Final Report - VHB.com

Environmental Impacts
Environmental Resources
Both alignments avoid impacts to wetlands, streams, and rivers, and no hazardousmaterial
sites were found in the footprint of the proposed rail alignments. Neither
alignment requires a substantial amount of new pavement, which would limit the
potential for future stormwater impacts. However, the open fields at the northern
end of the NASB runways contain habitat for two protected bird species that depend
on open grasslands: the state-threatened upland sandpiper and state-endangered
grasshopper sparrow. Understanding the potential impacts to these species is an
important issue if Strategy 3 is selected for advancement. Because the western
options affect more of this grassland habitat, it is expected that Options 1 and 1A
would have a greater effect on these species. Additionally, the western options
would have more potential impact to the sand and gravel aquifer found in this area.
Right-of-Way
The western options (Options 1 and 1A) require slightly more ROW acquisition than
the eastern options (Options 2 and 2A), estimated at approximately 7 acres or about 6
acres, respectively. Most of this ROW impact would occur to land currently within
the NASB, with some minor strip takings along Bath Road (i.e., State Route 24). For
this reason, the tax-loss implications of this strategy are quite limited because NASB
property has not previously been on the tax rolls. No park or recreation areas would
be affected.
Cultural Resources
No standing structures would be directly affected by either rail-connection option;
therefore, the potential for impacts to historic buildings is very low. However, as
discussed for Strategy 1, previous archeological studies established a number of
historic and prehistoric archeological sites in this area. Additional field surveys of the
area of potential impact would need to be conducted to adequately understand
potential effects to archeological resources that may result from the construction of
the rail connection.
Airspace Obstruction Analysis
Strategy 3 Options 1, 1A, 2, and 2A, which provide direct freight rail-spur access to
the NASB, were examined to determine if they had any impact to the NASB airspace
for Runways 19R and 19L. Options 1 (grade-separated) and 1A (at-grade) are located
approximately 700 feet east of Runway 19 and fall within the controlling airspace
obstruction departure surface. Options 2 (grade-separated) and 2a (at-grade) are
located approximately 0.5 mile farther east of Runway 19L and out of the direct
influence of the NASB runway obstruction departure surface and not subjected to
any further evaluation. Options 1 and 1A were evaluated to identify potential
conflicts in the form of obstructions, hazards to air navigation, and air-service
limitations that may arise from bringing rail service into the airport. Option 1, as
Conclusions 159