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Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Technical Report Griffith Energy Storage Project 2.0 AIR QUALITY 2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING 2.1.1 Climate and Topography The San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (SJVAB) is comprised of eight counties, representing 16 percent of California's geographic area. It is approximately 250 miles long and 35 miles wide (average)and has a bowl-shaped topography with surrounding mountains on three sides. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are to the east, the Coast Ranges to the west, and the Tehachapi mountains to the south. At the northwest end, the SJVAB opens to the San Francisco Bay. The SJVAB is in a Mediterranean Climate Zone, characterized by hot and dry summers with maximum temperatures that often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and winters with sparse rainfall. High pressure events can lead to temperature inversions, inhibiting vertical mixing and trapping air pollutants. Winds in the SJVAB most frequently blow from the northwest, channeling air towards the southeastern end of the SJVAB. Marine air occasionally flows from the San Joaquin River Delta toward the south, over the Tehachapi pass. The Coastal Range and the Sierra Nevada range restrict air movement to the west and east, respectively. During winter, weak winds can lead to limited transport of pollutants (SJVAPCD 2015a). As previously noted, a small portion of the Project is located in eastern Alameda County, adjacent to the San Joaquin County line. This area is more represented by the San Joaquin County climate and topography than the coastal area of the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. 2.1.2 Pollutants and Effects The Clean Air Act(CAA) requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)for six common air pollutants. EPA calls these"criteria" air pollutants because it regulates them by developing health-based (primary) or environmentally based (secondary) standards. These pollutants are summarized below. Ozone (Os) is a secondary pollutant that is formed from the reaction of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Ozone exists naturally in the stratosphere, shielding Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. However, at ground-level, ozone causes adverse health effects and is a major component of smog. High concentrations have been tied to respiratory ailments and cardiovascular disease, as well as damage to natural ecosystems, agricultural crops, and materials such as rubber, paint, and plastics. Reactive organic gases (ROG) are composed of hydrocarbon compounds that contribute to the formation of smog through atmospheric chemical reactions. ROG are emitted from fuel combustion and industrial and agricultural processes. Compounds that make up ROG are often evaluated as part of a toxic risk assessment under AB 2588 provisions. Nitrogen Oxides (NO.) are a family of gaseous nitrogen compounds that result primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels. It is a precursor to the formation of ozone and particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is assigned with NAAQS and California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS). Particulate Matter(PM) is comprised of solid particles and liquid droplets, made up of acids, organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. Particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller are a potential human health concern because they can enter the lungs, which can affect the heart and cause adverse health effects. They can be emitted directly to the atmosphere as well as formed in the OTETRA TECH 6 July 2023