Chapter 8 - Atmospheric Environment

8. Atmospheric Environment

The potential effects of the Project, which may occur as a result of air as the pathway on other components of the environment, are discussed in Chapters 10, 14 , 16, and 17.

Air quality and climate are valued because of their intrinsic importance to the health of humans, wildlife, and vegetation. This chapter addresses the potential environmental effects of the Project on the atmospheric environment. The discussion of air quality is restricted to ambient outdoor air quality.

8.1 Existing Environment

The Landscape Region is characterized by extremes in the warm and cold seasons, moderated in part by its proximity to the Labrador Sea. Although the average amount of precipitation is moderate (the normal for Nain is 740 mm), the prolonged winter season, with its sustained snow cover, results in a surface being saturated during much of the year. Therefore, little wind-induced particulate matter is found in the air. The saturated surface conditions, lack of local sources of air emissions, and the distance from industrial or utility emissions result in contaminants occurring only at trace or non-detectable levels.

Contaminants in the air at the Landscape Region include those that have been carried on a continental scale by long-range transport mechanisms and those that are the result of local phenomena. The continental air mass trajectories are generally from southwest to northeast; air masses are moved from the central eastern areas of the continent up the Atlantic coast. Although air masses which carry contaminants from industrial areas in the southwest can move across the Landscape Region, contaminants would be greatly diluted and a large amount of deposition would occur before the air masses reached the Landscape Region.

The climate of the Landscape Region is important to the maintenance of ecosystem function and integrity. Climate observations reported by participants in an Inuit environmental knowledge study (Williamson 1997) were often linked to distribution of seals, ducks, and other resources.

8.1.1 Environmental Assessment Boundaries

Capitalized terms used (such as Landscape Region and VBNC Claim Block) may be defined in other chapters. Some terms and phrases used may have different definitions in other chapters depending upon the context in which they are used, for example, the Assessment Area.

The environmental assessment boundary for atmospheric environment is the 495 km²VBNC Claim Block and adjacent areas, totalling approximately 700 km² (Atmospheric Environment Assessment Area) (Figure 8.1). Environmental effects predictions will be made for this area.

Figure 8.1 Atmospheric Environment Assessment Area and Meteorology and Air Sampling Stations

8.1.1.1 Administrative Boundaries

The Atmospheric Environment Branch of Environment Canada is responsible for forecasting weather in Canada. The airport at Nain is the weather station nearest the Assessment Area.

Canada is participating in a number of international initiatives oriented to the protection of the global climate from inadvertent changes due to human activities. Canada's initiatives include federal regulations to address the emissions of contaminants from internal combustion engines, and programs and regulations to encourage industries to register their plans to manage emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Newfoundland Air Pollution Control Regulations pursuant to the Newfoundland Environment Act (Newfoundland) (NF Regulation 957/96) include Schedule A (Criteria for Acceptable Air Quality) and Schedule B (Standards for Emitted Contaminants). These provincial criteria have parameters similar to the federal guidelines (Ambient Air Quality Objectives) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The air quality criteria used for this assessment are indicated in Table 8.1.

The most common measurement unit for air contaminants is micrograms of contaminant per cubic metre of air (m; g/m³). A microgram is one-millionth of one gram.

Table 8.1 Air Quality Criteria

Contaminant	Averaging Period	Newfoundland and Labrador Criteria for Acceptable Air Quality^a (m; g/m³)	Canadian Ambient Air Quality Objectives, Maximum Desirable/ Acceptable/ Tolerable Levels^b in (m;g/m³)	Newfoundland and Labrador Point of Impingement Limits^c 1-hour average (m;g/m³)
SO₂	1 hr 24 hr 1 yr	900 300 60	450 / 900 / -- 150 / 300 / 800 30 / 60 / --	680
NO_x(as NO₂)	1 hr 24 hr 1 yr	400 200 -	-- / 400 / 1000 -- / 200 / 300 60 / 100 / --	400
Total Suspended Particulate Matter	1 hr 24 hr 1 yr	- 120 60	- -- / 120 / 400 60 / 70 / --	80
Suspended Particulate Matter (less than 10 m;)	24 hr	50	-	-
Dustfall	1 hr 1 mo 1 yr	- 7.0 g/m²4.6 g/m²	- - -	7000 m; g/m²
Suspended Particulate Matter (less than 2.5 m; )	24 hr	25	-	-
CO	1 hr 8 hr	36,200	15,000 / 35,000 / -- 6000 / 15,000 / 20,000	5000
Cobalt	24 hr	0.1	-	-
Copper	24 hr	50	-	80.0
Nickel	24 hr	2.0	-	4.0

