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5.9 PUBLIC HEALTH LEC will use combined-cycle technology to minimize emissions of pollutants per unit of electric energy generated, and will use an optimized stack height to reduce ground-level concentrations of the emissions,thus reducing potential effects on public health. It is beyond the scope of this analysis to describe the public health benefits that derive from the generated electric power that is provided to homes,businesses,hospitals,and other societal institutions. Combustion byproducts with established national and California ambient air quality standards (referred to as"criteria pollutants') are addressed in Section 5.1,Air Quality. Discussion of the potential health risks associated with these criteria pollutants is presented in this section. Human health risks potentially associated with accidental releases of stored hazardous materials at LEC (such as anhydrous ammonia) are discussed in Section 5.5, Hazardous Materials Handling. 5.9.2 Laws, Ordinances, Regulations and Standards An overview of the regulatory process for public health issues is presented in this section. The relevant LORS that affect public health and are applicable to LEC are identified in Table 5.9-1. The compliance of the project with each of the LORS applicable to public health is also presented in this table. TABLE 5.9-1 Laws,Ordinances,Regulations,and Standards for Public Health Requirements/ Administering LORS Applicability Agency AFC Section Explaining Conformance Clean Air Act Protect public U.S. Environmental Based on acceptable risks shown in health by limiting Protection Agency Section 5.9.4, computed in a health risk emissions and (EPA)Region 9 assessment that follows CARB/OEHHA resulting and SJVAPCD guidelines,the project exposure to air CARB emission rates of non-criteria pollutants pollutants SJVAPCD are acceptable. Emissions of criteria pollutants will be minimized by using efficient combined- cycle turbine technology and natural gas as the only fuel,and applying BACT to the facility, resulting in project ambient levels that would not exceed primary ambient air quality standards established to protect public health. Health and Safety Code Inform public at a OEHHA Based on a health risk assessment that 25249.5 et seq. (Safe facility of follows CARB/OEHHA and SJVAPCD Drinking Water and Toxic potential guidelines, non-criteria pollutant emission Enforcement Act of 1986— exposure to rates and resulting doses and Proposition 65) chemicals known carcinogenic risks(see Section 5.9.4)will to cause cancer not exceed thresholds that require or reproductive Proposition 65 exposure warnings. toxicity 5.9-2 SAC/371322/082340007(LEC_5.9_PUBLIC_HEALTH.DOC)