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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationfinding of no adverse effect. Under Alternative B2, the full relocation of Airport Road would diminish the viewof Rhode Island State Airport Terminal, Hangar No. 2, and the eligible airport historic district resulting in anadverse effect. Alternative B4 would also result in an adverse effect to the setting of the Rhode Island StateAirport Terminal and the eligible airport historic district through visual impacts and direct impacts to theterminal’s setting and a significant impact due to the landscape removal and change in setting. The adverseeffect to Hangar No.1 and the eligible airport historic district is a significant impact under NEPA due to thedemolition, physical alteration, and change in setting. Alternatives B2 and B4 would encroach on WHC 26 andAlternative B4 would likely encroach on the 25-foot buffer surrounding WHC 77 and WHC 78. WHC 76 may beimpacted under the VLAP for Improvement Program-related noise mitigation. Impacts to these historicalcemeteries, which are important elements of the historical past of local communities in Rhode Island and areprotected under Rhode Island General Law, constitute a significant impact under NEPA.5.8.8 Avoidance and MinimizationAs presented in the previous sections, Alternatives B2 and B4 would have direct and indirect impacts on one ormore resources listed in or determined eligible for listing in the NRHP. These impacts would result in a findingof adverse effect. When an undertaking results in a finding of adverse effect, Section 106 requires federalagencies to consult with the appropriate SHPO and THPO and other consulting parties to develop and evaluatealternatives or modifications that could avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects on historical properties.Chapter 6, Mitigation, presents the mitigation measures proposed for significant impacts and other impacts tohistorical and cultural resources.5.8.8.1 AvoidanceThe following section outlines avoidance efforts undertaken in the alternatives development process.Historical PropertiesAlternatives that would avoid impacts to Hangar No. 1 under Alternatives B2 and B4 would require shiftingRunway 16-34 substantially to the south along its axis to achieve the minimum required height to removeHangar No. 1 from airspace penetration, or realignment of Runway 16-34 to avoid Hangar No. 1. ShiftingRunway 16-34 to the south would result in increased impacts to Buckeye Brook and its associated wetlands, andimpacts to the Top Flight archaeological site. Realignment of Runway 16-34 is constrained by existingobstructions such as the existing Passenger Terminal and the Rhode Island State Airport Terminal, aNRHP-listed property. For these reasons, design alternatives to avoid impacts to Hangar No. 1 are not practical.Under Alternative B4, the landscaped entry and the view of the Rhode Island State Airport Terminal fromAirport Road would be impacted, resulting in an adverse effect. Several alternative locations and configurationsfor the Integrated Cargo Facility were evaluated and rejected for safety issues and because of increasedcommunity and environmental impacts. 393 Avoidance of the adverse effect is possible through selecting theNo-Action Alternative, Alternative B2, or consolidating the Integrated Cargo Facility at Hangar No. 2 andeliminating the separate cargo building proposed under Alternative B4.393 See Chapter 7, Section 4(f)/Section 6(f) Evaluation for additional detail on avoidance alternatives.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-181 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc