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
3.2.2 Existing Conditions
Ambient Noise Environment. The ambient noise environment at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB is affected mainly by
USAF <strong>and</strong> civilian aircraft operations. The commercial <strong>and</strong> military aircraft operations at Albuquerque
International Sunport are the primary source of noise in the northern <strong>and</strong> northwestern areas of the
installation.
Table 3-2. Predicted Noise Levels <strong>for</strong> Construction <strong>and</strong> Demolition Equipment
Construction Category <strong>and</strong> Equipment
Bulldozer
Dump Truck
Backhoe
Front-End Loaders
Pavers
Source: USEPA 1971
Predicted Noise Level at 50 Feet
80 dBA
83–94 dBA
72–93 dBA
72–82 dBA
87–88 dBA
Noise from aircraft operations is present throughout the northwestern portion of Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB as a result
of operations at the Albuquerque International Sunport. The DNL 65 to 80+ dBA noise contours from
aircraft operations at Albuquerque International Sunport were plotted on an aerial map (see Figure 3-2).
The plotted contours from aircraft operations extend along the runways to the east, west, <strong>and</strong> southwest.
The DNL 65 to 69 dBA noise zone encompasses the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong>, <strong>and</strong> the DNL 70 to 74 dBA
noise zone encompasses the associated new taxiway.
3.3 Visual Resources
3.3.1 Definition of the Resource
Visual resources include the natural <strong>and</strong> man-made physical features that give a particular l<strong>and</strong>scape its
character. The features that <strong>for</strong>m the overall visual impression a viewer receives include l<strong>and</strong><strong>for</strong>ms,
vegetation, water, color, adjacent scenery, scarcity, <strong>and</strong> man-made modifications.
3.3.2 Existing Conditions
Military <strong>and</strong> civilian airfields compose much of the visual environment of Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB. The prominent
visual features of the installation include hangars, maintenance <strong>and</strong> support facilities, <strong>and</strong> aircraft.
Off-installation, the visual environment varies from urban to rangel<strong>and</strong> to <strong>for</strong>est. To the north <strong>and</strong> west of
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB are urban areas of the City of Albuquerque; to the northeast <strong>and</strong> east open spaces, <strong>for</strong>ests,
<strong>and</strong> rangel<strong>and</strong> are the prominent visual features; south of Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB is Isleta Pueblo, which generally
consists of open space, <strong>for</strong>ests, or vacant l<strong>and</strong> (KAFB 2003).
The Proposed Action site is approximately 0.65 miles southeast of the eastern end of the Albuquerque
International Sunport’s Runway 26, immediately east of Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB’s existing <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> (Pad 5).
The Proposed Action area contains a small asphalt-paved vehicle parking area with a service road, a small
storage shed, a personnel shelter, protective bollards <strong>and</strong> fences, <strong>and</strong> natural vegetation. No permanent,
prominent visual features are currently at or in the vicinity of the Proposed Action; however, military
aircraft <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>-based vehicles are often seen at Pad 5 during <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> transport missions. In general,
the aesthetic appearance of the Proposed Action area <strong>and</strong> vicinity is similar to that of a typical military
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
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