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

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<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad Ground disturbance <strong>and</strong> noise associated with construction activities might directly or indirectly cause potential effects on biological resources. Direct effects from ground disturbance were evaluated by identifying the types <strong>and</strong> locations of potential ground-disturbing activities in correlation to important biological resources. Mortality of individuals, habitat removal, <strong>and</strong> damage or degradation of habitats are effects that might be associated with ground-disturbing activities. Noise associated with a proposed action might be of sufficient magnitude to result in the direct loss of individuals <strong>and</strong> reduce reproductive output within certain ecological settings. Ultimately, extreme cases of such stresses could have the potential to lead to population declines or local or regional extinction. To evaluate effects, considerations were given to the number of individuals or critical species involved, amount of habitat affected, relationship of the area of potential effect to total available habitat within the region, type of stressors involved, <strong>and</strong> magnitude of the effects. As a requirement under the ESA, Federal agencies must provide documentation that ensures that agency actions do not adversely affect the existence of any threatened or endangered species. The ESA requires that all Federal agencies avoid “taking” threatened or endangered species, which includes jeopardizing threatened or endangered species habitat. Section 7 of the ESA establishes a consultation process with the USFWS that ends with USFWS concurrence or a determination of the risk of jeopardy from a Federal agency project. 4.7.2 Environmental Consequences 4.7.2.1 Proposed Action Vegetation The site of the Proposed Action lies within a previously disturbed area. The site consists of minimal vegetation, mostly annual weeds <strong>and</strong> native grasses, with open asphalt <strong>and</strong> compacted gravel ground surfaces. There<strong>for</strong>e, impacts on vegetation would be less than significant. Wildlife Species <strong>and</strong> Habitat There are several potential prairie dog colonies immediately north <strong>and</strong> east of the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong>. Locations of burrowing owls within the proposed project area are discussed under Threatened <strong>and</strong> Endangered Species. There is a small possibility that noise created during construction <strong>and</strong> demolition activities could result in adverse effects on nearby wildlife. These effects would include subtle, widespread effects from the overall elevation of ambient noise levels. This would result in reduced communications ranges, interference with predator/prey detection, or habitat avoidance. More intense effects would include behavioral change, disorientation, or hearing loss. Predictors of wildlife response to noise include noise type (i.e., continuous or intermittent), prior experience with noise, proximity to a noise source, stage in the breeding cycle, activity, age, <strong>and</strong> sex composition. Prior experience with noise is the most important factor in the response of wildlife to noise, because wildlife can become accustomed (or habituate) to the noise. The rate of habituation to short-term demolition noise is not known. Overall, impacts on wildlife would be less than significant. Existing conditions include flying areas that are located near a major migratory flyway along the Rio Gr<strong>and</strong>e River. It is possible that the updated lighting infrastructure could result in adverse effects on migratory birds in the area. In poor weather conditions, such as low cloud ceiling, fog, rain, or poor visibility, lighted structures might not be visible to migrating birds <strong>and</strong> can cause bird kills because Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011 4-12
<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad nocturnal migrating species are attracted by lights on towers under these conditions (USFWS undated). Although the lighting poles are not expected to exceed 200 feet in height, the possibility exists <strong>for</strong> the birds to be attracted to the lights in the Project area. Light attributes that reduce danger to migrating birds include dim lights, <strong>and</strong> lights with long flash time intervals <strong>and</strong> short flash duration. These have been demonstrated to reduce the danger to migrating birds. Impacts are expected to be minimal due to the low pole height <strong>and</strong> design (i.e., single mast poles without support cables). Overall, due to the current status of the site <strong>and</strong> its location in a developed area, impacts on the wildlife species <strong>and</strong> habitat would be less than significant. Threatened <strong>and</strong> Endangered Species The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is the only species of concern listed by the USFWS in the vicinity. There are three burrowing owl nesting locations within 400 feet of the QD clear zone associated with the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> <strong>and</strong> one owl location within 50 feet of the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> taxiway (Figure 3-8). During ground disturbing construction <strong>and</strong> demolition activities, there is the possibility that at least one of these nests could be disturbed. The category of species of concern, which applies to the burrowing owl, carries no legal requirement, but identifies those species that deserve special consideration in management <strong>and</strong> planning. Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB already has a program in place that identifies locations of nesting burrowing owls <strong>and</strong> has developed procedures to relocate owls if necessary. To avoid disturbances to potential nesting burrowing owls, a survey would be conducted prior to any ground disturbing demolition <strong>and</strong> construction activities. If owls are present, ground disturbing demolition <strong>and</strong> construction activities would only commence after the owls have left from the area (i.e., October 15 through March 15). Additionally, nesting burrows would be flagged <strong>and</strong> avoided during ground disturbing demolition <strong>and</strong> construction activities, so that the nesting sites could still be viable after activities. There<strong>for</strong>e, any impacts on burrowing owls would be expected to be less than significant. Wetl<strong>and</strong>s The USACE <strong>and</strong> USEPA regulate <strong>and</strong> permit dredge <strong>and</strong> fill activities within the waters of the United States, including wetl<strong>and</strong>s under the authority of Section 404 of the CWA. The USEPA reviews <strong>and</strong> provides input to the permit applications. No wetl<strong>and</strong>s are located on the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> site; there<strong>for</strong>e, no impacts on wetl<strong>and</strong>s would be expected. 4.7.2.2 No Action Alternative Under the No Action Alternative, the 377 ABW would not construct the proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> <strong>and</strong> new taxiway. Selection of this alternative would result in continued deterioration of the existing <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> that does not meet current environmental st<strong>and</strong>ards. Furthermore, the frequent maintenance <strong>and</strong> repair to the existing <strong>cargo</strong> <strong>pad</strong> would result in increased noise <strong>and</strong> disturbance by maintenance personnel <strong>and</strong> vehicles. 4.8 Cultural Resources 4.8.1 Evaluation Criteria Adverse impacts on cultural resources can include physically altering, damaging, or destroying all or part of a resource; altering characteristics of the surrounding environment that contribute to the resource’s significance; introducing visual or audible elements that are out of character with the property or that alter its setting; general neglect of the resource to the extent that it deteriorates or is destroyed; or the sale, Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011 4-13
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