^a NF Reg 957/96, Air Pollution Control Regulations, Schedule A, Criteria for Acceptable Air Quality
^bCanadian Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Ambient Air Quality Objectives Order, No. 1, Schedule 1
^c NF Reg 957/96, Air Pollution Control Regulations, Schedule B, Standards for Emitted Contaminants
"- " means not specified by regulations

Schedule A of Regulation 957/96 includes criteria for ambient air under the influence of all sources. Schedule B is used to assess the acceptability of contributions from individual sources to air quality.

8.1.1.2 Technical Boundaries

The mathematical models used to predict the downwind extent of contaminant dispersion are subject to certain technical limitations because of the complexity of the terrain and limits in weather information. These limitations mean that predictions are accurate to within approximately 10 km of the source of air emission. Beyond this, the accuracy of the predictions decreases.

8.1.2 Methods

Air quality and meteorological data collected within the VBNC Claim Block included hourly meteorological data from two automated stations (at the port and Camp Pond). A manual station at Edward's Cove operated in 1995 prior to the installation of the automated stations later that year. Two weather stations, located at the proposed port (Edward's Cove) and near the proposed mill site, north of Camp Pond, measure temperature, precipitation (rain and snow), relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed and direction. An additional station was built near the location of Eastern Deeps, on October 22, 1996, to collect baseline data.

Airborne particulate was sampled as total suspended particulate (TSP) and total dustfall. Three high-volume air sampler stations were established to monitor TSP and 45 samples were collected between October 1995 and November 1996. Each sample for TSP was taken over a 24-hour period. Eight dustfall sampling stations were established at locations shown in Figure 8.1. Dustfall samples were taken over a minimum 30-day period during early winter 1995, summer 1996, and fall 1996.

Existing levels of NO_x and SO₂ were measured by ambient air analyzers installed at the Anaktalak Bay Camp. The continuous monitors ran for one month from mid-September through mid-October, 1996. Readings were recorded every half hour and a complete set of data are included in JWEL (1997a).

Plume dispersion modelling was used to assess potential effects of air emissions on air quality within the Assessment Area. Dispersion models are mathematical techniques that numerically simulate the release and transport of contaminants in the atmosphere. The techniques are summarized here and are discussed at greater length in JWEL (1997b). The computer models require three types of input information:

sources- estimates of the number, emission rate, and physical characteristics of emission sources;
weather- weather information, including the wind direction, speed, atmospheric turbulence; and
geometry- the spatial coordinates, including elevation, of the sources and the receptors (the locations at which contaminant concentrations are to be calculated).

The Industrial Source Complex (ISC3) model developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was used to model point, area, and volume sources of air emissions. The model is generally accepted (including by the Newfoundland Department of Environment and Labour) as the most appropriate model for such applications. The CAL3QHC model was used to assess the dispersion of emissions resulting from vehicular movement between the mill and mine and Edward's Cove; it is the preferred model for predicting emissions from linear sources.

The meteorological data for the dispersion model were obtained from measurements made at the Camp Pond station. Approximately one year of data was processed.

The points that were modelled for contaminant concentrations were on a grid that was just over 20 km by 30 km and included the entire VBNC Claim Block. The points were at 1 km intervals in the area nearest the sources, and the spacing was increased to approximately 2 km at the edge of the grid. A total of 423 points were used in the model. The elevation of each point was obtained from 1:50,000 topographic maps.

