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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation5.7.9 Avoidance and MinimizationAlternatives B2 and B4 both include program elements that will contribute to reducing air quality impacts including:• The new access and egress roadway configurations and expanded curbsides in the main terminal areawould help to improve surface traffic circulation, lessen stop-and-go driving, and reduce excess emissionsassociated with motor vehicle engine idling.• The new multi-level parking structure would enhance surface traffic circulation, lessen stop-and-go driving,and reduce excess motor vehicle idling.• Use of electric power and pre-conditioned air at many of the terminal gates reduces the use of aircraft APUsand their associated emissions.• The direct connection to InterLink, west of the Airport, with rail service will enable future airport patronsand employees to use this transit facility and reduce the use of motor vehicles.• The InterLink’s consolidated rental car facility reduces the emissions from the former rental car shuttlebuses taking passengers to and from off-site facilities as well as reduces emissions of rental cars beingshuttled for quick-turn-around by having facilities in one location.While specific air quality avoidance, minimization or mitigation measures are not required under NEPA or theGeneral Conformity Rule, Chapter 6, Mitigation, outlines the possible measures could be included to help reduceconstruction-related emissions associated with construction vehicles and equipment during the construction periods.5.8 Historic, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural ResourcesThis section provides an overview of the impact analysis for the historic, architectural, archaeological andcultural resources, including the methodology for determining potential impacts to these resources.5.8.1 Regulatory ContextSection 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as amended, requires federal agencies toconsider the effects of their undertakings on historical properties identified within the area of potential effect(APE). A historical property is defined as “any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or objectincluded in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) maintained by theSecretary of the Interior.” At the state and local level, significant cultural resources are protected under theRhode Island Historic Preservation Act (Rhode Island General Laws 42-45-1 et seq. and 23-18-1 et seq.), whichaffords protection to Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries. The cemeteries within this project’s APE are notindividually eligible for listing in the NRHP nor are they part of a larger potentially eligible or listed historicdistrict and, therefore, are not considered Historic Properties under the NHPA. However, Rhode Island GeneralLaw 23-18-1 et seq. conditionally prohibits any town or city to permit “construction, excavation or other grounddisturbing activity within 25 feet of a recorded historic cemetery.” Any such work must be permitted by thelocal municipality. In the City of Warwick, Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Warwick(Chapter 12) is the guiding regulation.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-171 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc