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

Environmental Consequences
jurisdictional determination (JD); the USACE responded in a letter dated April 30, 2009 with a
preliminary JD. Prior to construction, NASA would notify the public and coordinate with
applicable agencies including USACE, the VDEQ, VMRC, and the Accomack County Wetlands
Board; these agencies would be notified of potential impacts on wetlands by VMRC through the
JPA process. NASA would obtain necessary permits including CWA Section 404, Section 10,
and Section 401 Water Quality Certification/Virginia Water Protection permits. NASA would
implement wetland mitigation measures agreed upon through the JPA consultation process to
offset the impacts from this project. Specifically, NASA would implement 0.362 hectare (0.895
acre) of wetland compensation at the Mainland (Figure 18). The mitigation area could be
anywhere within the detail area shown on Figure 18.
Because the Proposed Action would involve federally funded and authorized impacts on
jurisdictional wetlands, this EA serves as NASA’s means for facilitating public review as
required by EO 11990.
Alternative One
Under Alternative One, only the southern utility-scale wind turbine would be constructed. As
shown in Table 20, up to 0.17 hectare (0.41 acre) of tidal wetlands would be permanently
impacted for construction of the southern wind turbine. The agency consultation process and
public notification required under EO 11990 and described under the Proposed Action would be
the same for Alternative One.
The potential areas identified for the residential-scale wind turbines were selected to exclude
wetlands. Installation of the solar panels would not affect wetlands.
Alternative Two
The potential areas identified for the residential-scale wind turbines and solar panels were
selected to exclude wetlands; therefore no impacts on wetlands would occur under Alternative
Two.
4.2.2.3 Floodplains
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, implementation of the Alternative Energy Project would not
occur; therefore, no impacts on floodplains would occur.
Proposed Action
The utility-scale wind turbines and the residential-scale wind turbine proposed at the Mainland
guard station would be located within the 100-year and 500-year floodplains. The areas of the
Main Base where residential-scale wind turbines would be installed are not within the floodplain.
Because of the siting constraints for placement of the wind turbines, no practicable alternatives
to placement on Wallops Island, which is entirely within the floodplain, exist. NASA would
ensure that construction activities comply with EO 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 14 CFR
1216.2 (NASA regulations on Floodplain and Wetland Management) to the maximum extent
possible.
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