8.1.3 Existing Condition

"The climate of northern Labrador is best characterized by variable conditions with sudden and violent changes." (Williamson 1997:8)

The Landscape Region is located in the upper mid-latitudes and is characterized by strong seasonal variations in the strength and position of predominant winds, general air circulation, and seasonal storm systems. The climate normals during the fall and winter are a result of intense low pressure systems moving into the area from the Labrador Sea. These low pressure systems bring gale to storm-force winds and heavy precipitation (mostly snow) to the coast. This explains why the maximum precipitation events occur in the fall and winter, whereas the spring and summer are drier seasons. The annual temperature variation can mostly be attributed to the change in insolation (incoming solar radiation) from the sun over the course of the year.

Winter winds have a strong and persistent westerly flow, and summer winds are generally easterly. The summer easterlies are a result of the wind having blown inland off the Labrador Current (Environment Canada 1993). In the winter, the climate is heavily influenced by the polar circulation which brings cold air masses into Labrador. Sea-ice cover in winter reduces influences from the Labrador Current. The average monthly wind speed, measured at the two weather stations, was highest in the winter months, which is consistent with the climate normals.

Precipitation levels, relative humidity, and wind speeds were different at the Camp Pond station and port station, but the temperatures and prevailing wind directions were similar. The port station is located at a low elevation with steep rises behind it. When air masses travel upslope, the conditions cool the air and can result in clouds and precipitation (Bluestein 1992). Often, the rain falls only on the windward slope of the barrier (Oke 1987). This could explain why the Camp Pond station sometimes recorded precipitation that was higher than at the port station.

Winds are generally stronger at the port station than at the Camp Pond station. In an east-west oriented fjord like Anaktalak Bay, winds will be channelled within the fjord to create prevailing winds that also are east-west oriented. The steep sides of the fjord also increase the magnitude of the winds. The Camp Pond station is surrounded by hills which provide some shelter and decrease the magnitude of these east-west winds.

Historically, human population density in the Landscape Region has been low. There is no evidence of large-scale clearing or other activity that would have any effects on the local climate.

8.1.3.1 Climate Change

Participant from 1997 Inuit study: "The weather was good for long periods of time when I was growing up, even when I was married...now the storms are more frequent and severe...also very changeable, quickly changing from mild to cold and vice versa...the autumns are especially windy and dangerous for speed boats." (Williamson 1997:39)

The issue of climate change is difficult to address because scientific opinions about the type and magnitude of change that may be experienced vary widely. In general, the mean global atmospheric temperature is predicted to rise if the atmospheric carbon dioxide level increases.

Large areas of Canada are predicted to experience warming, and historical data support this prediction. In Atlantic Canada, however, the predictions and observations are for small changes in average temperatures. A small rise (0.4 - 0.5°C) has been reported over the last 100 years by some researchers (Gullett and Skinner 1992), while others have examined the data and report a small decline in temperature (Pocklington and Morgan 1996). Therefore, the anticipated change in temperature in Labrador due to climate change is not established. However, current evidence suggests that over the time scale of the Project the change in mean temperature may be small and downward, about a decrease of about one Celsius degree.

There is general agreement among scientists that the climate has become more variable, and that the variability will persist. This means that more extreme weather events can be anticipated. Storm severity may increase, precipitation extremes may occur, and the hydrological balance may be affected.

Analysis of the variability of storm waves by Swail (1996) shows little trend off Newfoundland, but there is a tendency to reduced storm waves in the Labrador area. It was concluded that there is no definite trend, but that there were apparent trends caused by the occurrence of a few large events. Water temperature and sea ice will also be affected, but the effects are difficult to predict, and lack of definitive data exacerbates the difficulty of differentiating between relatively short time scale anomalies and long-term changes (Petrie 1996).

Participant from 1997 Inuit study: "There's a lot of difference on the land itself....a lot of bogs and smaller lakes here are drying, they seem to be draining and the rivers themselves are getting shallow...the tide through the Bridges (south side of Paul's Island) is getting much stronger than it used to be...in places it's getting shallower, you can see the bottom where you couldn't before...it's tidier and shallower in many places in the Nain district." (Williamson 1997:39)

There is a growing body of scientific evidence indicating that the mean sea level is rising globally. A continuing increase in global temperature will reduce the polar and glacial ice volume, which will in turn cause a rise in sea level.

In the Landscape Region the sea level may rise or fall, depending on the relative magnitude of the global change and local crustal motions. In Labrador, the sea level has been falling for the past 9000 years due to crustal uplift (Clark and Fitzhugh 1991). Current projections give a best estimate sea level rise of 49 cm by the year 2100 (Houghton et al. 1995). During the life of the Project, and assuming a constant increase, the increase in sea level adjacent to the VBNC Claim Block will be approximately 12 cm.

8.1.3.2 Air Sampling Results

A literature review for air monitoring results in the Landscape Region indicated that no monitoring of any ambient air parameters had been conducted prior to 1995.

Existing ambient air quality was determined by conducting field monitoring commencing late in 1995, for total suspended particulates (TSP), dustfall, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide. Proximity to the Voisey's Bay Exploration Camp and Anaktalak Bay Camp had some very minor influence on samples taken, but the data set obtained is a good representation of baseline data for the Landscape Region. The monitoring program, including the sampling and analytical methods, is described in JWEL (1997a).

The wide variability in the TSP monitoring results is common at very low ambient particulate levels and may have been related to local wind patterns. The dustfall levels, in general, are within the regulatory standards.

NO_x and SO₂ are primarily products of fossil fuel combustion, and the detected presence of these substances could indicate exhaust from the camp generator, helicopters and camp equipment, or longer-range transport. The ambient air concentrations of NO_xand SO₂that were measured are within regulatory limits.

In summary, all concentrations of parameters measured were within the Newfoundland ambient air quality criteria and the desirable range of air quality established by the federal Ambient Air Quality Objectives.

8.1.3.3 Winds

Participant from 1997 Inuit Study: "There is less winds these days...before there were very strong easterly winds, but these days the winds don't seem so strong." (Williamson 1997: 39)

Since the Landscape Region is located on the coast of Labrador, it experiences strong seasonal effects and movements of air masses. The predominant air flow is off the land, but there is an occurrence of easterlies blowing inland off the Labrador Current (AES 1990). At both meteorological stations the prevailing winds were mainly westerly, with easterly winds occurring mainly during the early summer months. The average monthly wind speeds and directions are listed in Table 8.2. The wind directions at the two sites are very similar. A graphic comparison of the wind directions at the two sites is presented in Figure 8.2.

Table 8.2 Monthly Average Wind Speeds and Prevailing Wind Directions at Meteorological Stations

	Prevailing Wind Direction			Average Wind Speed (km/hr)
Month- Year		Camp Pond Station	Port Station	Camp Pond Station	Port Station
November - 95		W	n/a	6.5	n/a
December - 95		WSW	SW	6.8	n/a
January - 96		W	W	8.5	n/a
February - 96		W	WSW	7.2	n/a
March - 96		W	W	15.7	17.0
April - 96		E	E	9.2	10.0
May - 96		W	W	11.8	12.9
June - 96		E	E	8.4	9.9
July - 96		E/ENE	E/ENE	8.6	11.9
August - 96		WNW	WSW	10.2	13.0
September - 96		WNW	WNW	9.3	10.9
October - 96		W	W	11.5	15.8
November - 96		W	WNW	12.3	16.9
December - 96		W	W	12.1	10.7
January - 97		W	W	18.3	21.9
February - 97		W	W	15.4	17.8
March - 97		W	WNW	15.7	17.3
April - 97		W	ENE	9.7	10.4
May - 97		ENE	ENE	11.0	11.4
June - 97		ENE	ENE	9.5	11.5
July - 97		ENE	ENE	8.0	11.7
August - 97		ENE	WSW	7.5	9.9
September - 97		E	E	6.6	8.6

Figure 8.2 Wind Direction Frequency Distribution (%) at Port and Camp Pond Stations

The average hourly wind speed at the port station was 13.5 km/hr versus 11.2 km/hr at the Camp Pond station. The maximum gust wind speed was 105 km/hr at the port and 100 km/hr at the Camp Pond station. The maximum hourly average winds were 72.5 and 57.4 km/hr for the port and Camp Pond stations, respectively.

8.1.3.4 Temperature and Humidity

The weather instruments at the Camp Pond station began operation in November 1995. Data through September 1997 were used in this analysis. The port station temperature readings began in mid-February (1996). The monthly temperature data and Nain historic monthly temperatures are listed in Table 8.3. Temperature extremes for the port station were -32.3 to 31.9° C and for the Camp Pond station, -39.8 to 32.6° C.

