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Riverstone South EAW January 2021 <br />with project development. Project development is expected to result in routine effects on visual <br />resources. The main visual effect will be the transition of views of the project area from mostly open <br />agricultural land to residential development. The project will not involve installation of intense <br />lights that would cause glare, nor will it include industries that would emit vapor plumes. <br />16. Air <br />a. Stationary source emissions. Describe the type, sources, quantities and compositions of any emissions <br />from stationary sources such as boilers or exhaust stacks. Include any hazardous air pollutants, criteria <br />pollutants, and any greenhouse gases. Discuss effects to air quality including any sensitive receptors, <br />human health or applicable regulatory criteria. Include a discussion of any methods used assess the <br />project's effect on air quality and the results of that assessment. Identify pollution control equipment and <br />other measures that will be taken to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects from stationary source <br />emissions. <br />The proposed project does not include heavy industrial facilities, but the project will still involve <br />some stationary source air emissions. New residences and commercial buildings are expected to <br />include heating and cooling systems operated by natural gas and electricity, which will result in <br />direct or indirect sources of stationary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Emissions from heating <br />and cooling systems are expected to be similar to those from other homes in the surrounding area. <br />The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board is working on a framework for integrating greenhouse <br />gas (GHG) quantification and assessment requirements into the Environmental Review Program. <br />However, standard requirements and assessment methods are not yet complete. In light of this <br />constraint and in the absence of official guidance, the GHG assessment presented here is qualitative. <br />Common GHG greenhouse gas emissions include CO2, CH4, N2O. GHG emissions are customarily <br />converted to carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) using global warming conversion factors to <br />represent the global warming potential over 100 years, equivalent to one ton of CO2 derived from <br />fossil fuel. <br />GHG emissions are expected to result from: <br />1. Operation of petroleum fueled equipment during project construction; <br />2. Use of natural gas and other fossil fuels used for heating homes; <br />3. Fossil fuels burned to generate electricity used at the project during construction and <br />operation; <br />4. Vehicle and air transportation related to project construction and operation; <br />5. Transport, treatment, and storage of solid waste and wastewater produced onsite; <br />6. Loss of carbon sequestration due to conversion of natural vegetation to developed and paved <br />surfaces; and <br />7. Refrigeration, air conditioning, and the related manufacturing, service, and leakage of <br />equipment. <br />26 <br />