Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

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Executive Summary Resource Proposed Action Alternative One Alternative Two Vegetation and Terrestrial Wildlife training, and mitigation measures, including spill prevention and response. Therefore, no impacts on human and environmental health due to hazardous materials and wastes are anticipated. Short-term adverse impacts due to excavation and grading to construct the wind turbines, the access roads, and underground cables. Long-term, adverse impacts due to the permanent conversion of 0.36 hectare (0.88 acre) of wetlands to developed land. Birds and Bats Long-term adverse impacts due to the conversion of wetland habitat to developed land and from operation of the wind turbines. Potential avoidance and/or minimization BMPs would be implemented to reduce the potential long-term (direct and indirect) impacts. Threatened and Endangered Species NASA determined that the project “may affect, and is likely to adversely affect” the Piping Plover and Red Knot. The project would have “no effect” to federally listed mammals, sea turtles, insects, and plants. NASA submitted a ICP safety procedures, training, and mitigation measures, including spill prevention and response. Therefore, no impacts on human and environmental health due to hazardous materials and wastes are anticipated. Short-term adverse impacts due to excavation and grading to construct the wind turbines, the access roads, and underground cables. Long-term, adverse impacts due to the permanent conversion of 0.08 hectare (0.21 acre) of wetlands to developed land. Long-term adverse impacts due to the conversion of wetland habitat to developed land and from operation of the wind turbines. Potential avoidance and/or minimization BMPs would be implemented to reduce the potential long-term (direct and indirect) impacts. Because the installation of solar panels at the Main Base would not alter or remove bat habitat, nor would their operation interfere with bird or bat activities, no impacts are anticipated from solar panels. NASA determined that the project “may affect, and is likely to adversely affect” the Piping Plover and Red Knot. The project would have “no effect” to federally listed mammals, sea turtles, insects, and plants. NASA submitted a Biological measures, including spill prevention and response. Therefore, no impacts on human and environmental health due to hazardous materials and wastes are anticipated. Long-term adverse, but highly localized, impacts from the loss of vegetation within the footprint of the support posts for the solar panels. Because the installation of solar panels at the Main Base would not alter or remove bat habitat, nor would their operation interfere with bird or bat activities, no impacts are anticipated from solar panels. NASA determined that the solar panels would have no affect on State or federally listed species in the project area at the Main Base. vi
Executive Summary Resource Proposed Action Alternative One Alternative Two Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Population, Employment, and Income Environmental Justice Cultural Resources Biological Assessment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); no response has been received to date. Short-term adverse impacts on EFH from filling wetlands for utility-scale turbine footprints, but impacts are not expected to be substantial. Effects on EFH would be offset by compensatory mitigation at WFF’s Mainland. Construction activities may temporarily increase local employment opportunities and would benefit local stores and businesses. No impacts. Disproportionately high or adverse impacts on lowincome or minority populations are not anticipated because there would be no displacement of residences or businesses. All ground disturbances are located outside of areas designated as having moderate or high potential for archeological resources. No adverse effects on archaeological resources are anticipated. Utility-scale turbines are not anticipated to adversely affect historic properties within or outside of WFF given the nature of the viewshed. No adverse effects on aboveground historic properties are anticipated. Residential-scale turbines Assessment to USFWS; no response has been received to date. NASA determined that the solar panels would have no affect on State or federally listed species in the project area at the Main Base. Short-term adverse impacts on EFH from filling wetlands for utility-scale turbine footprints, but impacts are not expected to be substantial. Effects on EFH would be offset by compensatory mitigation at WFF’s Mainland. Construction activities may temporarily increase local employment opportunities and would benefit local stores and businesses. No impacts. Disproportionately high or adverse impacts on lowincome or minority populations are not anticipated because there would be no displacement of residences or businesses. All ground disturbances are located outside of areas designated as having moderate or high potential for archeological resources. No adverse effects on archaeological resources are anticipated. Utility-scale turbine is not anticipated to adversely affect historic properties within or outside of WFF given the nature of the viewshed. No adverse effects on aboveground historic properties are anticipated. Solar panels are not No impacts. Construction activities may temporarily increase local employment opportunities and would benefit local stores and businesses. No impacts. Disproportionately high or adverse impacts on lowincome or minority populations are not anticipated because there would be no displacement of residences or businesses. All ground disturbances are located outside of areas designated as having moderate or high potential for archeological resources. No adverse effects on archaeological resources are anticipated. Solar panels are not anticipated to adversely affect aboveground historic properties within WFF. However, solar panels may have indirect adverse effects to aboveground historic properties outside WFF. Residential-scale turbines are not anticipated to adversely affect aboveground historic vii
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Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTION Executive Summary This
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Affected Environment The Virginia S
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Affected Environment FIRM Community
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3.1.4 Climate Change Table 8: Calen
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Wind Affected Environment For Wallo
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Affected Environment The Accomack C
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Affected Environment On the souther
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Affected Environment phoeniceus), B
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Affected Environment The Saxis Wil
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Affected Environment For the once-p
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Affected Environment less common, w
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Affected Environment were also obse
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Affected Environment Over the entir
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3.2.4.1 Birds Henslow’s Sparrow A
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Affected Environment Monitoring was
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Loggerhead Shrike Affected Environm
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Affected Environment known or recor
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Table 17: Occupational Distribution
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Affected Environment Chincoteague I
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3.3.6 Transportation Affected Envir
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Affected Environment Photograph 2:
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Proposed Action Environmental Conse
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Environmental Consequences The inst
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Alternative Two Environmental Conse
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Environmental Consequences The func
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Environmental Consequences Based on
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Environmental Consequences Table 22
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Environmental Consequences Based on
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Alternative One Environmental Conse
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Environmental Consequences conceiva
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Environmental Consequences wetland
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Environmental Consequences of magni
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Environmental Consequences is the a
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Environmental Consequences (TREC).
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Environmental Consequences why bats
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Environmental Consequences determin
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Environmental Consequences While a
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Gull-Billed Tern Environmental Cons
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Environmental Consequences In addit
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Environmental Consequences staff. T
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Proposed Action Aboveground Resourc
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Alternative One Aboveground Resourc
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4.4.4 Transportation No Action Alte
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Environmental Consequences site tha
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Environmental Consequences 2) Placi
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Environmental Consequences projects
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Environmental Consequences Although
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4.6 PERMITS, LICENSES, AND APPROVAL
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Mitigation and Monitoring 5.2.1 Pos
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Mitigation and Monitoring would be
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Agencies, Organizations, and Person
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NASA WFF Technical Library Building
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Name Organization Other Organizatio
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References Cohen, J.B., S. Karpanty
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References Kunz, T.H., E.B. Arnett,
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References Richardson, D.L. 1992. H
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References USFWS. 2009c. Northeaste
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