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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationSection 5.1.1.1, No-Action Alternative. Refer to Chapter 3, Alternatives Analysis, for a description of the plannedactions that are taken into account with the No-Action Alternative. All construction projects would be located inupland areas and would not directly alter wetlands.The VMP includes the periodic cutting and removal of woody vegetation within wetlands and uplands thatmay interfere with FAR Part 77 navigable airspace and frequent airfield mowing to prevent the development ofvegetation that could provide wildlife cover. The WHMP includes other actions taken to deter wildlife fromutilizing areas, on- and off-Airport property, where a risk of collision with aircraft could be created.Indirect ImpactsOngoing, as well as new discharges of stormwater runoff on the Airport could contribute to erosion if notmitigated in stream channels (Tributary A11 and Tributary A) and within Wetlands A11 and A13 south ofRunway 34. Erosion would result in the movement of soil and debris, which could deposit sediment indownstream Wetlands A10 and A13 (Figure 5-40).5.10.4.2 Alternative B2This section summarizes the direct, indirect, and short-term construction-related wetland impacts forAlternative B2. Table 5-100 provides information on the impacts to wetland functions and values. Table 5-101provides an overview of waterway impacts by program element. Table 5-102 provides detailed information onimpacts to federal jurisdictional vegetated wetlands while Table 5-103 provides information on impacts to stateregulatedwetlands.Direct ImpactsAlternative B2 would directly impact a total of 5.8 acres of federal jurisdictional vegetated wetlands, 773 linearfeet of waterways, and approximately 12.5 acres of state-regulated perimeter and riverbank wetland. Impacts tofederal jurisdictional wetlands have been reduced by 1.7 acres from the total 7.5 acres reported in the DEISthrough avoidance and minimization measures. Refer to Section 5.10.8, Avoidance and Minimization, presentedbelow. Much of the state-regulated perimeter or riverbank wetland area has been previously developed. Theimpacted wetlands are shown in Figures 5-39 and 5-40. There would be no wetland impacts associated with theRunway 5 End nor for the Runway 16 End and Partially Relocated Airport Road.Runway 34 EndSafety enhancements to Runway 34, including Taxiway C, would impact five wetlands at the Runway 34 End andrequire that part of a low quality intermittent stream (Tributary A11) be placed in a culvert at two locations andone stream segment be relocated. Direct impacts to Buckeye Brook below Warwick Pond would be completelyavoided. Minor impact to Wetland A10 (0.1 acres), which provides wildlife habitat, fish and shellfish habitat,nutrient removal/retention/transformation and floodflow alteration at the principal level, would be limited to theinstallation of new navigational aids. Most of the impacts under Alternative B2 would occur in Wetland A6(1.6 acres) and Wetland A11 (0.6 acres), which both provide groundwater recharge/discharge (Table 5-100).Approximately 0.1 acres of Wetland A8 closest to existing Runway 34 would be altered. This wetland providesnutrient removal/retention/transformation and floodflow alteration functions. Additional avoidance andminimization measures incorporated into glide slope area design and Perimeter Road layout reduced impacts toWetland A8 by 1.4 acres from that reported in the DEIS. Impacts to Wetland A13, which is mostly dominated byPhragmites (common reed), would be mostly avoided (0.1 acres). Approximately 2.5 acres of federal-regulatedChapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-194 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc