. AIR QUALITY This section examines the degree to which the proposed project may result in significant adverse changes to air quality. As the proposed project is an expansion of an existing building, the emissions associated with the expansion were calculated and are described in this section. Existing building emissions are also provided in this section. Both short-term construction emissions occurring from activities such as demolition and building construction, as well as long-term effects related to the ongoing operation of the proposed project are discussed in this section. The analysis contained herein focuses on air pollution from two perspectives: daily emissions and pollutant concentrations. “Emissions” refer to the actual quantity of air pollutants emitted measured in pounds per day (ppd). “Concentrations” refer to the amount of pollutant material per volumetric unit of air and are measured in parts per million (ppm) or micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). The potential for the proposed project to conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan, to violate an air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation, to result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment, to expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations, and to create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people are also discussed. Documents used in the preparation of this section include the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) CEQA Air Quality Handbook,1 the SCAQMD Localized Significance Threshold (LST) Methodology2 and the 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP)3, as amended, federal and State regulations and guidelines, as well as the Traffic Study for the proposed project conducted by Crain & Associates (see Appendix K to this Draft EIR). ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The project site is located within the South Coast Air Basin (Basin), named so because of its geographical formation is that of a basin, with the surrounding mountains trapping the air and its pollutants in the valleys or basins below. This area includes all of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. The air quality within the Basin is primarily influenced by a wide range of emissions sources, such as dense population centers, heavy vehicular traffic, industry, and meteorology. 1 South Coast Air Quality Management District, CEQA Air Quality Handbook, 1993. 2 South Coast Air Quality Management District, Localized Significance Threshold Methodology, July 2008. 3 South Coast Air Quality Management District, Air Quality Management Plan, SCAQMD, June 2007. Museum of Tolerance Project IV.C. Air Quality Draft Environmental Impact Report Page IV.C-1 City of Los Angeles November 2008 Climate4 Air quality is affected by both the rate and location of pollutant emissions and by meteorological conditions that influence the movement and dispersal of pollutants. Atmospheric conditions such as wind speed, wind direction, and air temperature gradients, along with local topography, provide the link between air pollutant emissions and air quality. The distinctive climate of the Basin is determined by its terrain and geographic location. The Basin is a coastal plain with connecting broad valleys and low hills, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the southwest and high mountains around the rest of its perimeter. The general region lies in the semi-permanent high- pressure zone of the eastern Pacific, resulting in a mild climate tempered by cool sea breezes with light average wind speeds. The usually mild climatological pattern is interrupted occasionally by periods of extremely hot weather, winter storms, or Santa Ana winds. The vertical dispersion of air pollutants in the Basin is hampered by the presence of persistent temperature inversions. High-pressure systems, such as the semi-permanent high-pressure zone in which the Basin is located, are characterized by an upper layer of dry air that warms as it descends, restricting the mobility of cooler marine-influenced air near the ground surface, and resulting in the formation of subsidence inversions. Such inversions restrict the vertical dispersion of air pollutants released into the marine layer and, together with strong sunlight, can produce worst-case conditions for the formation of photochemical smog. The basin wide occurrence of inversions at 3,500 feet above sea level or less averages 191 days per year. The atmospheric pollution potential of an area is largely dependent on winds, atmospheric stability, solar radiation, and terrain. The combination of low wind speeds and low inversions produces the greatest concentration of air pollutants. On days without inversions, or on days of winds averaging over 15 miles per hour (mph), smog potential is greatly reduced. Air Pollutants Air pollutant emissions within the Basin are generated by stationary and mobile sources. Stationary sources can be divided into two major subcategories: point and area sources. Point sources usually require permit to operate from the SCAQMD, occur at specific identified locations, and are usually associated with large buildings, manufacturing, and industry. Examples of point sources include boilers or combustion equipment that produce electricity or generate heat, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units. In contrast, area sources are widely distributed, produce many small emissions, and do not require permits to operate from the SCAQMD. Examples of area sources include residential and commercial water heaters, painting operations, portable generators, lawn mowers, 4 South Coast Air Quality Management District, CEQA Air Quality Handbook, 1993. Museum of Tolerance Project IV.C. Air Quality Draft Environmental Impact Report Page IV.C-2 City of Los Angeles November 2008 agricultural fields, landfills, and consumer products, such as lighter fluid and hairspray, the area-wide use of which contributes to regional air pollution. Mobile source emissions are emissions from motor vehicles, including tailpipe and evaporative emissions, and are classified as either on-road or off-road. On-road sources are those that are legally operated on roadways and highways. Off-road sources include aircraft, ships, trains, racecars, and construction vehicles. Mobile sources account for the majority of the air pollutant emissions within the Basin. However, air pollutants can also be generated by the natural environment, such as when fine dust particles are pulled off the ground surface and suspended in the air during high winds. Seven air pollutants have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as being of concern nationwide and classified as criteria pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO); ozone (O3); nitrogen dioxide (NO2); particulate matter equal to or less than 10 microns in size (PM10), which is also called respirable particulate or suspended particulate; fine particulate matter equal to or less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5); sulfur dioxide (SO2); and lead (Pb). These pollutants are collectively referred to as criteria pollutants because scientific-based (i.e., human health) criteria were used to establish permissible levels. A brief description of each of these pollutants including health effects is described 5,6 below. • Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive and unstable gas that is formed when reactive organic gases (ROGs) (a subset of volatile organic compounds [VOCs]) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), both byproducts of internal combustion engine exhaust, undergo slow photochemical reactions in the presence of sunlight. Ozone concentrations are generally highest during the summer months when conditions are favorable to the formation of this pollutant due to exposure to direct sunlight that initiates the photochemical reaction, light wind (limited air dispersion), and warm temperatures. Individuals exercising outdoors, children and people with preexisting lung disease such as asthma and chronic pulmonary lung disease are considered to be the most susceptible sub-groups for ozone effects. Short-term exposures (lasting for a few hours) to ozone at levels typically observed in Southern California can result in breathing pattern changes, reduction of breathing capacity, increased susceptibility to infections, inflammation of the lung tissue, and some immunological changes. Elevated ozone levels are associated with increased school absences. In 5 The descriptions of the physical properties of the criteria pollutants are taken from South Coast Air Quality Management District CEQA Air Quality Handbook, 1993. 6 The descriptions of the health effects of the criteria pollutants are taken from South Coast Air Quality Management District’s “Guidance Document for Addressing Air Quality Issues in General Plans and Local Planning” document, May 2005 (South Coast Air Quality Management District 2005). Museum of Tolerance Project IV.C. Air Quality Draft Environmental Impact Report Page IV.C-3 City of Los Angeles November 2008 recent years, a correlation between elevated ambient ozone levels and increases in daily hospital admission rates, as well as mortality, has also been reported. An increased risk for asthma has been found in children who participate in multiple sports and live in high ozone communities. Ozone exposure under exercising conditions is known to increase the severity of the above