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Federal EIS Air Quality Analysis

This article discusses the National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) requirements for detailed environmental impact statements (EIS) on major federal actions affecting air quality. It explores the role of cooperating agencies, the responsible agency, air quality analysis techniques, and collaboration in developing EISs and addressing new standards and energy development areas. The article also highlights the importance of accurate emissions projections and regional modeling for decision making.

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Federal EIS Air Quality Analysis

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  1. Federal EIS Air Quality Analysis • National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) requires …Major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, a detailed statement by the responsible official on— • the environmental impact of the proposed action, • any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented, • alternatives to the proposed action, • the relationship between local short-term uses of man’s environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and • any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented.

  2. Who Plays? • Prior to making any detailed statement, the responsible Federal official shall consult with and obtain the comments of any Federal agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved. (Cooperating Agencies) • Differing agency missions (legislative directives) • Responsible agency – proposes action or responsible for taking the action, like requirement to lease. • Oil & Gas usually BLM is the responsible agency. • EPA rules on technical adequacy and environmental impact.

  3. Air Quality Analysis • Work with cooperators to identify potentially affected environmental factors • Identify analysis techniques for the factors • Strive to use best science • Fiscal and time constraints • Not constrained to GAQM – but useful • Evolved over time • ISCST • CALPUFF • CMAQ/CAMx

  4. EISs and SIPs

  5. New Standards & Energy Development

  6. Areas for Collaboration • Base EIs • States and EISs independently developing • Projected EIs • “Growth Factors” and EIS assumptions have been different • Modeling • Different specific areas but all affected by same regional emissions • Local feedback to regional modeling • Sensitive resources affected either way – give decision makers consistent, high-quality information

  7. EPA modeling of counties predicted to violate new Ozone standard by 2020(does not reflect accurate/representative emissions projections in the West)

  8. WRAP 2018 regional modeling - areas predicted to violate new Ozone standard(4th highest 8-hour average by grid cell [closest to compliance form of Ozone NAAQS] + seasonality)

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