SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 4 − Impact Methodology• Increase demand for energy beyond the current capacity of generation or delivery systems to thepoint that substantial expansion, additional facilities, or increased staffing levels would benecessary;• Increase demand for energy resulting in a significant increase in energy costs.4.16 FACILITIES4.16.1 Resource-specific Impact Analysis MethodologyThe evaluation of potential impacts to real estate, installation facilities, public services, infrastructure,and utilities is based on the project’s potential to affect these facilities. This analysis includespotential impacts on police, fire, and emergency medical services and infrastructure for water,wastewater, energy sources (electricity, and natural gas), solid waste management, andcommunications. Potential infrastructure shortfalls, inconsistencies, inadequacies, or deficienciesidentified between the existing infrastructure and the requirements of a project alternative areidentified.Population changes projected for the proposed project were used for forecasting utility and publicservices demands, based on average per capita values whenever available. These utility forecasts werecompared to existing levels of use and infrastructure capacities to determine if capacities would beexceeded.This analysis identifies the potential environmental consequences to the Army real property,including lands, facilities, and infrastructure, within the ROIs for each project alternative. Theenvironmental consequences to facilities, such as buildings, structures, and other improvements;public services; and infrastructure, including roadways and utilities are assessed for each alternative.This analysis included identification and evaluation of the mission requirements for facilities andinfrastructure and the extent to which each installation already meets these requirements. The analysisalso evaluates the need for upgrades to existing facilities or infrastructure and any secondary impactsassociated with those upgrades.Where the existing facilities and infrastructure do not meet the mission requirements, the additionalfacilities and infrastructure would be acquired through construction by the Army or throughcommunity or private sector mechanisms. The effects of acquiring the additional facilities andinfrastructure are also assessed.In addition to these factors, public concerns expressed during the scoping process were alsoconsidered in the impact analysis. These concerns included the impact of the action on increaseddemand for water, collection and treatment of wastewater, communications, and the disposal of solidwaste. Potential impacts to existing real estate, recreation facilities, schools and educational systems,traffic and circulation on both regional and installation roadways, parking facilities, and energy areanalyzed in other sections of this document.4.16.2 Resource-specific significance criteriaFactors considered in determining whether an alternative would have a significant impact on realestate, facilities, public services, or infrastructure would include the extent or degree to which itsimplementation would result in the following:• Impact real estate prices as a result of land acquisition or from land development that isincompatible with existing land uses;February 2008 4–20 2/25th SBCT Final EIS