998 PLANNING FOR NEW PROCESSES: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
Cultural ResourcesCultural resource studies involve a review of appropriate
records, and site-related literature to identify sensitive archaeo-
logical, historical, recreational, and aesthetic resources in the
project area.
Most of the information required for cultural resource
studies is available from State and Federal cultural resource
agencies and societies. An on-site survey is conducted
to locate any cultural resources eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places.
Project components which affect significant cultural
resources are identified and the magnitude of the impact
evaluated. Mitigation alternatives are addressed. If seri-
ous impacts are discovered they should be brought to the
attention of the developers promptly so that policy deci-
sions can be made at the earliest opportunity to rectify the
situation.Air Quality/MeteorologyThe purpose of this program is to obtain and analyze Air
Quality/Meteorology data so that: the site can be charac-
terized; the air quality implications of the facility can be
evaluated; mitigative and control measures can be devel-
oped; and an Environmental Report and PSD application
can be prepared.
The data required for the Air Quality/Meteorological pro-
gram work efforts relate to: (1) The air quality/meteorological
characterization of the existing site and region; and (2) The
facility’s atmospheric emissions and operating characteristics.
Specifically, the existing site and region must be characterized
in terms of the regulated pollutant such as SO 2 , Particulates,
NO x , CO, Photochemical Oxidants, and the local meteorol-
ogy, including winds, stability, and other physical charac-
teristics. In addition, the facility’s emission characteristics
including their quantity and quality must be developed so that
their impacts can be established.
To establish the required data base it is necessary to
gather and update existing emission inventory information,
collate meteorological and air quality data, review present
and proposed PSD Class I and nonattainment areas, evaluate
topographic influences and monitor the region’s air quality
characteristics.
The task of establishing adequate meteorological and
air quality data bases includes evaluating any existing local
meteorological and air quality data. The validity of the data
and its representativeness with respect to the proposed site
must also be assessed. As required, data from other sources
is evaluated as a basis for comparison with local data, or as
a supplement to local data where necessary. The objective is
to establish meteorological and air quality data bases which
are most representative of the proposed site.
A report should be prepared to provide technical sup-
port for a construction permit application under the PSD
provisions of the Clean Air Act of 1977. Described in
the report are the data bases, methodologies and models
utilized in the analyses. The PSD report also includesappropriate maps, summary tables and figures necessary
to display relevant information such as locations of plant
sites, PSD Class I and nonattainment areas, and resultant
pollutant concentrations.
An atmospheric impact assessment of the proposed
and alternative cooling tower types is included in the ER.
Operational impacts of the tower to be considered include
elevated visible plumes and deposition of cooling tower
drift. Computer modeling is utilized to predict the impact of
these occurrences.
Ground level fogging/icing is also addressed. Computer
modeling is utilized to predict the frequency and duration
of ground level fogging and icing for the alternative cooling
towers. The potential for interaction of the cooling tower and
stack plumes must also be addressed.
National Weather Service (NWS) data can be supplemented
by any available meteorological data to the fullest extent pos-
sible to develop the estimates of cooling frequencies, and salt
deposition rates are given on an area basis and include more
detailed information, as necessary, for any sensitive receptors.Health ImplicationsThe purpose of this work effort is to identify and evaluate
the potential health concerns, including estimates of offsite
exposures that may result from facility operation at the site.
Once the concerns are identified, the need for controls and
the feasibility of the gasification plant at a particular site from
a public health perspective can be evaluated. Changes in coal
type, process or waste treatment systems can be addressed
if needed to mitigate a potential health concern. This allows
and insures that alleviation of potential health problems is an
integral part of the facility planning.
The health implications to the offsite population are iden-
tified and assessed. Specific analytical measurements from
pilot plant studies, available information from similar indus-
trial plants, and other existing studies regarding the health
implications from coal conversion processes are used. The
overall approach involves scaling the results of specific pilot
plant runs and other study results to approximate a commer-
cial size facility; applying standard air dispersion models and
waste dilution criteria in order to predict exposure concen-
tration; and evaluating the predicted concentration against
known information on the toxicity of each contaminant.
The identification of potential public health concerns
requires not only the estimation of exposure levels but also
the evaluation of the relative toxicity of each chemical species.
Consequently, a review of the toxic properties of each iden-
tified chemical substance or chemical group is required. At
the conclusion of this evaluation each contaminant or chemi-
cal group is categorized into one of four groups—potentially
significant health problems, potentially minor health problem,
no expected health problem, and those for which insufficient
information is available.
The results of this evaluation is then utilized to develop
control systems and/or mitigative actions for the facility. In
addition, the results are presented in the ER and discussed in
terms of a cost/benefit framework.C016_007_r03.indd 998C016_007_r03.indd 998 11/18/2005 11:01:30 AM11/18/2005 11:01:30 AM