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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation• Levels of HAPs were within acute (short-term) health benchmarks.• Levels of HAPs were above chronic (long-term) benchmarks, but are the same as elsewhere in Rhode Island.• Black carbon levels were elevated downwind of the Airport in comparison to other stations; the Airport issuspected as a source.• Formaldehyde levels were elevated at one site near the Airport but the source is currently undetermined.RIAC Permanent Air Quality Monitoring ProgramRIAC implemented a permanent air monitoring system around the Airport in early 2008. 198 This system iscomprised of four separate monitoring stations located north, east, west and south of the Airport and wasdeveloped in accordance with state law and monitors ambient levels of PM 2.5, ultra-fine PM, black carbon and avariety of other HAPs. The resulting data are reported to RIDEM on a quarterly basis.4.7 Historic, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural ResourcesThis section discusses the methods used to survey historical, architectural, archaeological, and culturalresources and describes the resources identified within the Project Area.4.7.1 MethodologyAll surveys were conducted following the methodology defined in The Secretary of the Interior's Standards andGuidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation and National Park Service Bulletin #24 – Guidelines for Local199, 200Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning. The initial step of each survey was to define the Area of PotentialEffect (APE), which is discussed further below. The surveys involved a review of existing cultural resourcesurvey information to identify known historical properties within the APE; historical contexts that outline themajor themes and events in the development of the Airport and its surrounding neighborhoods; fieldwork andvisual inspection to confirm the location and current condition of previously recorded historic properties in theAPE and to locate previously unidentified historical properties; and preparation of Rhode Island HistoricalPreservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) Inventory Forms for buildings and archaeological site formsfor sites that appear to have potential for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Criteria(criteria A-D) established by the National Park Service for registering properties in the NRHP were employed inthe preliminary assessment to identify potential direct and indirect impacts within the APE.For potential archaeological resources, state site files research, archival studies, and a walkover inspection ofundisturbed areas within the APE where direct impacts would occur were conducted. RIAC provided supplementalinformation on the history of landscape development on and surrounding the areas of proposed improvements. TheCity of Warwick historical context is drawn from information contained in the Comprehensive Plan of the City ofWarwick, Historic Element, 201 and from the 1981 Statewide Historical Preservation Report. 202198 Air Quality Monitoring Work Plan for T.F. Green Airport, Prepared in Support of the State of Rhode Island Permanent Air Quality Monitoring Act, RhodeIsland Airport Corporation. October 29, 2007.199 Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, National Park Service, 1983.200 National Park Service Bulletin #24, Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning, National Park Service, 1985.201 Comprehensive Plan of the City of Warwick, Historic Element, City of Warwick, 2002, from the City of Warwick website, accessed January 30, 2006.202 Statewide Historical Preservation Report, Report K-W-1, Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, 1981.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-43 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc