Ambient Air Quality Modeling Protocol and Results Bear Lodge Project – Upton Hydrometallurgical Plant
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Stand Alone Report 12 Ambient Air Quality Modeling Protocol and Results Bear Lodge Project – Upton Hydrometallurgical Plant Ambient Air Quality Modeling Protocol and Results Bear Lodge Project – Upton Hydrometallurgical Plant Rare Element Resources, Inc. Weston County, Wyoming September, 2014 Prepared by: IML Air Science a division of Inter-Mountain Laboratories, Inc. 555 Absaraka Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 (307) 674-7506 www.imlairscience.com TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Project Overview ........................................................................................ 2 1.2. Modeling Overview .................................................................................... 2 1.3. Pollutants of Concern................................................................................. 3 1.4. Regulatory Status ...................................................................................... 4 2 EMISSION AND SOURCE DATA ........................................................................ 5 2.1. Facility Processes and Emission Controls Affected ................................... 5 2.2. Emission Factors Used to Calculate Potential Emissions .......................... 5 2.3. Schedule of Fugitive Particulate Emissions ............................................... 6 2.4. Schedule of Tailpipe Emissions ................................................................. 7 2.5. Source Parameters .................................................................................... 8 2.6. Greenhouse Gas Emissions .................................................................... 13 3 AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IMPACT MODELING METHODOLOGY ................... 14 3.1. Model Selection and Justification ............................................................. 14 3.2. Model Options .......................................................................................... 14 3.3. Averaging Periods ................................................................................... 15 3.4. Building Downwash ................................................................................. 15 3.5. Elevation Data ......................................................................................... 15 3.6. Receptor Network .................................................................................... 16 3.6.1. Fenceline Receptors ..................................................................... 16 3.6.2. Public Road Corridor Receptors .................................................... 16 3.6.3. Fine Grid ....................................................................................... 16 3.6.4. Intermediate Grid .......................................................................... 16 3.6.5. Coarse Grid ................................................................................... 17 3.7. Meteorological Data ................................................................................. 20 3.8. Background Concentrations ..................................................................... 20 3.9. Ambient Ratio Method for Modeling NO2 ................................................. 21 3.10. Dry Depletion Option for Modeling PM10 .................................................. 23 3.10.1. Rationale for Using Dry Depletion in Refined PM10 Analysis .... 24 3.10.2. Precedent for Using Dry Depletion in Refined PM10 Analysis ... 24 Upton Plant Modeling Protocol and Results Page ii 3.10.3. Input Parameters for Dry Depletion Option ............................... 25 4 APPLICABLE REGULATORY LIMITS FOR CITERIA POLLUTANTS ............. 27 4.1. Methodology for Evaluation of Compliance with Standards ..................... 27 4.2. NAAQS and PSD Increments .................................................................. 27 4.3. Presentation of Modeling Results ............................................................ 28 4.4. Summary ................................................................................................. 29 5 AIR QUALITY RELATED VALUES (AQRV) MODELING METHODOLOGY .... 30 5.1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 30 5.2. Model Selection and Justification ............................................................. 33 5.2.1. CALMET ....................................................................................... 34 5.2.2. CALPUFF ...................................................................................... 34 5.2.3. CALPOST ..................................................................................... 34 5.3. Meteorological, Terrain and Land Use Data ............................................ 34 5.3.1. Time Period ................................................................................... 35 5.3.2. Prognostic Meteorological Data .................................................... 35 5.3.3. CALMET Diagnostic Meteorological Data ..................................... 35 5.3.4. CALMET Approach ....................................................................... 36 5.3.5. CALMET Parameter Settings ........................................................ 36 5.3.6. Terrain Data .................................................................................. 36 5.3.7. Land Use Data .............................................................................. 36 5.3.8. CALMET Switch Settings .............................................................. 36 5.4. Modeling Domain, Sources and Receptors .............................................. 37 5.5. CALPUFF Model Inputs ........................................................................... 43 5.5.1. Background Concentrations .......................................................... 43 5.5.2. Chemistry Modeling ...................................................................... 43 5.5.3. Particle Size Distribution ............................................................... 43 5.5.4. CALPUFF Switch Settings ............................................................ 44 5.6. CALPUFF Model Outputs, Calculations and Evaluation Methods ........... 45 5.6.1. CALPOST and POSTUTIL ............................................................ 45 5.6.2. Visibility Impact Determination ...................................................... 46 5.6.3. Comparison to Existing AQRV Status ........................................... 46 5.6.4. Calculation of Light Extinctions ..................................................... 46 5.6.5. Deposition Analysis ....................................................................... 48 Upton Plant Modeling Protocol and Results Page iii 5.6.6. CALPOST Switch Settings ............................................................ 48 5.7. Presentation of Modeling Results ............................................................ 49 6 AERMOD MODELING RESULTS AND ANALYSIS .......................................... 51 6.1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 51 6.2. PM10 Modeling Analysis ........................................................................... 54 6.2.1. Initial PM10 Modeling Results ........................................................ 55 6.2.2. PM10 Modeling Over-Prediction Problems ..................................... 60 6.2.3. Refined PM10 Modeling Results .................................................... 60 6.3. PM2.5 Modeling Analysis .......................................................................... 63 6.3.1. PM2.5 Modeling Results ................................................................. 63 6.4. NO2 Modeling Analysis ............................................................................ 68 6.5. SO2 Modeling Analysis ............................................................................ 73 6.6. CO Modeling Analysis.............................................................................. 80 7 CALPUFF MODELING RESULTS AND ANALYSIS ......................................... 83 7.1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 83 7.2. Visibility Analysis ..................................................................................... 85 7.2.1. Basis for Analysis .......................................................................... 85 7.2.2. Preliminary Modeled Visibility Impacts .......................................... 86 7.2.3. Effect of Coarse Particulate on CALPUFF Visibility Assessment .. 88 7.2.4. Final Modeled Visibility Impacts .................................................... 88 7.3. Deposition Analysis ................................................................................. 89 7.3.1. Basis for Analysis .......................................................................... 89 7.3.2. Modeled Deposition Fluxes ........................................................... 90 8 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 92 9 APPENDIX A ...................................................................................................... 96 10 APPENDIX B .................................................................................................... 103 Upton Plant Modeling Protocol and Results Page iv LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1: Maximum Potential Fugitive Emissions (tons/year) .......................................