Table 8.3 Monthly Average Temperatures at Meteorological Stations and Nain Historic Normals

Month	Camp Pond Station (^oC)	Port Station (^oC)	Nain Historic^a Normals^b(^oC)
November - 95	-5.5	-5.2	-5.3
December - 95	-12.5	-10.2	-12.4
January - 96	-19.9	-18.8	-17.0
February - 96	-15.4	-14.4	-16.4
March - 96	-11.7	-11.0	-11.3
April - 96	-0.3	-0.2	-4.9
May - 96	0.9	1.0	1.1
June - 96	6.1	5.7	6.0
July - 96	10.3	10.4	9.8
August - 96	12.9	12.6	9.7
September - 96	7.0	7.0	5.9
October - 96	-0.1	1.3	0.4
November - 96	-3.1	-1.9	-5.3
December -96	-12.6	-10.1	-12.4
January - 97	-16.0	-14.8	-17.0
February - 97	-24.5	-22.4	-16.4
March - 97	-16.3	-15.0	-11.3
April - 97	-6.4	-5.5	-4.9
May - 97	1.6	1.7	1.1
June - 97	7.7	5.3	6.0
July - 97	9.4	9.9	9.8
August - 97	10.3	10.7	9.7
September - 97	8.5	9.1	5.9
^a Historic monthly average irrespective of year ^bAES 1983

The comparison to Nain climate normals shows that the temperatures were slightly colder than normal during the winter of 1995-96 and the spring of 1996, but they were slightly warmer than usual during the late summer and early fall.

The maximum daily average temperature at the Camp Pond station was over 20 °C in early August, (1996). In mid-January the temperature dropped to -30 °C. At the port station, the maximum daily average temperature reached 20 °C in early August also. Both stations showed temperatures warmer than the Nain climatic normals for August by three degrees (Celsius). The minimum daily average temperature recorded at the port station since is establishment is -20 °C. The average daily temperatures were 11.4 °C at the Camp Pond station and 8.5 °C at the port station.

The average monthly relative humidities are listed in Table 8.4. The Camp Pond station relative humidity readings were consistently more humid throughout the year than at the port station. The average difference in relative humidity readings was 8 percent. The lowest relative humidity readings for both stations were recorded in January and May 1996. The peak humidity event in May at the port station happened at the same time as the spring runoff.

Table 8.4 Monthly Average Relative Humidity Values at Meteorological Stations

Month � Year	Camp Pond Station(%)	Port Station(%)
November � 95	77	66
December � 95	78	67
January � 96	66	59
February � 96	76	69
March � 96	75	68
April � 96	78	74
May � 96	72	65
June � 96	78	71
July � 96	77	69
August � 96	77	68
September � 96	74	69
October � 96	79	61
November � 96	79	70
December � 96	79	74
January � 97	74	70
February � 97	59	52
March � 97	65	66
April � 97	72	65
May � 97	83	73
June � 97	76	73
July � 97	84	81
August � 97	78	71
September � 97	87	81

8.1.3.5 Precipitation

In Labrador, the ground is usually snow-covered for eight months in the north and for six month in the south (AES 1990).

Participant from 1997 Inuit Study: "...in the past there would be a lot of snow now (March) between the houses, windswept and rough, but today it's not like that...I miss the snow." (Williamson 1997:40)

The Camp Pond station measured snow depth and precipitation, and the port station measured rainfall. The port station tipping bucket rain gauge was activated on June 28, 1996 and a comparison of the two stations was performed from this date to October 1996. The precipitation characteristics for the VBNC Claim Block, which determine the natural stream flows, are discussed in Section 10.1.5.1, under "Hydrology".

8.1.3.6 Total Suspended Particulate

The air sampling results for TSP are listed in Table 8.5. The measurements were 1.30 �g/m³ to 42.14 �g/m³, with a mean annual concentration of 10.68 �g/m³. These are within the Newfoundland particulate criteria of 120 �g/m³ per 24-hour period and 60 �g/m³ for the annual average. Previous studies have shown that particulate matter concentrations in rural areas generally average less than 40 �g/m³ over a 24-hour period (Environment Canada 1990:53).

