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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation7Final Section 4(f)/Section 6(f) Evaluation7.1 IntroductionThe U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f) requires Department of Transportation (DOT) agenciesto protect certain public resources when making transportation improvements. These resources, collectively referredto as Section 4(f) resources, include publicly owned parks, recreation areas, wildlife or waterfowl refuges, or historicalproperties of national, state, or local significance. This chapter describes Section 4(f) resources within the Study Areathat would be impacted by the alternatives under consideration for the Proposed Action. If a prudent and feasiblealternative exists that avoids Section 4(f) resources and it meets the project purpose and need, the federal agenciesmay not select the alternative that uses a Section 4(f) resource. 498 This chapter contains a prudent and feasiblealternatives analysis, and discusses mitigation measures that would be employed to minimize harm to Section 4(f)properties resulting from use. Section 4(f) properties in the Study Area that will not be subject to a physical orconstructive use under Section 4(f) (as defined in Section 7.3, Methodology) were evaluated in Chapter 5, EnvironmentalConsequences. This chapter also discusses Section 6(f) resources. Section 6(f) resources are those that have beenacquired or improved with grants under Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (L&WCFA) of 1965.7.2 Regulatory ContextCongress’ intent to preserve publicly owned parks and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges ofnational, state, or local significance, or any historical site of national, state, or local significance is outlined inU.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f), as re-codified at 49 U.S.C., section 303(c). Consistentwith FAA Order 1050.1E, this FEIS refers to section 303(c) as “Section 4(f).” The FAA used the FHWA/FTAregulations set forth at 23 CFR Parts 771 and 774 as guidance to the extent relevant to the FAA programs.The historical resources determined to be protected under the provisions of Section 4(f) and subject to use underthe Proposed Action are all on-Airport and include: an eligible airport historic district, the Rhode Island StateAirport Terminal Building, Hangar No. 1, and Hangar No. 2. These historical resources are protected underSection 4(f) since they are either listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or determined to be498 Environmental Desk Reference for Airport Actions, FAA, October 5, 2007, Chapter 7, Section 4(f) Resources.Chapter 7 – Final Section 4(f)/Section 6(f) Evaluation 7-1 July 2011\\Mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH07_4(f)_JUL_2011.doc