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
3. Affected Environment
All potentially relevant resource areas were initially considered <strong>for</strong> analysis in this <strong>EA</strong>. In compliance
with NEPA <strong>and</strong> CEQ guidelines, the discussions of the affected environment in Section 3 <strong>and</strong> the
environmental consequences in Section 4 focus only on those resource areas considered potentially
subject to impacts <strong>and</strong> with potentially significant environmental issues. This section includes l<strong>and</strong> use,
noise, visual resources, air quality, geology <strong>and</strong> soils, water resources, biological resources, cultural
resources, infrastructure, hazardous materials <strong>and</strong> waste, safety, aircraft safety, <strong>and</strong> socioeconomics <strong>and</strong>
environmental justice. Airspace management is not addressed in this <strong>EA</strong> because the Proposed Action
does not involve any resources that would impact airspace.
3.1 L<strong>and</strong> Use
3.1.1 Definition of the Resource
The term “l<strong>and</strong> use” refers to real property classifications that indicate either natural conditions or the
types of human activity occurring on a parcel. In many cases, l<strong>and</strong> use descriptions are codified in local
zoning laws. However, there is no nationally recognized convention or uni<strong>for</strong>m terminology <strong>for</strong>
describing l<strong>and</strong> use categories. As a result, the meanings of various l<strong>and</strong> use descriptions, “labels,” <strong>and</strong>
definitions vary among jurisdictions. Natural conditions of property can be described or categorized as
unimproved, undeveloped, conservation or preservation area, <strong>and</strong> natural or scenic area. There is a wide
variety of l<strong>and</strong> use categories resulting from human activity. Descriptive terms often used include
residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional, <strong>and</strong> recreational. USAF installation l<strong>and</strong> use
planning commonly utilizes 12 general l<strong>and</strong> use classifications: Airfield, Aircraft Operations <strong>and</strong>
Maintenance, Industrial, Administrative, Community (Commercial), Community (Service), Medical,
Housing (Accompanied), Housing (Unaccompanied), Outdoor Recreation, Open Space, <strong>and</strong> Water
(USAF 1998a).
Two main objectives of l<strong>and</strong> use planning are to ensure orderly growth <strong>and</strong> compatible uses among
adjacent property parcels or areas. According to Air Force Pamphlet (AFPAM) 32-1010, L<strong>and</strong> Use
Planning, l<strong>and</strong> use planning is the arrangement of compatible activities in the most functionally effective
<strong>and</strong> efficient manner (USAF 1998a). Compatibility among l<strong>and</strong> uses fosters the societal interest of
obtaining the highest <strong>and</strong> best uses of real property. Tools supporting l<strong>and</strong> use planning within the
civilian sector include written master plans/management plans, policies, <strong>and</strong> zoning regulations. The
USAF comprehensive planning process also utilizes functional analysis, which determines the degree of
connectivity among installation l<strong>and</strong> uses as well as between installation <strong>and</strong> off-installation l<strong>and</strong> uses, to
determine future installation development <strong>and</strong> facilities planning.
In appropriate cases, the location <strong>and</strong> extent of a proposed action needs to be evaluated <strong>for</strong> its potential
effects on a project site <strong>and</strong> adjacent l<strong>and</strong> uses. The <strong>for</strong>emost factor affecting a proposed action in terms
of l<strong>and</strong> use is its compliance with any applicable l<strong>and</strong> use or zoning regulations. Other relevant factors
include matters such as existing l<strong>and</strong> use at the project site, the types of l<strong>and</strong> uses on adjacent properties
<strong>and</strong> their proximity to a proposed action, the duration of a proposed activity, <strong>and</strong> its “permanence.”
3.1.2 Existing Conditions
Surrounding L<strong>and</strong> Use. Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB is in the southwestern portion of Bernalillo County, New Mexico
(see Figure 1-1). It is bounded on the west <strong>and</strong> north by the City of Albuquerque, on the northeast <strong>and</strong>
east by the Cibola National Forest, <strong>and</strong> on the south by Isleta Indian Reservation (Isleta Pueblo). The
Albuquerque International Sunport, the City of Albuquerque’s airport, abuts Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB’s northwestern
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
3-1