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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation6.2.2 RIAC’s Ongoing Part 150 NCP and Voluntary Land Acquisition ProgramT.F. Green Airport was one of the first airports in New England to participate in the FAA’s Noise and Land UseCompatibility Program. 470 The Airport’s first Part 150 Study and NEM were approved by the FAA in 1986. In1991, the NEM was updated and in 1993 RIAC’s first Part 150 study update was completed. Both Part 150studies included aircraft-related noise abatement measures some of which been adopted and continue to beimplemented, and others were not enacted. In 1999, RIAC undertook a complete update of the original Part 150Study that evaluated the effectiveness and/or applicability of previously implemented noise abatement andland use compatibility measures, and provided recommendations. During the course of this Part 150 Studyupdate and based on a revised NEM (dated 2000), 58 additional noise abatement and land use alternatives wereevaluated on their feasibility to reduce the effects of noise on surrounding communities. 471 Based on the 2008Noise Exposure Map (NEM) update, 285 residential properties were identified as eligible for acquisition andwere acquired in 2009 (referred to in this FEIS as the Completed Part 150 VLAP). In early 2010, RIAC continuedimplementation of its Part 150 NCP based on the 2020 NEM, which was accepted by the FAA on July 27, 2010. 472The 2010 NEM update identified 115 residential parcels as eligible for acquisition of which 70 properties havebeen acquired as of January 2011 (referred to in this FEIS as the Current Part 150 VLAP). The Current Part 150VLAP is scheduled to be complete by 2015 and, therefore, have been taken into account when determiningProject-related impacts.As part of RIAC’s NCP, noise abatement measures such as: construction of a noise barrier parallel to theRunway 5 End; implementation of voluntary nighttime restrictions for scheduled air carrier operations;restrictions on the use of APUs in certain on-Airport locations; and restrictions on aircraft turnarounds on theRunway 5 End have been and continue to be implemented. 473 Additionally, land use mitigation actions wereevaluated and have been implemented and complete, such as: working with the State of Rhode Island and Cityof Warwick to amend building codes; working with the City of Warwick to update its Comprehensive Plan toaddress airport influence on planning districts; institution of a policy to disclose noise levels on residentialproperty; and implementation of sound insulation and land acquisition programs (including the soundinsulation of schools).6.2.3 Mitigation for Significant Noise Impacts for Alternative B4Significant noise impacts were identified after accounting for the Completed Part 150 and the Current Part 150VLAPs and Project-related land acquisitions (mandatory for construction and FAA–recommended RPZclearing). Table 5-31 of Chapter 5, Environmental Consequences, summarizes the significant noise impacts forAlternative B4. Table 6-3 summarizes the proposed mitigation for significant noise impacts for Alternative B4,which includes:• Provide sound insulation for residences located at or above DNL 65 dB that would experience a noiseincrease of at least DNL 1.5 dB when compared to the No-Action Alternative for the same timeframe.470 RIAC’s Part 150 NCP was initiated by the 1986 NEM and NCP approval, and includes the1991 NEM update, 1995 NEM update, 2000 NCP revision, 2008NEM update, and 2010 NEM update.471 T.F. Green Airport FAR Part 150 Study Update, Appendix B, Noise Abatement and Land Use Alternatives, Landrum & Brown, April 2000.472 The 2020 NEM was derived from the Level 6 2020 No-Action Alternative DNL 70 dB noise contour with additional rounding, as documented in the DEIS.473 According to the T.F. Green Airport FAR Part 150 Study Update, voluntary nighttime restrictions for scheduled air carrier operations are partiallyimplemented through a 1996 Memorandum of Understanding between RIAC and the City of Warwick.Chapter 6 – Mitigation 6-8 July 2011\\Mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH06_Mitigation_JUL_2011.doc