Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway Chalk Point Substation to Indian River ...

Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway Environmental Review Document
Chalk Point Substation to Indian River Substation Volume II – Environmental Analysis of
April 13, 2011 Chalk Point Substation to MD/DE State Line
1.2.1.1.4 Hydric Soils
Hydric soils are defined as those that are sufficiently wet in the upper portion to develop anaerobic
conditions during the growing season. The “Hydric Soils” column of Tables 1.2-2 through 1.2-7 indicates
which soil series (if any) are associated with hydric soils in that map unit, or “None” if the map unit does
not contain any significant area of hydric soils. The land formations associated with the identified hydric
soils (e.g., depressions or flood plains) are also listed in the table. If the relevant soil series contributes
less than 10 percent of the map unit (and is therefore not included in the “Soil Map Unit Composition”
column), the appropriate percentage is also listed; otherwise, only the soil series name is provided since
the relevant percentage was provided already. In general, the hydric soils are likely to be found in the
delineated wetlands within the Project area. Wetlands are addressed in Section 1.4.
1.2.1.2 Chalk Point Substation to Chestnut Converter
Table 1.2-2 summarizes the relevant soil limitations for the portion of the Project right-of-way associated
with the Chalk Point Substation to Chestnut Converter Transmission Line that would be disturbed.
Table 1.2-2
Soil Limitations of Soil Map Units to be Disturbed within the Project Right-of-Way Associated with
the Chalk Point Substation to Chestnut Converter
Map Unit
ReD:
Rumford-
Evesboro
gravelly
loamy
sands, 12 to
20% slopes
SrE
Sassafrass
and
Westphalia
soils, steep
a
b
c
d
e
Extent
(acres)
Soil Map Unit
Composition a
0.01 components:
Evesboro (50%)
Rumford (50%)
0.01 components:
Sassafrass (60%)
Westphalia (40%)
Erosion
Potential b
components:
Severe/2
Severe/3
components:
Severe/2
Severe/3
Values represent the acreage within the estimated areas of disturbance.
1-30
Compaction
Potential c
components:
Moderate
Severe
components:
Moderate
Severe
Prime
Farmland Hydric Soils d
None None
None None
Only the soil series which represent at least 10 percent of the indicated map unit are presented; soil series which represent less than 10
percent of that map unit are not listed.
The water-related erosion potential is listed as ‘Slight’, ‘Moderate’, or ‘Severe’. The wind erodibility is listed as a number from 1 to 8 (1
indicates highly erodible soils; 8 indicates soils not susceptible to wind erosion).
Compaction potential is represented by the USDA-NRCS soil rutting hazard, listed as ‘Slight’, ‘Moderate’, or ‘Severe’.
Any components indicated as hydric soils are listed, with the relevant land formation. Minor soils (those representing less than 10 percent
of the map unit) are listed with the relevant component percentage.
1.2.1.2.1 Erosion Potential
As indicated in Table 1.2-2, approximately 0.1 acre of this segment of the Project right-of-way that is
proposed for disturbance is estimated to have soils with high (severe) water-related erosion potential.