Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

Environmental Consequences
Based on the information and analysis in this EA and the Federal Consistency Determination
(Appendix C), NASA determined that the Proposed Action is consistent to the maximum extent
practicable with the enforceable policies of the CZM Program.
Alternatives One and Two
Activities under Alternatives One and Two would be conducted in a way that was consistent
with the enforceable policies of the CZM Program.
4.2.3 Air Quality and Climate Change
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, development of the Alternative Energy Project would not
occur; therefore, emissions would remain at present levels as described in Section 3.1.3 (calendar
year 2008 summary table for WFF GHG emissions). There would be no reduction in emissions
resulting from the use of fossil fuels during the production of electricity at the source of the
electric power generation that supplies WFF.
Proposed Action
The proposed wind turbines would be located in an attainment area for all criteria pollutants;
therefore, NASA is not required to perform a general conformity review for the Proposed Action.
Construction equipment and construction worker’s vehicles used during the construction
activities (i.e., land clearing, access road, and turbine construction) would produce emissions
resulting from the use of diesel engines. The use of diesel-or gasoline-powered emergency
generators is not anticipated during the construction phase. Due to the operation of fossil-fuel
burning equipment, there would be the potential to cause temporary, short-term air quality
impacts. To help minimize such impacts and emissions, vehicles and equipment used for
construction would be maintained in good working order. The non-road diesel engines are
required by law to utilize low-sulfur diesel, which must meet a 500 parts per million (ppm) sulfur
maximum. Idling of construction equipment would be prohibited when feasible.
The amount of disturbed area would be minimized by utilizing previously disturbed areas
including use of a cleared area east of the U.S. Navy V-10/V-20 Complex facility and other
designated staging areas (shown on Figure 6) for the staging of equipment and materials, and for
construction vehicle parking. However, depending on weather conditions, there would be
fugitive particulate (i.e., dust) emissions emitted during the construction activities, such as
clearing and grading, access road construction, and pile driving. Although the following BMPs
were not taken into consideration to estimate worst case emissions, NASA does require the
inclusion of specific contract language to require contractors to implement dust suppression
procedures (e.g., application of water) when necessary. Additionally, aggregate materials
(permanent gravel road surface) would be used on surface access roads and on-site roads.
Based on the quantification of emissions, using EPA-approved emission factors and conservative
assumptions where possible (i.e., not accounting for BMPs), the construction activity emissions
for the Proposed Action would be minimal (see Table 21). For example, it was assumed that the
construction crew would drive to the work site every day in personally owned vehicles (e.g.,
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