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5.1 AIR QUALITY <br /> The proposed project will not induce growth as a result of the additional power available. <br /> NCPA provides power to member agencies in northern California and is not a local power <br /> provider. The project is being developed by LEC in response to the growth in demand in the <br /> northern part of the state and will be available to back up non-fossil supplies such as hydro, <br /> solar and wind generating resources. <br /> Vegetation, Soils and Sensitive Species <br /> The LEC will be located in an area that is primarily agricultural. Criteria for evaluating <br /> impacts on soils and vegetation are provided by EPA guidance.30 This document includes <br /> minimum impact levels for effects on sensitive vegetation and crops. Modeled project <br /> impacts are compared with these impact levels in Table 5.1-41 to demonstrate that no <br /> adverse impacts on vegetation are expected as a result of the project. <br /> TABLE 5.1-41 <br /> Project Impacts to Vegetation and Sensitive Species <br /> Minimum <br /> Ambient <br /> Modeled Concentration <br /> Project Ambient for Effects on <br /> Averaging Impacts Background Sensitive <br /> Pollutant Period (Ng/m3) (pg/m3) Total (Ng/m3) Plants(pg/m3) <br /> NO2 4 hours' 27.5 163.6 191 3,760 <br /> 8 hours' 27.5 163.6 191 3,760 <br /> 1 month' 27.5 163.6 191 564 <br /> Annual 0.3 34.0 34.3 94 <br /> SO2 1 hour 10.4 46.8 57.2 917 <br /> 3 hours 7.6 28.6 36.2 786 <br /> Annual 0.1 2.7 2.8 18 <br /> CO 1 week 111 3,178 3,289 1,800,000 <br /> 'Maximum modeled 1-hour average NO2 concentrations used to conservatively represent impacts for averaging <br /> periods up to one month. <br /> bMaximum modeled 8-hour average CO concentration used to conservatively represent 1-week average impact. <br /> Project impacts on agriculture and soils are discussed in detail in Section 5.11 of the AFC. <br /> Project impacts on fauna are discussed under Biological Resources,Section 5.2 of the AFC. <br /> Class 1 Area Impact Analysis and Class 11 PSD Significance Thresholds <br /> In general,projects located within 100 km of Class I areas are required to evaluate impacts to <br /> visibility and other air quality-related values at those Class I areas as part of a PSD permit <br /> evaluation. The nearest Class I areas and their distances from the project are listed below. <br /> Mokelumne Wilderness 106 km <br /> Emigrant Wilderness 120 km <br /> Desolation Wilderness 122 km <br /> Yosemite National Park 124 km <br /> Point Reyes National Seashore 127 km <br /> 30 Smith,A. E.,and J.B.Levenson.A Screening Procedure for the Impacts of Air Pollution Sources on Plants,Soils,and <br /> Animals.Research Triangle Park,N.C.: U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, <br /> 1980. <br /> SAC/371322/082410013(LEC_5.1_AIR_QUALITY.DOC) 5.1-61 <br />