Air Quality Cumulative Effects Assessment for U.S. Air Force Bases.
Abstract
Federal agencies in the United States are required to consider the cumulative effects (CEs) of their activities combined with those of others. However, improvements are needed in the cumulative effects assessment (CEA) process. Relevant problems and issues identified with respect to CEA include: defining CEs; the focus of the analysis methodology; defining actions which should be included in, or excluded from, analysis; identifying methods, if any, which are available for conducting an appropriate analysis; determining the significance of the predicted effects; and incorporating the analysis results into the decision making process. This research develops methods and procedures for the assessment of CEs on a specific environmental medium, air quality. The research is targeted for application to the United States Air Force; however, the results are useful to other government agency activities. The analysis components of this research are: (1) a review of recent environmental impact statements (EISs) and environmental assessments (EAs) to identify and evaluate the techniques used to assess cumulative and project-specific air quality effects; (2) a review and analysis of the legal interpretation of what actions are defined as reasonably foreseeable future actions (RFFAs); (3) a review of existing air quality effect quantification models and selection of those that are best suited to CEA; (4) the development of a conceptual approach for significance determination for CEs and associated opportunities for mitigation; and (5) the application of the developed procedures at a U.S. Air Force base.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 29, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA348214
Entities
People
- Jeffrey N. Rumrill
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology