SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesLess Than Significant ImpactsPopulation. Additional Soldiers would be stationed at FTC, resulting in a less than 1 percent changeto the total county population. This change would be within the historic RTV range for the ROI andwould be less than significant. No mitigation would be required.Economy (business sales volume). No construction projects would be initially required at FTC toaccommodate the permanent stationing of the 2/25 th SBCT so no significant, short-term, beneficialeffects would be expected from construction. However, the off-base housing for approximately 500unaccompanied enlisted Soldiers would provide rents to those providing the accommodations. Theseeconomic benefits would be temporary, lasting only until the future construction of barracks on-post.Expenditures and employment associated with future construction projects would slightly increase thebusiness sales volume within the ROI. The changes in sales volume would fall well within historicalfluctuations, as represented by the RTVs shown in Table 5-44 above, and would be considered lessthan significant. No mitigation would be required.Employment. Implementing this alternative would likely result in a small increase in militaryemployment. The increase in employment would be within the historic RTV ranges for the ROI andwould be less than significant. No mitigation would be required.Income. Implementing this alternative would result in a small increase in income within the ROI. Thischange would be within the historic RTV range for the ROI and would be less than significant. Nomitigation would be required.Housing. An increase in demand for housing would occur because of the additional personnelstationed at FTC and because initially the unaccompanied Soldiers would be stationed off-post.However, the available housing stock would accommodate the demand for housing. Impacts to theavailability and cost of housing would be less than significant. No mitigation would be required.Schools. Minimal, long-term effects on schools serving FTC are expected. The additional Soldiersstationed at FTC would represent a less than 1 percent change in population compared to existingconditions. A minimal increase in school enrollment for the schools servicing FTC is expected tooccur. The school districts near FTC have sufficient capacity to accommodate the small number ofnew students. The impact of additional students would vary with the school, but is expected to be lessthan significant.Environmental Justice. No minority or low-income populations would be affected by this alternative.The proportion of the minority population in the FTC area does not meet the 50 percent threshold,and it is not substantially greater than the minority population percentage in El Paso County, the ROI,or Colorado. Similarly, the poverty rate in the FTC area is not greater than 20 percent or substantiallygreater than the poverty rate in El Paso County, the ROI, or the state.However, increased noise, fugitive dust, or traffic from construction or training activities mayindirectly affect off-post residential areas. All communities would be affected to the same degree bythese indirect effects associated with this alternative. There would be no disproportionate impacts tolow-income or minority populations within the ROI.Protection of Children. There is a potential for less than significant short-term adverse impacts tochildren. Because construction sites can be appealing to children, construction activity could be anincreased safety risk. Because the exact locations of proposed construction projects have not yet beenidentified, specific construction projects with greater potential risk because of their proximity toFebruary 2008 5-157 2/25th SBCT Final EIS