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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationincreased levels of disturbance. Modifications to wetland hydrology can alter the extent of wetlands and/orperformance of functions and values provided by wetlands.Without mitigation, stormwater runoff may also affect water quality in wetlands or may result in the depositionof sediments from roads, such as sand. The stormwater management strategy for the airport enhancements isdescribed in Section 5.11, Water Quality. Indirect impacts also include reasonably foreseeable changes that couldaffect wetland functions and values associated with the implementation of the Improvement Program,including secondary development that may occur within the Study Area. Indirect impacts were assessed byreviewing plans prepared to assess direct impacts along with existing documents including the AirportVegetation Management Program 402 (VMP) and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan 403 (WHMP), and datacollected for this FEIS in Chapter 4, Affected Environment, Section 4.9, Wetlands and Waterways.5.10.3.3 Short-Term Impacts from Temporary Construction Activities MethodologyShort-term impacts from temporary construction activities could potentially include effects such as thedisruption of wetland-dependent wildlife utilization of wetland habitats adjacent to construction activity, directimpact to wetland vegetation to install buried communication conduit, and increased soil erosion andsedimentation rates when soils are disturbed during the work activities proposed within or adjacent to wetlandswere evaluated to identify potential impacts and mitigation measures.5.10.3.4 Cumulative Impacts MethodologyCumulative impacts were determined for the Study and Project Areas for the time frame between 1939 and 2006and the 2025 planning horizon. Cumulative impacts were assessed using aerial photographs taken in 1939,which were chosen as the earliest set of available photographs with adequate quality (resolution) for evaluation.Cumulative impacts include previous wetland impacts, additional impacts that would result from AlternativesB2 and B4, and any other anticipated reasonably foreseeable changes in the Study Area, including any impactsthat would occur as a result of the No-Action Alternative.5.10.4 Impact AssessmentThis section summarizes the direct, indirect, and short-term construction-related wetland impacts for eachAlternative which are compared to the No-Action Alternative. For direct impacts, impact areas are reported forfederal-regulated wetlands and state/local-regulated wetlands. As described in Section 4.9, Wetlands andWaterways, of Chapter 4, Affected Environment, much of the state-regulated perimeter and riverbank wetlandswithin the Project Area are previously developed and include existing runway areas, the Perimeter Road, andgrassed infield areas (Figures 5-39 and 5-40).5.10.4.1 No-Action AlternativeThis section describes the direct and indirect wetland impacts for the No-Action Alternative. There are noshort-term construction-related impacts to wetlands or waterways due to the No-Action Alternative.Direct ImpactsDirect impacts associated with the No-Action Alternative without stormwater management include activitiesassociated with implementing the routine VMP, WHMP, and the construction projects previously noted in402 Vegetation Management Program Rhode Island Airport Corporation, Revised April 2009.403 Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, Rhode Island Airport Corporation, Revised February 3, 2006.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-193 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc