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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationThe areas surrounding the Airport have followed the same trend as the rest of the state. Farmland in theStudy Area has been lost through the expansion of the Airport, and surrounding commercial and residentialdevelopment. In the 1939 photographs the Airport is present, but had not expanded into the large formerfarmland south of the runways. Virtually all of the farmland south and west of the Airport has since been lostdue to runway expansion and airport improvements and surrounding commercial and residential development.Portions of the farmland north and east of the Airport present in 1939 still remain today; however, these areasare now either surrounded by commercial and residential development, or are owned by the Airport.The two areas of Farmland of Statewide Importance that could be impacted by the Improvement Programappear little changed from their condition in the 1939 aerial photograph. The Confreda Farm north of BuckeyeBrook has been marginally reduced in area due to encroaching residential and commercial development, butmost of the farmland present in 1939 still remains. The wooded area containing Farmland of StatewideImportance south of Buckeye Brook is also relatively unchanged since 1939 with two exceptions: the easternportion of this wooded area was farmed in 1939, and the southern portion adjacent to Airport Road that waswooded land in 1939 is now in commercial development (including the Air National Guard facility). The formerFain Farm (of which 37.8 acres are Farmland of Statewide Importance), located north of Buckeye Brook, isplanned for anticipated commercial development and, for the purposes of this FEIS, is assumed to be lost due toactions not associated with the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program, but is part of the cumulative impact.No Farmland of Statewide Importance would be converted to non-agricultural use as a result of Airport actionsunder the No-Action Alternative. Alternative B2 would result in the conversion of farmland within the StudyArea. Fully Relocated Airport Road would directly and indirectly convert Farmland of Statewide Importancethat is part of the operating Confreda Farm. The Improvement Program could induce secondary developmentthat might result in the conversion of remaining farmland to a non-farm use. Other less valuable Farmland ofStatewide Importance that are not part of an operating farm would also be converted in order to construct anew Integrated Cargo Facility and portions of the expanded Runway 23 End under Alternative B2. AlternativeB4 would not impact any Farmland of Statewide Importance. Therefore, cumulative impacts of Alternative B2may result in the conversion of Confreda Farm, an operating farm in the Project Area, to non-agricultural useswhile Alternative B4 would not result in additional cumulative impacts to farmland soils in the Project Area.5.16.7 Comparison of Alternatives B2 and B4There are no significant impacts to farmlands under Alternatives B2 and B4. Alternative B2 would not result insignificant impacts; the NRCS Farmland Conversion Impact Rating, as reported on Form AD-1006, is125.Alternative B4 would not directly, indirectly, or cumulatively impact Farmland of Statewide Importance.Alternative B4 would not result in any impacts; the NRCS Farmland Conversion Impact Rating, as reported onForm AD-1006, is 74. Form AD-1006 has been completed by the NRCS and is included in Appendix C, Federal,State, City, and Tribal Coordination.Alternative B2 would directly and indirectly impact a total of 18.8 acres of Farmland of Statewide Importancenorth of existing Airport Road due to Fully Relocated Airport Road and the Integrated Cargo Facility. Indirectimpacts due to secondary (induced) development could ultimately result in the loss of the remaining 20.6-acreChapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-258 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc