Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

PLANNING FOR NEW PROCESSES: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS 997

Land and Waterway Use

The purpose of the land and waterway use—demographics

effort is to:

1) determine the existing land use of the site and

existing and future land and waterway use pat-

terns in the surrounding area in order to assess

any conflicts which may exist and to evaluate any

impacts on land use that may occur from the con-

struction and operation of the plant; and

2) determine the population growth patterns of the

area in order to assess the impact the plant will have

on nearby towns and communities in the area.

Based on the existing land uses, and the analysis performed

by other disciplines such as terrestrial and aquatic ecology

and air quality, impacts upon adjacent land uses caused

by construction and operation are estimated. This impact

assessment includes the impact of storage pond construc-

tion, noise, dust, plant appearance, stack emissions, cool-

ing tower fogging and salt depositions, and construction

stage traffic activity on residential, recreational, agricul-

tural, and other adjacent land uses in the area, as well as

the compatibility of the proposed plant with local land

use plans, aesthetics, and regulations. Specific attention

is given to the type and relative value of the land uses to

be preempted or adversely affected by plant construction

and operation.

The impacts of the increase in activities on a river if

applicable is estimated including additional barge traffic

staging in the area and the impact of these activities on exist-

ing movements and facilities in the vicinity of the area.

The demographic impact assessment consists of com-

paring the population projections for the study area to the

expected population influx to be caused by plant construc-

tion and operation. The comparison is done by taking the

estimated plant-related population influx as a percentage of

the total projected population of the area to be affected by

the incoming workers and families.

Socioeconomics

The purpose of the socioeconomics studies is to deter-

mine and describe the existing socioeconomic base for the

plant region and surrounding major towns and to assess the

changes, either positive or negative, which would occur as a

result of the construction and operation at the proposed site.

The existing socioeconomic based is described for those

areas likely to be impacted by the influx of construction and

operational employment for the plant. Information required

to describe the socioeconomic base of the area includes the

following:

1) peak number of construction workers by craft

during each year of plant construction;

2) estimate of the number of immigrant construction

workers expected during construction of the plant;

3) existing and future capacity of the schools, hospi-

tals, fire, sewer, etc., facilities in site area;

4) local government fiscal capabilities and local tax

structure and tax bases;

5) employment and income statistics; and

6) economic base studies.

Socioeconomic impacts can result from the influx of

immigrant construction workers to the area around the

plant. This occurs when the construction force required to

build the plant is fairly large and there are a number of

large construction projects competing for the labor supply

in the area.

The socioeconomic demand analysis qualitatively com-

pares the demand for service facilities, and employment

during the construction and operation of the plant with the

baseline socioeconomic projections. Any perceived increases

in demand for local facilities is qualitatively evaluated with

respect to the cost of the facilities and the ability of local

units to finance them.

Impacts associated with plant operation to be assessed

include an evaluation of the change in local tax structure as

a result of a large influx of new tax revenues to the local

governments and the impact associated with the relocation

of plant operating personnel into the area.

Noise

The purpose of this effort is to sample the existing ambi-

ent noise levels surrounding the proposed site, and to esti-

mate the environmental noise impact produced by the plant

operation.

In order to properly assess the noise environmental

impact, plant noise emissions should be evaluated in terms

of any State or local noise regulations. Consequently, vari-

ous State and local regulatory agencies are contacted to

determine the status of the regulatory constraints that might

be imposed on the plant operation and construction noise

emissions. In the absence of any such constraints, US EPA’s

guidelines for the protection of “Public Health and Welfare,”

as indicated in the “Levels Document” (550/9-74-004) are

followed.

A literature review is conducted to assist in identifying

the major sources of noise of the plant and in quantifying

them. The search includes various professional journals,

other environmental reports, and manufacturers’ publica-

tions. Construction schedule, equipment list, general arrange-

ment drawings, project description manual, and operational

parameters of major plant equipment (Forced Draft Fans,

Turbine Generator, Pumps and Motors) are obtained from

the appropriate sources.

The facility noise levels are then evaluated and

assessed in terms of existing regulations or guidelines and

any potential restrictive conditions in either the working

environment or the general site environment are identified.

In addition, potential limitations to equipment are identi-

fied as are appropriate mitigative measures.

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