Table 8.5 Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) Sampling Results

Date	Voisey's Exploration Camp (�g/m³)	Anaktalak Bay Exploration Camp (�g/m³)	Eastern Deeps (�g/m³)
Oct-24-95	4.70	4.73	-
Oct-30-95	1.76	2.00	-
Nov-05-95	5.09	3.49	-
Nov-11-95	6.55	12.21	-
Nov-16-95	3.85	-	-
Nov-17-95	-	2.24	-
Mar-22-96	-	4.05	-
Mar-29-96	-	5.87	-
Apr-05-96	-	15.46	-
Apr-11-96	-	7.57	-
Apr-17-96	-	4.99	-
May-21-96	4.25	-	-
May-27-96	6.52	-	-
Jun-02-96	11.09	-	-
Jun-10-96	6.84	-	-
Jun-14-96	3.38	-	-
Jul-29-96	11.86	36.85	-
Aug-04-96	42.14	21.82	-
Aug-10-96	16.94	8.31	-
Aug-16-96	17.69	14.05	-
Aug-22-96	12.97	20.55	-
Sep-18-96	18.81	8.97	-
Sep-24-96	7.81	5.04	-
Sep-30-96	4.98	4.62	-
Oct-06-96	14.40	20.87	-
Oct-12-96	3.95	17.75	-
Oct-22-96	-	-	8.20
Oct-27-96	-	-	11.30
Nov-01-96	-	-	27.60
Nov-05-96	-	-	1.30
Nov-08-96	-	-	3.00
Note: Regulated Limit = 120 �g/m³

8.1.3.7 Dustfall

The dustfall sampling results are listed in Table 8.6. The measurements were 0.67 g/m²/30 d to 13.72 g/m²/30 d, with an annual mean of 3.16 g/m²/30 d. The criteria for acceptable dustfall are 7 g/m²/30 d for any sample and 4.6 g/m²/30 d annual average. During the fall 1995 sampling period, one station exceeded the regulated limit by 1.38 g/m²/30 d and during the fall 1996 sampling period one sample exceeded the limit by 6.72 g/m²/30 d. These samples were probably contaminated by a random event.

Table 8.6 Voisey's Exploration Camp - Dustfall Sampling Results

Station	Duration Days	Total Dustfall (g/m²/30 d)
October 20, 1995 - December 6, 1995
DO-1	38	2.79
DO-2	38	2.79
DO-3	38	2.79
DO-4	38	5.58
DO-5	38	5.58
DO-6	38	8.38
DO-7	38	2.79
DO-8	38	2.79
July 12, 1996 - September 10, 1996
DO-1	59	1.26
DO-2	57	1.08
DO-3	57	0.67
DO-4	59	2.01
DO-5	59	6.83
DO-6	57	2.10
DO-7	60	1.66
DO-8	60	1.36
September 28, 1996 - November 13, 1996
DO-1	47	Broken
DO-2	47	0.99
DO-3	47	1.53
DO-4	49	2.97
DO-5	49	13.72
DO-6	47	1.38
DO-7	47	1.47
DO-8	47	3.14

8.1.3.8 Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen

Results of ambient monitoringconducted in September and October, 1996 for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) are summarized in Table 8.7. The values of NO₂ and SO₂ were generally very low, often below the detection limits of the analyzers. Records with no detectable concentrations were assigned a value of half the detection limit for statistical calculations.

Table 8.7 Summary Statistics for NO₂ and SO₂

Statistical Parameters	NO₂	SO₂
	�g/m³	�g/m³
Detection Limit	0.91	1.5
Geometric Mean	0.97	1.7
Maximum	19.3	49.7
Date and Time of Occurrence of Maximum	10/8/96 10:00	10/8/96 10:00
Minimum	0.04	0.19
Number of No Detects	255	422
Number of Readings	1037	1520
% Below Detection	24.6%	27.8%

The geometric mean concentration of NO₂ was 0.97 �g/m³; the maximum NO₂ level detected was 19.3 �g/m³, which is within the regulated 1-hour maximum of 400 �g/m³. NO₂ was not detected for 24.6% of recorded values.

