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Long -Term Air Quality Projections <br />Microscale analyses were made at four intersections within the <br />project limits where typical sensitive receptors were located. <br />Carbon monoxide concentrations were estimated adjacent to these <br />intersections using "worst case" assumptions and the California <br />Department of Transportation Line Source Dispersion Model Caline <br />I 3. This model is approved for use by both the EPA and the <br />Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) . <br />Because of the relative inertness of carbon monoxide in the <br />photochemical smog formation process, and limitations of know- <br />ledge on dispersion characteristics of other air pollutant spe- <br />cies, carbon monoxide was selected as the indicator of impact. <br />NOx and HC were not considered because they are unstable and <br />undergo changes to become secondary pollutants; therefore, the <br />roadway's contribution to these pollutant concentrations cannot <br />be accurately assessed. <br />Nitric oxide (NO) concentrations can be predicted but there is no <br />ambient air quality standard for NO. Nitrogen dioxide (which is <br />the major constituent of NOx) concentrations cannot be determined <br />from conventional non - reactive models. Similarly, an accurate <br />method to determine a roadway's contribution to local levels of <br />SOx and particulate matter is not yet available. Secondary <br />pollutants are a large -scale phenomenon, and should be analyzed <br />on a regional basis rather than a local one. <br />j The "worst case" assumptions made in the Caline 3 modeling pro- <br />If cess included: wind speed of 1 meter per second, wind direction <br />parallel to the road, peak hour traffic volumes, and atmospheric <br />stability class of F (most stable) for 1 --hour averages and class <br />D for 8 -hour averages. The Appendix (page 9) provides additional <br />details and Caline 3 assumptions. <br />The results appear in Table 3 -4 and represent "worst case" condi- <br />tions. Actual levels would probably be less. Three scenarios <br />were analyzed based upon traffic volumes for 1987 and for future <br />year 2005 conditions both with and without the project. <br />As shown in Table 3 -4, the future design year carbon monoxide <br />concentrations adjacent to the intersections most affected by the <br />project will not equal or exceed the 35 ppm 1 -hour federal stan- <br />dard with or without the roadway widening proposed. Addi- <br />tionally, the 20 ppm 1 -hour state standard should not be exceeded <br />after completion of the proposed project. Conversely, state 1- <br />hour standard exceedances may occur in the future design year <br />under the "No- Build" condition at the intersections analyzed. <br />Ambient CO levels in the design year (9.5 ppm) are projected to <br />exceed the 8 -hour state and federal standards (9.0 ppm) in the <br />project vicinity. However, CO contributions at the intersections <br />W <br />