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
2. Description of Proposed Action <strong>and</strong> Alternatives
2.1 Proposed Action
This section describes the Proposed Action <strong>and</strong> alternatives considered. As discussed in Section 1.1, the
NEPA process evaluates potential environmental consequences associated with a proposed action <strong>and</strong>
considers alternative courses of action. Reasonable alternatives must satisfy the purpose of <strong>and</strong> need <strong>for</strong> a
proposed action, as defined in Section 1.2. In addition, CEQ regulations also specify the inclusion of a
No Action Alternative against which potential impacts would be compared. While the No Action
Alternative would not satisfy the purpose of or need <strong>for</strong> the Proposed Action, it is analyzed in detail in
accordance with CEQ regulations.
The 377 ABW proposes to construct, operate, <strong>and</strong> maintain a <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> immediately adjacent to the
east of the existing <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> (Pad 5) in the northwestern portion of Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB southeast of the
eastern end of Runway 26 of Albuquerque International Sunport (see Figure 2-1). The proposed <strong>hot</strong>
<strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> would be a 4.2-acre semi-circular <strong>pad</strong> consisting of 18-inch-thick Portl<strong>and</strong> cement concrete
with additives to reduce the effects of ASR 1 on top of base material. A concrete area approximately
200 feet wide would separate the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> <strong>and</strong> Pad 5. A new 6-inch-thick asphalt taxiway
would be constructed from the existing taxiway (leading to Pad 5) to the proposed <strong>pad</strong>, <strong>and</strong> the existing
deteriorating taxiway <strong>for</strong> Pad 5 would be demolished <strong>and</strong> replaced. Construction would likely begin in
mid-2012 <strong>and</strong> last 12 to 14 months.
Other components of the Proposed Action would include construction of anti-terrorism <strong>for</strong>ce protection
(AT/FP) measures (i.e., anti-ram barriers <strong>and</strong> DFPs), new lighting, <strong>and</strong> personnel shelters. Existing antiram
barriers (i.e., cabling) around Pad 5 would be relocated <strong>and</strong> new cabling would be added to enclose
the existing <strong>and</strong> proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong>s <strong>and</strong> their taxiways. DFPs would be constructed around the
proposed <strong>pad</strong> to provide additional security. One personnel shelter would be constructed at the southern
end of the proposed <strong>pad</strong> to provide protection from the elements <strong>for</strong> personnel. The current lighting at
Pad 5 is not adequate; there<strong>for</strong>e, the light poles at Pad 5 would be demolished <strong>and</strong> new mast light poles
would be constructed at both Pad 5 <strong>and</strong> the proposed <strong>pad</strong>. The Proposed Action would comply with
sustainable design principles m<strong>and</strong>ated by EO 13423 <strong>and</strong> minimum DOD AT/FP st<strong>and</strong>ards.
Construction of the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> would require overlap into an area designated as an
Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) site (WP-26) east of Pad 5. WP-26 consists of two ab<strong>and</strong>oned
sewage lagoons that are surrounded by berms <strong>and</strong> a locked fence. WP-26 also includes the golf course
main pond; however, because the pond is approximately 2 miles southeast of the Proposed Action it will
not be considered in this <strong>EA</strong> <strong>and</strong> future reference to WP-26 or ERP site refers to the sewage lagoons only.
Each lagoon covers approximately 7 acres with a total area of 14 acres. WP-26 is contaminated due to its
historical use as settling ponds <strong>for</strong> Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB’s residential <strong>and</strong> light industrial raw sewage. These
historical lagoons were in service <strong>for</strong> a 7-month period (April through October) each year from 1962 to
1987. WP-26 has metals contamination in the surface sediment (i.e., sewage sludge), <strong>and</strong> organics
contamination, including trichloroethylene (TCE), in groundwater (perched aquifer) <strong>and</strong> soil gas. The site
is currently being remediated to excavate surface contamination consisting of the top 5 inches of sewage
sludge; these activities are expected to be completed in Spring 2010. Under the Proposed Action, the
proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> would overlap into the extreme northwestern corner of this site (see Figure 2-1).
1 ASR is a chemical reaction that occurs between alkaline components in Portl<strong>and</strong> cement <strong>and</strong> silica in aggregates
that causes the absorption of water, <strong>and</strong> subsequent swelling <strong>and</strong> cracking of affected concrete.
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
2-1