Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...
Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ... Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...
Affected Environment months the population increases due to tourism and vacationers who visit the nature reserve and beaches of Assateague Island. Daily populations often reach up to 15,000 in the summer months. Special events, such as the annual pony swim and roundup/auction, sponsored by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department in July, draw crowds of up to 40,000. Table 16 lists the 2000 U.S. Census population of nearby towns in Accomack County (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008a). Table 16: Town Population and Housing Units in Accomack County in 2008 Town Population No. of Housing Units Accomack 547 234 Atlantic 539 272 Belle Haven 480 257 Bloxom 395 180 Chincoteague 4,317 3,970 Hallwood 290 120 Keller 173 87 Melfa 450 210 Onancock 1,525 725 Onley 496 273 Painter 246 114 Parksley 837 404 Saxis 337 194 Tangier 604 272 Wachapreague 236 229 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008a 3.3.2 Employment and Income This section provides general background information on employment and income data for the WFF region. This includes 2000 U.S. Census data on the employment, unemployment, income, and poverty characteristics of the region complied by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) and by Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, 2007). The section also includes employment statistics for WFF itself. The unemployment rate in Virginia was 3.0 percent in 2007 (VEC, 2009). In 2007, Accomack County was approximately average in the Delmarva region in terms of unemployment rates. The total labor force of Accomack County is 19,091 people, 18,309 of whom are employed, resulting in an unemployment rate of 4.1 percent (VEC, 2009). Employment fluctuates seasonally in Accomack County and the Town of Chincoteague, with decreased unemployment occurring from June through October (VEC, 2009). Overall, the unemployment rates in Virginia and Accomack County have been declining since 2000. Table 17 lists the distribution by broad occupational categories for Virginia, Accomack County, and Chincoteague, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. 76
Table 17: Occupational Distribution (percent) Category Virginia Accomack County Affected Environment Chincoteague Management, professional, and related occupations 38 24 26 Sales and office occupations 26 22 26 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 13 20 9 Service occupations 14 17 17 Construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations 10 11 15 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 1 6 7 Table 18 shows the income and poverty rates of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Accomack County, and Chincoteague. Accomack County and Chincoteague both have a higher percentage of families below the poverty level and a lower per capita income than Virginia as a whole; however, Accomack County and Chincoteague do not include major urban centers. Region Table 18: Income and Poverty Median Household Income (2007) Per Capita Income (2007) Percent of Families Below Poverty Level (2007) Virginia $53,066 $28,255 9.9 Accomack County $35,048 $18,468 18.0 Chincoteague $36,566 $24,549 13.4 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008b In 2008, WFF employed a total of 1,485 people; 1,027 of those supported NASA (including 238 civil servants and 789 contractors), MARS employed 3 full-time people, and the remainder worked for either NOAA or the U.S. Navy (NASA, 2008a). The VEC reported that in 2007 NASA was the fourth largest employer in Accomack County; other large employers on the Eastern Shore are Perdue Farms (1,900 employees) and Tyson Foods (950 employees) (VEC, 2008). Employment categories at WFF consist largely of managerial, professional, and technical disciplines with higher than regional average salaries. The mean salary of NASA employees for fiscal year 2008 was $88,047, while the median salary is in the $80,000–$90,000 range (NASA, 2008a). The median family income for Accomack County in 2008 was $41,845. Due to the wide gap between salaries of WFF employees and most area residents, the facility contributes considerably to the local economy (NASA, 2008a). 77
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Table 17: Occup<strong>at</strong>ional Distribution (percent)<br />
C<strong>at</strong>egory Virginia<br />
Accomack<br />
County<br />
Affected Environment<br />
Chincoteague<br />
Management, professional, and rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
occup<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
38 24 26<br />
Sales and office occup<strong>at</strong>ions 26 22 26<br />
Production, transport<strong>at</strong>ion, and m<strong>at</strong>erial<br />
moving occup<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
13 20 9<br />
Service occup<strong>at</strong>ions 14 17 17<br />
Construction, extraction, and maintenance<br />
occup<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
10 11 15<br />
Farming, fishing, and forestry occup<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000<br />
1 6 7<br />
Table 18 shows the income and poverty r<strong>at</strong>es of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Accomack<br />
County, and Chincoteague. Accomack County and Chincoteague both have a higher percentage of<br />
families below the poverty level and a lower per capita income than Virginia as a whole;<br />
however, Accomack County and Chincoteague do not include major urban centers.<br />
Region<br />
Table 18: Income and Poverty<br />
Median Household<br />
Income (2007)<br />
Per Capita Income<br />
(2007)<br />
Percent of Families Below<br />
Poverty Level (2007)<br />
Virginia $53,066 $28,255 9.9<br />
Accomack County $35,048 $18,468 18.0<br />
Chincoteague $36,566 $24,549 13.4<br />
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008b<br />
In 2008, WFF employed a total of 1,485 people; 1,027 of those supported <strong>NASA</strong> (including 238<br />
civil servants and 789 contractors), MARS employed 3 full-time people, and the remainder<br />
worked for either NOAA or the U.S. Navy (<strong>NASA</strong>, 2008a). The VEC reported th<strong>at</strong> in 2007<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> was the fourth largest employer in Accomack County; other large employers on the<br />
Eastern Shore are Perdue Farms (1,900 employees) and Tyson Foods (950 employees) (VEC,<br />
2008).<br />
Employment c<strong>at</strong>egories <strong>at</strong> WFF consist largely of managerial, professional, and technical<br />
disciplines with higher than regional average salaries. The mean salary of <strong>NASA</strong> employees for<br />
fiscal year 2008 was $88,047, while the median salary is in the $80,000–$90,000 range (<strong>NASA</strong>,<br />
2008a). The median family income for Accomack County in 2008 was $41,845. Due to the wide<br />
gap between salaries of WFF employees and most area residents, the facility contributes<br />
considerably to the local economy (<strong>NASA</strong>, 2008a).<br />
77
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