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

Environmental Consequences
Table 27: Area of Wetlands Affected for Current Proposed Projects on Wallops Island
Project 1
Area of Wetlands Affected
hectares (acres)
Wallops Research Park 0.4 (1)
UAS Airstrip 1.4 (3.5)
Alternative Energy Project 0.4 (0.9)
SRIPP 0
Expansion of WFF Launch Range – Alternative One 2 1.7 (4.1)
Total 3.9 (9.6)
1 Existing WFF launch activities do not directly affect wetlands.
2 Because Alternative One would result in a larger area of wetlands impacts than Alternative Two, it was used
for the cumulative effects analysis.
In addition, past projects have resulted in wetlands impacts. Table 28 provides detailed
information on Wallops Island wetland impacts including the area impacted, compensation that
was completed as mitigation, and the net change in wetland area. NASA would obtain necessary
permits including Section 404 and Section 10 permits for all proposed projects that would affect
wetlands. NASA is currently preparing a wetlands inventory and assessment for WFF. The goal
of this effort is to provide strategic regulatory, environmental, and land use analysis of all
wetlands on the Main Base, Wallops Mainland, and Wallops Island in order to develop a
comprehensive long-term wetland management plan for the facility.
Table 28: Area of Wetlands Affected from Past Projects on Wallops Island
Date Project
Area Impacted
hectares
(acres) Impact Type
Compensation
hectares
(acres)
Net Change
hectares
(acres)
Oct. 1997 Pad 0-A 0.13 (0.32) 1 Permanent Fill 0.71 (1.76) 0.55 (1.44)
Feb. 2002 Navy MFR 0.0085 (0.021) Temporary Fill 0.0085 (0.02) 1 0 (0)
Nov. 2004 Navy DDG 0.85 (2.1) Permanent Fill 0.76 (4.35) 0.91 (2.25)
Apr. 2008
Boat Dock 0.014 (0.033)
Permanent Fill,
Shading 0.026 (0.064) 0.0125 (0.031)
Total 1 (2.47) 2.5 (6.2) 1.5 (3.7)
1 Because Alternative One would result in a larger are of wetlands impacts than Alternative Two, it was used for the
cumulative effects analysis.
NASA would implement compensatory wetland mitigation measures (agreed upon through the
JPA consultation process) to offset any impacts.
4.5.6.3 Air Quality
Construction-related and operational activities that would occur under the Proposed Action for
the Alternative Energy Project and the other projects that are reasonable and foreseeable at WFF
would occur at different locations and at different times over a period of several years. Tables 20
and 21 show the estimated emissions from the preferred alternatives of current and planned WFF
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