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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationinstitutions, and one assisted living facility/nursing home. Figure 4-9 shows the noise-sensitive land uses within theStudy and Project Areas. Non-residential noise-sensitive community facilities incompatible with baseline Airportnoise (exposed to DNL 65 dB and above noise levels for 2004) are discussed in Section 4.2, Noise.4.4 Social and Socioeconomic, and Environmental Justice and Children’s Healthand Safety RisksThis section provides an overview of the regulatory jurisdiction and the methodology for the Baseline Conditionsocial and socioeconomic, and environmental justice population assessment and children’s health and safetyrisks, describes those conditions in the T.F. Green Airport Project Area.4.4.1 MethodologyThe following section provides an overview of the methodologies for the social, socioeconomic, environmentaljustice population, and children’s health and safety Baseline Condition assessment.4.4.1.1 Social and Socioeconomic Assessment MethodologyDemographic and socioeconomic trend data and information (including age, income, household size, andhousing affordability) were provided by DemographicsNow (a private firm that reformats and forecasts datacompiled by the U.S. Census Bureau), 171 and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) todefine the characteristics and trends of the general demographic and socioeconomic conditions surrounding theAirport. Based on available data, 2004 estimates and trend estimates between 1990 and 2000 have been providedfor most demographic indicators. 172 Housing research included a review of the 2004 American CommunitySurvey and realtor data, as well as data provided by the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage FinanceCorporation. Where data were available, projections have been provided to 2009.The business and employment analysis is based on data from the City of Warwick and City of CranstonAssessor's departments, special tabulations of Census of Employment and Wages data provided by the RIDLT(also known as the ES-202 data series) and field reconnaissance information. The Baseline Condition economicconditions of the Study Area in the context of the surrounding economic region were examined by comparingthe industry composition in the Study Area to the economies of City of Warwick, the region (the Cities ofWarwick and Cranston combined) and the State of Rhode Island. Commercial real estate analyses were based onobservations made through field reconnaissance, interviews with local commercial real estate brokers anddevelopers, the State of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, and the Central Rhode Island Chamberof Commerce, as well as tax assessment data from the City of Warwick.Regional Economic Study AreaThe social and socioeconomic conditions assessment includes comparisons of local and state data to regionaldemographic and economic data to provide context for the baseline analysis. The baseline demographic andeconomic conditions of the Study Area in the context of the surrounding larger region were examined bycomparing these conditions to the Cities of Warwick and Cranston, Kent and Providence Counties, and the State171 Demographic Detail Summary Report for the Year 2004, DemographicsNow.com. 2005.172 Statewide demographic data for 2004 are not available. This EIS uses the most current U.S. Census data available and appropriate for the communityanalysis. In general, the 2000 U.S. Census data is the most complete as it includes data from all households that completed census forms that year.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-17 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc