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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation3.2 Alternatives Screening ProcessThe DEIS presented six alternative screening levels and this FEIS reviews the impacts of the final two BuildAlternatives (Alternatives B2 and B4). The overall intent of the first three screening levels for potential projectelements was to identify alternatives that could, at an initial concept level, feasibly and reasonably fulfill thePurpose and Need. During the DEIS phase of the NEPA process, Level 1 of the Alternatives Screening evaluatednine airports other than T.F. Green, three non-aviation and non-construction alternatives, and 28 CandidateAlternatives for program elements for various T.F. Green Airport enhancements. Level 2 considered thoseindividual program elements that would meet the Purpose and Need. Level 3 evaluated different combinations ofprogram elements. Together, screening Levels 4, 5, and 6 evaluated ten on-Airport Improvement Programs, eachmade up of the specific safety and efficiency projects. The screening took into account considerations such assafety, operational efficiency, environmental impacts, and costs based on more detailed design concepts.Ultimately this screening process provided the necessary context for selection of a Preferred Alternative by theFAA. The FEIS analysis updated the DEIS Level 6 screening, re-analyzed the alternatives based on the revised No-Action forecast, and identified the Preferred Alternative. The process that was followed is summarized below, andis also shown in Chart 3-1.• DEIS Level 1 Screening - Candidate Alternatives (Section 3.3 of this chapter) – This analysis identified areasonable range of alternatives and evaluated the ability of each alternative to reasonably or practicablymeet the Purpose and Need of the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program. The analysis included a rangeof on- and off-Airport alternatives, including non-construction alternatives identified through the NEPAscoping process and by the FAA and RIAC. Alternatives that did not meet the Purpose and Need of theT.F. Green Airport Improvement Program totally or in substantial part were eliminated from furtherconsideration in this level of screening. Only individual program elements that would meet the Purposeand Need were carried forward.• DEIS Level 2 Screening – Preliminary Alternatives (Section 3.4 of this chapter) – The alternative individualprogram elements brought forward from Level 1 analysis were evaluated in greater detail. The Level 2screening refined and further screened the alternatives retained from Level 1, and eliminated anyalternatives that, on more detailed evaluation, were found either to be not feasible, unreasonable, or unableto meet the Purpose and Need. Upon completion of a Draft Alternatives Analysis Chapter, state and federalagencies, the City of Warwick and members of the public raised issues that resulted in an additional Level 2round of screening that included a preliminary wetland and stream bed impact analysis. The SupplementalAlternatives Analysis 93 provides the results of this additional analysis.• DEIS Level 3 Screening –Airport Improvement Program Alternatives Analysis (Section 3.5 of this chapter)The Level 3 screening developed and evaluated combinations of on-Airport program elements (particularlythe Runway 16-34 and Runway 5-23 enhancements) that collectively form the T.F. Green AirportImprovement Program Alternatives. These alternatives were screened to determine whether they would bereasonable and feasible and should be retained for detailed environmental analysis. After the Level 3screening, four alternatives were carried forward.93 See DEIS Appendix E, Alternatives Analysis Supporting Attachment E.A.2, Supplemental Alternatives Analysis, Section 3.4.Chapter 3 – Alternatives Analysis 3-3 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH03_Alternatives_JUL_2011.doc