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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationSignificant Impacts: Alternative B2 includes the removal of Hangar No. 1, a contributing element of the eligibleairport historic district, as well as a property that has been determined individually eligible for listing in theNRHP. Alternative B2 also requires airside enhancements that will further alter the overall historical configurationof the runways and taxiways that are included as contributing elements to the eligible airport historic district.Fully Relocated Airport Road would alter the setting of the Rhode Island State Airport Terminal, Hangar No. 2,and the eligible airport historic district. These elements of Alternative B2 result in adverse effects under Section 106and significant impacts under NEPA. In addition, physical impacts to WHC 26 would also be significant.5.8.4.3 Alternative B4The following direct and indirect impacts may occur during the implementation of Alternative B4.Direct ImpactsSimilar to Alternative B2, Hangar No. 1 would be removed, resulting in an adverse effect under Section 106 to thisindividually eligible historical property and to the eligible airport historic district. Modifications andenhancements to runways and taxiways at the northern end of the airfield would further alter the historicalconfiguration of the airfield, resulting in an adverse effect under Section 106 to the eligible airport historic district.Refer to Figures 5-31 and 5-32 for direct impacts to historical properties north and south of the Airport,respectively.Under Alternative B4, there would be interior modifications to Hangar No. 2 to accommodate the uses of theintegrated cargo facility. These modifications would not alter the exterior appearance of Hangar No. 2 and uponfurther consultation with the RISHPO, the FAA as determined that the proposed interior modifications wouldnot result in an adverse effect to Hangar No. 2.Construction of the split Integrated Cargo Facility would directly impact landscaping along Airport Road that isassociated with the Rhode Island State Airport Terminal. This direct impact would result in an adverse effectunder Section 106 to this individually listed property and contributing element to the eligible airport historicdistrict because of the physical impact to part of the property (Figure 5-31).Alternative B4 would have no impact on known archaeological sites listed in or determined eligible for theNRHP. In response to a request from NITHPO, a Phase I(c) archaeological investigation was conducted in April2011 along Realigned Main Avenue but no pre-contact Native American cultural features or deposits werelocated. The results of the survey have been forwarded to the RIHPHC and NITHPO for review. The wetlandmitigation areas within the APE for Alternative B4 have not been subject to archaeological survey.Archaeological survey will be conducted on a site by site basis as part of the wetland mitigation program, perstipulations contained in the MOA (see Appendix I, Historic, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources).As with the field work conducted for this FEIS, the NITHPO would be provided with the opportunity toobserve the archaeological survey activities.WHC 26 would be directly impacted under Alternative B4 based on preliminary limits of construction.Extending Runway 5 to the south would require placing of fill on or within 25 feet of WHC 26 (Figure 5-32).Improvements would also place WHC 26 within the ROFA and the headstones would penetrate the primaryChapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-177 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc