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Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report
<br /> Gill Medical Center Project
<br /> As previously described, sensitive receptors are defined as facilities or land uses that include members of
<br /> the population that are particularly sensitive to the effects of air pollutants, such as children, the elderly,
<br /> and people with illnesses. Examples of these sensitive receptors are residences, schools, hospitals, and
<br /> daycare centers. CARB has identified the following groups of individuals as the most likely to be affected
<br /> by air pollution:the elderly over age 65, children under age 14, athletes, and persons with cardiovascular
<br /> and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. The nearest sensitive
<br /> receptors to the Project site are the existing rural residential properties directly adjacent to the site's
<br /> southern boundary.These residences front Eight Mile Road between West Lane and North Ham Lane.
<br /> Construction-Generated Air Contaminants
<br /> Construction-related activities would result in temporary, short-term Proposed Project-generated
<br /> emissions of diesel particulate matter(DPM), ROG, NOx, CO, and PM10 from the exhaust of off-road,
<br /> heavy-duty diesel equipment for site preparation (e.g., clearing, grading, underground work); soil hauling
<br /> truck traffic; paving; and other miscellaneous activities. The portion of the SJVAB which encompasses the
<br /> Project is classified as a nonattainment area for the federal 03 and PM2.5 standards and is also a
<br /> nonattainment area for the state standards for 03, PM2.5, and PM10 (CARB 2018a). Thus, existing 03, PM10,
<br /> and PM2.5 levels in the SJVAB are at unhealthy levels during certain periods. However, as shown in Table
<br /> 4.5-4, the Project would not exceed the SJVAPCD construction emission thresholds.
<br /> The health effects associated with 03 are generally associated with reduced lung function. Because the
<br /> Project would not involve construction activities that would result in 03 precursor emissions (ROG or NOx)
<br /> in excess of the SJVAPCD thresholds, the Project is not anticipated to substantially contribute to regional
<br /> 03 concentrations and the associated health impacts.
<br /> CO tends to be a localized impact associated with congested intersections. In terms of adverse health
<br /> effects, CO competes with oxygen, often replacing it in the blood, reducing the blood's ability to transport
<br /> oxygen to vital organs. The results of excess CO exposure can include dizziness, fatigue, and impairment
<br /> of central nervous system functions. The Project would not involve construction activities that would result
<br /> in CO emissions in excess of the SJVAPCD thresholds.Thus, the Project's CO emissions would not
<br /> contribute to the health effects associated with this pollutant.
<br /> Particulate matter(PM10 and PM2.5) contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that
<br /> they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Particulate matter exposure has been
<br /> linked to a variety of problems, including premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal
<br /> heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory
<br /> symptoms such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing. For construction activity,
<br /> DPM is the primary toxic air contaminant (TAC) of concern. Particulate exhaust emissions from diesel-
<br /> fueled engines (i.e., DPM) were identified as a TAC by the CARB in 1998. The potential cancer risk from the
<br /> inhalation of DPM outweighs the potential for all other health impacts (i.e., non-cancer chronic risk, short-
<br /> term acute risk) and health impacts from other TACs. Based on the emission modeling conducted, the
<br /> maximum onsite construction-related daily emissions (mitigated) of exhaust PM2.5, considered a surrogate
<br /> for DPM, would be 0.36 pounds per day during Phase 1 and 0.25 pounds per day during Phase 2 (PM2.5
<br /> exhaust is considered a surrogate for DPM because more than 90 percent of DPM is less than 1
<br /> Air Quality 4.5-21 October 2021
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