T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationIn addition to wetland area, only Alternative B1 extends Runway 5-23 across Airport Road and into theheadwaters of Buckeye Brook. Constructing Alternative B1 would result in the loss of 1,793 linear feet of stream(Spring Green Brook and portions of Upper Buckeye Brook) that supports an anadromous fish spawning runinto Spring Green Pond. Direct impact to this fish run stream is avoided entirely by Alternative B4 and onlyminor impact (142 linear feet of Buckeye Brook would be slightly shifted) by Alternative B2. While it is possibleto design a replacement stream to provide fish passage through Buckeye Brook into Spring Green Pond, thisreplacement stream would require extensive and costly excavation and land grading due to the change inelevation between a relocated Spring Green Pond outlet and what would be the closest remaining unaltereddownstream reach of Buckeye Brook. Where practicable alternatives exist, federal and state laws andregulations permitting fill of wetlands require an applicant to select an alternative which avoids and minimizesimpacts on wetlands rather than one which proposes to mitigate for greater wetland losses. This is especially thecase when one alternative (Alternative B1) threatens important existing wetland functions and values(i.e., migratory fish passage) which other Build Alternatives avoid.Level 5 screening criteria evaluate the level of environmental impact and the feasibility or practicability of eachalternative, based on the consideration of:• The level of wetland impact both in terms of area and wetland functions and values;• The likely inability to comply with federal and state wetland program regulations to obtain a permit;• The complexity of assembling suitable sites for a compensatory wetland mitigation program; and• The projected land acquisition, construction, and monitoring costs for implementing such a program.By comparing area of wetland and associated wetland services that would be impacted by Alternative B1 witheither Alternative B2 or B4 there is a greater than 60 percent reduction in wetland area impact associated witheither Alternative B2 or B4.3.7.4.2 Socioeconomic ImpactsAlternative B1 would have the greatest impacts to businesses and second greatest impact to jobs throughacquiring 48 businesses and their associated 358 jobs. (In comparison, Alternative B2 would displace45 businesses and 421 jobs and Alternative B4 would displace 10 businesses and 65 jobs.) Alternative B1 wouldhave the greatest impact on the City of Warwick tax base by eliminating $2 million annually, Alternative B2would eliminate $1.5 million annually, and Alternative B4 would eliminate $900,000 annually. Alternative B1would require the most mandatory residential land acquisition (97 units), and when mandatory and voluntaryresidential land acquisition are combined, Alternative B1 would acquire a total of 444 units. Alternative B2would acquire a total of 269 residential units and Alternative B4 would acquire a total of 204 residential units(mandatory and voluntary). When taking tax losses and impacts to businesses, jobs, and residential units intoaccount, Alternative B1 would result in the highest degree of community disruption when compared toAlternatives B2 and B4.Chapter 3 – Alternatives Analysis 3-33 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH03_Alternatives_JUL_2011.doc