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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationfeasibility to reduce the effects of noise on surrounding communities. 151 Major elements of the T.F. Green AirportNCP include:• Airfield: The intersection of Runways 5-23 and 16-34 has been improved and a full parallel taxiway has beenconstructed. These airfield improvements increase efficiency and minimize the amount of aircraft groundmovement and re-positioning, some of which occurred at relatively high power (resulting in relatively highground noise levels).• Flight paths: Noise abatement flight paths have been approved and implemented for all air carrierdepartures. Compliance with these procedures, as reported in the 2010 Fourth Quarter Operations Reports,is 98 to 99 percent for all runways. 152• Ground noise: Aircraft run-up activity is confined to designated locations and times. Auxiliary Power Unitshave been replaced at all but three gates. Restrictions on aircraft re-positioning under power and 180-degreeturns on the runway are in place.• Land Use Measures: Residences exposed to sound levels between DNL 65 dB and DNL 69 dB contour as aresult of Alternatives B2 and B4, would be eligible for sound insulation (discussed further below), 153 andresidences exposed to sound levels of DNL 70 dB and above would be eligible for participation in avoluntary land acquisition program, or VLAP. The residential properties determined to be impacted bynoise from the Airport are based on a current NEM. The majority of the impacted residential propertiesidentified under RIAC’s Part 150 NCP are owner-occupied, single-family dwellings.Based on the 2008 NEM update, 285 residential properties (consisting of 280 housing units) were identified aseligible for acquisition most of which were acquired in 2009 (referred to in this FEIS as the Completed Part 150VLAP). In early 2010, RIAC continued implementation of its Part 150 NCP based on the 2020 NEM, which wasaccepted by the FAA on July 27, 2010. 154 The 2010 NEM update identified 115 residential parcels as eligible foracquisition of which 70 properties have been acquired as of January 2011 (referred to in this FEIS as the CurrentPart 150 VLAP). The Current Part 150 VLAP is scheduled to be complete by 2015 and, therefore, have beentaken into account when determining project-related impacts (see Chapter 5, Environmental Consequences).RIAC Sound Insulation ProgramThe RIAC sound insulation program was initiated in 1990 based on the 1986 NEM and NCP, which accountedfor Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft in the fleet mix. In 1990, the Noise and Capacity Act was promulgated whichrequired the phase out of noisier Stage 1 and 2 aircraft. 155 As part of the 1999 NCP update, the phased outStage 2 aircraft was no longer modeled as part of the T.F. Green Airport fleet mix but a substantial number of“recertified” Stage 2 aircraft fitted with engine hushkits were modeled. The 1999 contours were reduced in sizefrom the original version in 1986, reflecting the removal of the Stage 2 aircraft from the fleet mix. The events ofSeptember 11, 2001 and other factors, such as fuel prices have caused the acceleration of the retirement of the151 T.F. Green Airport FAR Part 150 Study Update, Appendix B, Noise Abatement and Land Use Alternatives, Landrum & Brown, April 2000.152 Permanent Noise Monitoring Act Quarterly Operations Report, 4th Quarter 2010, RIAC. www.pvdairport.com/main.aspx?sec_id=74.153 Includes homes exposed to noise levels up to DNL 69.9 dB.154 The 2020 NEM was derived from the Level 6 2020 No-Action Alternative DNL 70 dB noise contour with additional rounding, as documented in the DEIS.155 When Congress adopted Public Law (PL) 101-508, subtitled the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (the Act), it required the U.S. Secretary of Transportation toestablish a schedule for the phase-out of Part 36 Stage 2 aircraft by the year 2000. Part 91, set the schedule for conversion of Stage 2 aircraft to meet Stage 3 noiselimits by December 31, 1999, but exempted aircraft less than 75,000 pounds maximum gross takeoff weight (approximate size of a business jet).Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-5 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc