Modeling Air Quality Impact Potential of a Nearby Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation for Minidoka National Historic Site
Gómez-Moreno RM, Vaughan J, Lamb B, Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Washington State University. 2010. Modeling Air Quality Impact Potential of a Nearby Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation for Minidoka National Historic Site. Task Agreement #J8W07090008; Cooperative Agreement #H8W07060001. National Park Service. Pullman, WA
The Minidoka National Historic site (MHS), located in Jerome County, Idaho, has been established to preserve a Japanese internment camp from World War II. However, this site is located within an area that includes several Confined Animal Facility Operations (CAFOs), and is within several km of a new proposed CAFO that is designed to house 8000 to 13000 cows. As a result there is significant concern about the potential impacts at the historic site related to odor, respiratory health, and visibility associated with CAFO emissions. Agricultural livestock operations have been identified as an important source of ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter as well various odorous compounds. To help address the potential environmental impacts of the proposed CAFO, dispersion modeling calculations have been conducted using the US EPA CALPUFF dispersion model. The focus of this work is on NH3 concentration levels during winter and summer conditions. Estimates for hydrogen sulfide and PM10 concentrations have also been included. The analyses presented here show that simulated concentrations due to CAFO emissions exhibit a very intermittent pattern at MHS due to changes in wind direction during both winter and summer conditions. The plume from the proposed CAFO produced NH3 concentrations above typical background levels approximately 35% of the time. Peak hourly values were between 0.5 and 1.0 ppm, while mean concentrations were less than 30 ppb. H2S concentrations were estimated to be much less due to lower estimated emission rates, although peak levels were estimated to be above the odor detection threshold. Peak hourly PM10 concentrations were estimated to be in the range of 60 to 78 µg/m3 which is less than the 24-hr average air quality standard for PM10 of 150 µg/m3. The uncertainties in the NH3 levels and those predicted for H2S and PM10 are quite large due to the large uncertainty in current knowledge about pollutant emissions from CAFOs.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gómez-Moreno, Rosa; Vaughan, Joseph; Lamb, Brian; Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Washington State University
- Date of Issue
- 2010-08-13
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- MIIN
- Keywords
- Air Quality, CAFOs, feedlots, health impacts, Idaho, internment camps, Japanese Internment, Livestock, Minidoka, Odor, respiratory health, Study