Final FONSI and EA for hot cargo pad on Kirtland AFB - Kirtland Air ...

<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad
Mexico <strong>and</strong> the United States to determine if a low-income or minority population could be
disproportionately affected by the Proposed Action.
4.13.2 Environmental Consequences
4.13.2.1 Proposed Action
Under the Proposed Action, the 377 ABW would construct, operate, <strong>and</strong> maintain a <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> at
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB adjacent to the existing <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong>. The total cost of construction to build the proposed
<strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> is estimated at $14,600,000 (KAFB undated).
Demographics. The number of workers who would be hired to construct a <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB
would most likely come from within the greater Albuquerque area. Relocation of construction workers to
meet dem<strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong> the Proposed Action would not be expected as the scope of construction activities
should not necessitate out-of-town workers to permanently relocate. No new staff is anticipated to be
hired or transferred to Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB <strong>for</strong> operation <strong>and</strong> maintenance of the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong>. The
number of new residents who would move to the Albuquerque area as result of the Proposed Action
would be negligible; there<strong>for</strong>e, less-than-significant impacts on demographics would be expected as a
result of the Proposed Action.
Employment Characteristics. The construction industry within the Albuquerque MSA should adequately
provide the workers that would be required to construct the <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong>. The number of construction
workers necessary <strong>for</strong> the Proposed Action, estimated to be less than 1 percent of all construction workers
in the Albuquerque area, is not large enough to outstrip the supply of the industry. Indirect beneficial
impacts would result from the increase in payroll, tax revenues, purchase of materials, <strong>and</strong> purchase of
goods <strong>and</strong> services in the area resulting in less-than-significant impacts on the socioeconomic climate of
Albuquerque.
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB. The temporary increase of construction employees at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB would represent a
small increase in the total number of persons working on Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB <strong>and</strong> no additional facilities
(e.g., housing <strong>and</strong> transportation) would be necessary to accommodate the work<strong>for</strong>ce. Changes to
employment <strong>and</strong> expenditures resulting from the Proposed Action would be negligible; there<strong>for</strong>e, lessthan-significant
impacts would be expected.
Environmental Justice <strong>and</strong> Protection of Children. The Albuquerque metropolitan area contains an
elevated minority <strong>and</strong> low-income population in comparison to the United States, but similar to the State
of New Mexico (see Section 3.13.2). Construction activities would be concentrated adjacent to the
existing <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> (Pad 5); there<strong>for</strong>e, no minority population would be disproportionately impacted
by the Proposed Action. Operation of the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> would not result in an increased
number of <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> missions, but would rather provide an additional <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> so that operations
could continue unimpeded. There<strong>for</strong>e, minority populations would not be disproportionately impacted in
the long term. Indirect disproportionate negative impacts on minority, low income, <strong>and</strong> youth populations
would not be expected as result of the Proposed Action.
4.13.2.2 No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, the construction, operation, <strong>and</strong> maintenance of the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong>
<strong>pad</strong> at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB would not occur. No impacts on socioeconomics would be expected as no additional
jobs would be created, expenditures <strong>for</strong> goods <strong>and</strong> services to maintain the existing facilities would be
minimal, <strong>and</strong> there would be no increase in tax revenue as a result of employee wages <strong>and</strong> sales receipts.
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
4-24