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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationIsland, and Greenwich Bay. The southern portion of the Project Area is within the watershed of Greenwich Bay(Figure 4-32), and is subject to RICRMC coastal jurisdiction and goals of the Greenwich Bay SAMP. 247 Activitiescomprising the Improvement Project will require a CZM Consistency Determination from the RICRMC. TheSAMP identifies T.F. Green Airport as a potential source of pollutant loading in the Greenwich Bay watershedand the regional groundwater aquifer that discharges to Greenwich Bay.RICRMC also has authority over freshwater wetlands in the vicinity of the coast. The RICRMC’s Rules andRegulations Governing the Protection and Management of Freshwater Wetlands in the Vicinity of the Coast 248 definesresources subject to protection and requirements for seeking approvals. Maps identifying the boundary betweenRICRMC and RIDEM jurisdictions are published by the RICRMC. The boundary typically follows majorroadways, railroad corridors, and other linear facilities. In the vicinity of the Airport, the boundary line followsNarragansett Parkway to Warwick Avenue, Warwick Avenue south to West Shore Road, and West Shore Roadsouth and west to Post Road (Figure 4-32). T.F. Green Airport is not within the RICRMC freshwater wetlandjurisdiction; however, portions of the Project Area east of Warwick Avenue are within the RICRMC freshwaterwetland jurisdiction.4.15 FarmlandsThis section provides a summary of the methodology of the farmland soils inventory, and briefly describesexisting farmland soil conditions within the T.F. Green Airport Study and Project Areas.4.15.1 MethodologyFarmland soils within the Project Area were identified by reviewing the Soil Survey of Rhode Island. 249 In 1981, theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) passed the Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA)(7 U.S.C. 4201-4209) to ensure that significant agricultural lands are protected from being converted tonon-agricultural uses during federal actions. 250 The FPPA protects three classes of farmland soils: PrimeFarmland; Unique Farmland; and additional farmland other than prime or unique farmland that is of statewideor local importance (Farmland of Statewide Importance), as described further below.• Prime Farmland is defined as land (certain soil types) that has the best combination of physical andchemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available forthese uses. Prime farmland can include cropland, pastureland, range-land, forest land, or other land. It doesnot include land already in or committed to urban development or water storage.• Unique Farmland is land other than prime farmland that is or can be used for the production of specifichigh-value food and fiber crops.247 Greenwich Bay Special Area Management Plan, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, adopted May 10, 2005,www.crmc.state.ri.us/regulations/SAMP_GreenwichBay.pdf.248 Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Coastal Resources Management Program,www.crmc.state.ri.us/regulations/Fresh_Water_Wetlands.pdf.249 Soil Survey of Rhode Island, Rector, Dean. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service). 1981.250 Environmental Desk Reference for Airport Actions, FAA, October 5, 2007.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-71 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc