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4 Environmental Analysis 4.3 Air Quality The greatest potential for exposure to air pollutants would occur during construction. The primary TAC from the Project is DPM from construction equipment. PM10 and PM2.5 are surrogates for DPM. Tables 4.3-8 and 4.3-9 above provide a summary of total PM10 and PM2.5 emissions during construction (including fugitive dust) on an annual and daily basis, respectively. Tables 4.3-10 and 4.3-11 provide a summary of total PM10 and PM2.5 emissions during operation (including fugitive dust) on an annual and daily basis, respectively. Both construction and operational emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 are a small fraction of the significance thresholds. Because of the relatively small levels of DPM emissions during Project construction and operation, DPM emissions from Project construction would disperse to negligible levels and, therefore, the health impacts associated with exposure to DPM from Project construction and operation are not expected to be significant. As previously noted, the SJVAPCD also provides significance thresholds for TACs: Exposes sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations, including those resulting in: oo A cancer risk greater than or equal to 20 in 1 million; and/or 0o A Hazard Index (non-cancerous) greater than or equal to 1. Exposure to emissions would vary throughout construction and would depend on the staging of the work being conducted, location of work relative to receptors, and weather conditions. While TACs from the Project during construction are expected to have insignificant impacts on the surrounding communities, Mitigation Measure AQ-1 would help to further minimize exhaust emissions from construction equipment. Tier 4 engine technology would be utilized for equipment greater than 85 horsepower are also equipped with diesel particulate filters. Based on the temporary nature and the timeframe for construction, these measures will maintain construction emissions and impacts to levels well within compliance with the SJVAPCD air quality regulations. Use of these emission control strategies will ensure that the site does not cause any violations of existing air quality standards as a result of construction-related activities, and impacts would be less than significant. Since operational activities would be limited to routine inspection and maintenance, an operational health risk assessment (HRA) was not required and the impact would, therefore, be less than significant. Valley Fever According to the California Department of Public Health, incidences of Valley Fever have been consistently high in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast regions. The Northern San Joaquin Valley has shown a large increase in cases between 2000 and 2018; the highest median annual incidences were in the Southern San Joaquin Valley (90.6 per 100,000 people), Central Coast (9.7 per 100,000 people), and Northern San Joaquin Valley (5.6 per 100,000 people) (Sondermeyer Cooksey et al. 2020). There are currently no recommended thresholds of significance for Valley Fever. Construction activities, including site preparation and grading, would have the potential to make C. immitus fungus spores airborne. However, the Project would comply with SJVAPCD Rule 8021 to control dust emissions generated during grading activities. The Project would develop a dust control plan Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.3-28 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023