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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation5.12 Fish, Wildlife, and PlantsThis section provides an overview of the impact analysis for fish, wildlife, and plants (collectively, the bioticcommunity), including state-listed endangered or threatened species and their habitat, and provides the methodologyfor determining potential impacts to species. Potential project-related impacts to federally-listed threatened andendangered species are considered separately in Section 5.13, Federal Threatened and Endangered Species.5.12.1 Regulatory ContextFish, wildlife, and plants are regulated by several federal government entities including the USFWS, EPA, DOI,USDA, and DOT. In compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, when a federally approved orfinanced action would affect a stream or water body, the responsible federal agency must consult with theUSFWS. The FAA is required to review an application for an airport development action involving a majorrunway extension and to determine if the action would have significant impacts on fish, wildlife, and plants.All biotic community analyses were conducted in accordance with the requirements of the FAA Order 1050.1E,section 8.1i, FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-33a, 411 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. 412 FAAAC 150/5200-33a provides guidance on locating certain land uses having the potential to attract wildlife that ishazardous to aircraft operations or in the vicinity of public-use airports. The AC also provides guidanceconcerning the placement of new airport development projects (including airport construction, expansion, andrenovation) pertaining to aircraft movement in the vicinity of hazardous wildlife attractants. 413 ExecutiveOrder 13112, Invasive Species, provides guidance on the definition, prevention, response, and monitoring ofinvasive species and the restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded.The Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program (RINHP) publishes lists of native species of plants and animalsthat are rare within the state. 414 The RINHP defines “endangered” as a native species in imminent danger ofextirpation from Rhode Island. Populations of these species have already been reduced to a critically lownumber or have experienced drastic habitat loss or degradation. Immediate management action is required toprevent extinction in the state. A “threatened” species is a native species that is likely to become endangered inthe future if current trends in habitat loss or other detrimental factors remain unchanged. A species of concern isa native species (or subspecies) not considered to be state-endangered or threatened at the present time, but islisted due to various factors of rarity and/or vulnerability. The RINHP maintains and publishes lists of speciesconsidered to be endangered, threatened, or of concern in the state.Plants and animals are also subject to the Rhode Island Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Act (Rhode IslandGeneral Law Title 20, Chapter 37). 415 The RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has prepared Rhode411 FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-33a, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or Near Airports, United States Department of Transportation, July 27, 2004.412 16 U.S. Code sections 661-666e413 Ibid.414 Natural Heritage Program, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/plandev/heritage/. 415 Ibid.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-225 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc