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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationimportance (Farmland of Statewide Importance). Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, and Additional Farmlandof Statewide Importance are defined in Section 4.15.1, Methodology.The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Rhode Island Department of Administration(RIDOA), Division of Planning have identified those lands in Rhode Island that have a combination of physicaland chemical features that make them best suited for farming. These lands are subdivided into PrimeFarmlands and Additional Farmlands of Statewide Importance, but all soils in Rhode Island that meet the PrimeFarmland criteria are also included in the Additional Farmland of Statewide Importance category. Accordingly,the term Farmland of Statewide Importance is used hereafter to identify both classes of soils. There are noUnique Farmlands in the Project Area. Areas that are in urban development are excluded from the PrimeFarmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance units.Applicability of the FPPA is determined through consultation with the NRCS. The NRCS reviews farmlandwithin the vicinity of a proposed action and makes a determination on whether the FPPA applies, or if anexemption exists. The NRCS reviews potential impacts to farmland to determine if the land qualifies as Primeand Unique Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance. Form AD-1006 Farmland Conversion ImpactRating outlines direct and indirect impacts to farmland and assigns an impact rating, and is required by NRCSto perform its impact review. The ultimate determination of the severity of a farmland impact is determined bythe total score calculated using Form AD-1006. The FAA submitted a draft Form AD-1006 and the NRCScompleted it on June 29, 2010 (see Appendix C, Federal, State, City, and Tribal Coordination). The NRCS requestedthat the FAA complete the Form AD-1006 indicating the alternative selected for the project. The FAA willcomplete this portion of the form when it selects the Preferred Alternative at the time of the ROD.5.16.2 Significance ThresholdsFAA Order 1050.1E identifies significant impacts to farmlands, as impacts to existing, intact farmland units thatreceive a score between 200 and 260 points using Form AD-1006. 442,4435.16.2.1 Finding: No Significant Farmlands ImpactsSignificant impacts to farmland would result in a score above 200 on the Farmland Conversion Impact Ratingform. Alternative B2 would not have a significant impact on Farmland of Statewide Importance since it had ascore of 125. Alternative B4 does not have direct or indirect impacts on Farmland of Statewide Importance, andtherefore, would not have a significant impact on Farmland of Statewide Importance.5.16.3 MethodologyThis section defines how significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to Farmland of StatewideImportance within the Study Area are identified. There would be no impacts to farmland soils fromconstruction activities that would be distinct from the direct impacts.442 FAA Order 1050.1E Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, March 20, 2006.443 Ibid.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-255 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc