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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationby the Rhode Island’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy as species of greatest conservationneed.• River herring spawning and fingerling foraging habitat present in Spring Green Pond is also used byAmerican eel as foraging habitat.• Grassland bird habitat is present south of Runway 34 on Airport property. Two grassland bird species ofgreatest conservation need, 238 the bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and eastern meadowlark(Sturnella magna), have been observed in this habitat.• Waterfowl and wading bird habitat is present south of Runway 34 in Wetlands A10, A13, and A14.Two greatest conservation need species, American black duck and black-crowned night-heron (Nycticoraxnycticorax), have been observed in these habitats.• Black-crowned night-heron has been observed utilizing the riparian forested wetland (Wetland A5) alongBuckeye Brook. This habitat may also be important for mammals foraging along the stream.• A small one-acre pine barren area south of Runway 34 and east of Buckeye Brook provides habitat for astate-listed plant (sickle-leaved golden aster) and animal (pine barrens tiger beetle).• A small (1.4 acres) remnant Atlantic white cedar wetland south of Runway 34, east of Buckeye Brook is alocally uncommon plant community.4.11.2.2 Existing Wildlife and Vegetation Management PlansCollisions between wildlife and aircraft are a safety hazard and cause substantial losses to the aviation industry.Globally, wildlife strikes have killed more than 219 people and destroyed over 200 aircraft since 1988. 239According to the FAA, the civil and military aviation communities widely recognize that the threat to humanhealth and safety from wildlife strikes is increasing. 240 In an effort to minimize this risk, a Wildlife HazardManagement Plan 241 has been prepared and implemented by RIAC to discourage wildlife from utilizing habitatswithin the Airport property.The Wildlife Hazard Management Plan establishes wildlife control measures for T.F. Green Airport in order toimmediately alleviate, to the extent possible, hazards to air carrier aircraft created by wildlife. Wildlife hazardsto aircrafts consist of birds, occasional deer, coyotes, and other mammals. Physical inspection of the Airport isconducted daily as part of the 14 CFR Part 139, Self Inspection Program, during weather or precipitationactivity, and upon request, to assess wildlife activity on the Airport.In addition to managing wildlife collisions hazards, the airspace around the Airport must remain clear of fixedobstructions. The FAA regulates mandated airspace surfaces in the vicinity of the Airport to maintain aviationsafety. Left unmanaged, plant communities in the immediate vicinity of the Airport could grow into this238 Greatest conservation need species have been identified by the State of Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife to prevent species of greatest conservationneed and habitats from becoming endangered (RIDEM, www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/swgindex.htm, accessed May 12, 2011.239 Wildlife Strikes to Civilian Aircraft in the United States, 1990-2007, Federal Aviation Administration, National Wildlife Strike Database, Serial ReportNumber 14, June 2008, p. vii.240 Ibid.241 Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. Rhode Island Airport Corporation, revised April 27, 2009.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-66 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc