AIR QUALITY IMPACT OF THE PROJECT

Impact during Construction Phase

During construction phase dust will be the main pollutant,
which would be generated from the site development
activities and vehicular movement on the road. The impact
of such activities would be confined within the project
boundary and restricted to the construction phase.
To mitigate these impacts, regular sprinkling of water will be
done at the construction site. Approaching roads will be
black carpeted and vehicles will be kept in good order to
minimize automobile exhaust.
Impact during Operational Phase
The operational phase is the most important stage in terms
of its impact on air quality, as characterized by emission of
massive quantities of fugitive dust and oxides. Air pollutants
generated during the cement manufacturing process
consist primarily of particulates from the raw and
finished materials, and fuel combustion by-products.
Particulate matter are emitted through the following
stages:
1. Procurement of raw materials
2. Raw Milling - preparation of raw materials for the
Pyro-processing system
3. Pyro-processing – pyro-processing raw materials to form
portland cement clinker
4. Cooling of Portland cement clinker
5. Storage of Portland cement clinker
6. Finish Milling
7. Packing and loading

 The type of dust collector used is based on factors such as

particle size, dust loading, flow rate, moisture
content, and gas temperature. The best disposal
method for collected dust is to send it through the kiln
creating the clinker. However, if the alkali content of the
raw materials is too high, the dust must be discarded, or
must be pre treated before introduction into the kiln. The
highest allowable alkali content is 0.6 percent (as sodium
oxide).
Additional air pollutants emitted include sulfur oxides and
nitrogen oxides generated from the kiln and drying
processes.
Sulfur dioxide is generated from the sulfur compounds in
the combusted fuel. The combustion of fuel in rotary cement
kilns generates nitrogen oxides from the nitrogen in the fuel
and incoming combustion. Both sulfur dioxide and some
of the nitrogen oxide react with the alkaline cement and
are removed from the gas stream.
Assessment of Air Pollution Impact
The Six Main Steps in the Proposed Model for EIA Study
on Air Environment are
I. Evaluation and identification of sources and quantity
of air pollutant emissions of different phases of the
proposed activity like the construction operation and
development.
2. Detailed evaluation of the project area for the
existing ambient air quality, emission inventory, and
meteorological data;
3. Examination of appropriate laws, regulations, or
criteria to be followed for maintaining ambient air
quality and I or pollutant emission standards;
4. Carrying out impact assessment studies adopting
mass balances, dispersion calculations, comprehensive
mathematical models and/or qualitative predictions
based on case studies and professional judgement;
5. Assessment of significance of anticipated beneficial
and detrimental impacts; and
6. Development of appropriate mitigation remediation
measures for the adverse impacts.
Step 1: Evaluation and Identification of Sources, Types and
Quantities of Pollutants Generated by different Phases of
Project Activity
 Types – pollutants-emitting-construction/operational
phase of- proposed development activity - quantity.
 Emission factor
Air Pollution emission factors for passenger vehicles
Some Typical Pollutants Released through
Automobiles and their Inventory
Particulates: suspended airborne particulates - diesel
fuel combustion, materials produced by tire, brake
and road wear and dust.
Lead (Pb) : fine dust
Aldehydes: The aldehydes, including formaldehyde -
diesel engines - a lesser degree, by gasoline
combustion.
Secondary pollutants : primary pollutants are
transformed into secondary and tertiary
pollutants through various chemical reactions -
meteorological factors
Movement of Pollutants
Three steps in the process are
Emission
The volume and composition of individual vehicle emissions
are determined by the following factors:
 Fuel composition
 Level of engine maintenance
 Vehicle age
 Engine temperature
 Road geometry
 Type of vehicle
Compilation of Air Quality Information
Relationship between vehicle speed and emission
Procurement or Development of Emission Inventory

(a) All pollutants and sources of emissions in the

project area are to be classified and considered.
(b) Information on emission factors for each of the
identified pollutants and sources have to be collected
with average values.
(c) Daily quality and quantity of materials handled,
processed, or burned, or other unit production
information, based upon the individual identified
sources have to be estimated.
(d) The rate at which each pollutant is emitted into
the atmosphere and annual average has to be
estimated.
(e) Specific pollutant emissions from each of the
identified sources have to be added up.
Step 2 : Detailed Evaluation of Existing Ambient Air
Quality, Meteorological Conditions and Natural Air
Quality Existing in the Project Area
Key Meteorological Data
(a) Meteorological data which describe the general air-
pollution-dispersion characteristics of the study area.
(b) Meteorological data useful to describe the atmospheric
dispersion of air pollutants form a project activity
quantitatively.
(c) Meteorological data useful and necessary for air pollution
dispersion modeling.
Months or seasons - construction-phase
planning and operational-phase decision-making.
Air-pollution dispersion include mixing height, inversion
height and mean annual wind speeds.
Step 3 : Examination of Appropriate Air Quality Emission
Regulation Laws and Air Quality Standards to be
Maintained as Per Local, State and Central Government
Notifications.

Step 4 : Carrying out Impact Assessment using Mass

Balance Mathematics Modeling and Single Qualitative
Approach

There are basically three aspects of air quality problems that are
amenable to quantitative prediction.
I. estimating rates of release of pollutants;
2. predicting atmospheric concentrations of pollutants; and
3. predicting deposition rates of pollutants on soil. water. and
vegetation
Impact prediction can be carried out using various approaches like
mass balances, ambient air dispersion models. and plume dispersion
models.
Predictions of concentrations and deposition rates are often needed as
inputs into other predictive models to determine the potential for
secondary and higher order impacts.

Mass - Balance Approaches

With reference to the existing air environment inventory - air pollutant
emissions from various project area. like the construction and/or
operational phase of a project-activity have to be considered for which an
inventory on mass balance approach has to be prepared.

Activity involves the following steps:

1. In the project area the pollutants likely to be emitted from different phases of
the proposed project or activity like the construction and the operational phases
have to be classified and the sources identified.
2. Information on the emission factors for each of the identified sources for each
pollutant and their annual averages and aggregates have to be computed.
3. Determination of the specific unit-production information based upon the source
and its type which may be either the number of miles a vehicle travelled. tons
of coal consumed and the extent of the area under construction have to be
procured. which when multiplied with the relevant emission factor. give the
overall mass balance value.
4. Computation of the rate at which each pollutant is emitted into the atmosphere,
with this rate typically being extended to an annual basis. Systematic
comparison of the emissions from the proposed project or activity with the
existing emission inventory for the area has to be carried out on annual basis.
This can be computed by first assessing the rate at which each pollutant is
emitted into the atmosphere from different project activities.
5. The pollutant emissions from each of the identified source categories associated
with the proposed project or activity are to be added to arrive at the total value.
The percentage increase or change in the current inventory for one or more air
pollutants, can be used to interpret and assess the impacts on the basis of the
following criteria:

(a) The existing air quality for the pollutants of interest

(b) The quality of emission and magnitude of the percentage change.
(c) The time period of the expected percentage change.
(d) The potential for visibility reduction.
(e) Any local sensitive receptors damage from the pollutants.
Box - Model Approaches

Box model is a simple atmospheric dispersion model

C = average concentration of gas or particulate < 20mm in size. from source

type(s), mg/sec.
Q= release rate of gas, or particulate < 20mm in size, from source type(s),
mg/sec.
t = time period over which assumption of uniform mixing in box holds valid,
(typical period, I hr)

x downwind dimension of box. m.

y crosswind dimension of box.
z vertical dimension of box m.
Air Quality Dispersion Models
• plume rise;
• advection transport by wind:
• vertical. lateral. and horizontal diffusion caused by turbulence;
• reflection from the ground and from the top of the mixing layer;
• physical-chemical transformation of pollutants in air, including radioactive decay.
photochemical reactions. and aerosol formation:
• gravitational settling of particulate pollutants;
• dry deposition. that is. uptake of substances onto soil or other surface material by
chemical. biological. or physical processes occurring at the interface:
• wet deposition. that is. rain-out and wash-out of substances onto the surface;
• behavior of plumes in response to variations in the land surface;
• entrainment of plumes in the lee of buildings;
• variations in atmospheric diffusion conditions with height above the surface;
• variations in emission rate and/or in meteorological conditions over the period of
prediction;
• variations in meteorological and/or topographical conditions with distance from
the source; and
• random variation in environmental conditions and emissions.
The air pollutant dispersion model can be classified as (a) Manual
Models and (b) Computer Models.

(a) Manual Calculation Models

Mainly three basic manual-calculation models. namely. (a) Pasquill
- Guilford,
(b) Ground level point source model and (c) area sources
(a) Pasquill - Guilford,
Where
C = ground level concentration of gas. or particulate < 20mm in' size, at
a distance x, in m downwind from source. and distance y in m from
source in mg/m3
Q = release rate of gas, or particulate <20mm in size, from elevated point
source, mg/sec Sy = horizontal dispersion coefficient which represents
amount of plume spreading in crosswind direction from source. and
under a given atmospheric stability condition. m. distance x downwind
from source, and under a given atmospheric stability condition, m.
u =mean wind speed. m/sec.
H =effective stack height (actual physical height plus any rise of plume as
it leaves the stack), m; plume rise is the result of momentum effect
caused by vertical velocity.
Ground level point source Model:

Area source model :

Where
Cx.y.o = ground level concentration of gas, or pat1iculate less than 20mm in
size, directly down wind and at a distance x in m downwind from the
source, mg/m 3
Syo = one forth of emission width of area or line source along axis which
coincides with wind direction, m.
Mathematical models are developed in air quality
1. To determine the optimum stack height.
2. To determine the optimum emission rate.
3. To compile long-term and shol1-term variation of the
distribution of air pollutants from elevated point source.
4. To determine the distribution of air pollutants from
elevated point sources.
5. To determine the particulate deposition arising from
elevated sources.
6. Land use planning around monuments.
7. To determine the average pollutant concentration over a
specified period of time.
8. To allocate the maximum pollution emission rates from
various sources in a region.
Step 5 : Assessment of Significance of Impacts
Evaluation of the significance of anticipated changes

Step 6 : Development of Appropriate Mitigation or

Remediation Plans for Reducing Adverse Impacts
1.Regulatory control on the practice of open burning of agricultural crop
2. Development of vegetation cover and watering or use of wind breaks,
chemical stabilizers is the most common method for the temporary dust
control of nearly 50%. Planting of rapid growing vegetation in construction
areas will reduce dust generation
3. For reducing air- pollutant emissions from unpaved roads. paving the
surface treating with penetration chemicals, working soil-stabilization
chemicals into the roadbed, watering, and traffic-control regulations are some
of the remediation methods adopted
4. In the case of open waste piles and staging areas, dry surface
impoundments. landfills, land treatment systems, and waste stabilization
measures are adopted as fugitive dust control techniques (13).
5. For controlling or reducing air borne pesticide residues
6. 6. Several alternative fuels, including methanol. ethanol, compressed
natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and reformulated gasoline
are recommended by USEPA for reducing air pollution from various
combustion process in automobiles.
7. A number of advanced exhaust emission control technologies for gasoline
and diesel-fueled cars, trucks, and buses are available to minimize the air
pollutant from transportation sector.
8. For purifying gas from various point sources a number of control systems
like cyclones, scrubbers, fabric filters, and/or electrostatic precipitators for
control of particulate emissions are now available. For gaseous organic
and absorbing systems such as flue-gas desulfurization carbon and
sorption can be used for SO2 control.
Thermal incineration flares, carbon adsorption, absorption, condensers,
fabric filters, electrostatic precipitators, and venturi - scrubbers are some of
the control system, being used for reducing pollutant levels from various
point source air pollutants .