The SO₂ geometric mean level was 1.7 �g/m³; the maximum measured concentration was 49.7 �g/m³, which is within the regulated 1 hour maximum of 900 �g/m³. Sulphur dioxide was not detected for 27.8% of recorded values.

8.1.3.9 Chemical Composition of Particulates

A number of the Ttotal suspended particulate samples taken during the same September - October 1996 sample period as the NO_xand SO₂monitoring were analyzed for nickel, copper, cobalt, sulphates, and nitrates. The measured concentrations, the regulatory limits for acceptable air quality under the Newfoundland Air Pollution Control Regulation 957/96, and the laboratory detection limits, are listed in Table 8.8. All results from the Voisey's Exploration Camp monitoring station were below the regulated limits. Cobalt was undetected for all samples. Nickel and copper had (maximum) background concentrations of 0.01 �g/m³ and 1.1 �g/m³, respectively.

Table 8.8 Background Composition of Total Suspended Particulate

		TSP		Nickel	Cobalt		Copper	Sulphate	Nitrate
Station	Date	�g/m³	�g/m³		�g/m³	�g/m³		�g/m³	�g/m³
Regulated Limits¹	n/a	120		2	0.1		50	n/a	n/a
Detection Limits	n/a	0.06		0.008	0.008		0.008	0.09	0.009
Voisey's Bay Camp	Sep-18	18.81		0.009	nd		0.504	0.09	0.015
Voisey's Bay Camp	Sep-24	7.81		0.008	nd		1.105	0.27	0.025
Voisey's Bay Camp	Sep-30	4.98		0.010	nd		0.400	0.48	nd
Voisey's Bay Camp	Oct-06	14.40		0.009	nd		0.764	nd	nd
Voisey's Bay Camp	Oct-12	3.95		nd	nd		0.171	1.68	0.021
Anaktalak Bay	Sep-18	8.97		0.007	nd		0.576	1.30	0.010
Anaktalak Bay	Sep-24	5.04		0.008	nd		0.621	nd	nd
Anaktalak Bay	Sep-30	4.62		nd	nd		0.265	0.09	nd
Anaktalak Bay	Oct-06	20.87		0.008	nd		0.429	0.09	0.021
Anaktalak Bay	Oct-12	17.75		0.009	nd		0.839	0.87	0.021
Geometric Mean	n/a	8.929		0.008	n/a		0.501	0.34	0.018
Note: "nd" indicates parameter not detected n/a indicates not applicable 1. NF Reg. 957/96 Schedule A, Criteria for Acceptable Air Quality (24-hour maximum)

It is not unusual to detect nickel, cobalt, and copper during background monitoring since atmospheric nickel, cobalt, and copper emissions occur in both natural and anthropogenic sources. In this case, the emissions are probably not of local anthropogenic origin because site activities were restricted to exploration drilling at the time of sampling. Natural nickel sources include windblown soil and dust, vegetation, and sea salt. Long-range transport of trace metals from industrial areas in Canada or the United States could also be responsible for the levels observed.

There are no regulatory limits on sulphates and nitrates but these parameters are used as indicators of particulates associated with acid rain. The concentrations measured within the VBNC Claim Block are very low. The geometric means of the samples are compared to 1991 National Air Pollution Surveillance Program data (EPS 1991:46-47, 50-51) in Table 8.9.

Table 8.9 Comparative Levels of Sulphate and Nitrate at Canadian Stations

	Sulphate (�g/m³)	Nitrate (�g/m³)
Voisey's Bay/Anaktalak Bay	0.344	0.018
St. John's, NF	3.32	0.39
Yellowknife, NWT	1.55	0.30

These background sulphate and nitrate concentrations indicate little long range industrial influence on the current air quality conditions at the site.

8.1.4 Likely Future Conditions

The expected condition of the atmospheric environment within the Assessment Area within the expected lifespan of the Project, and in the absence of Project activities, is likely to result in little change in present air quality, either from local or long range influences. Current thinking on climate change indicates that there is likely to be small variations in temperature, more extreme weather, and a small rise in sea level over the next 25 years.