SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences5.6.3.6 Traffic and TransportationAlternative C would result in less than significant impacts to the traffic and transportation resources.Cumulative impacts to traffic and transport resources would result from continued population growthand development in the region. Some of the regional roadways are currently operating at or nearcapacity, and traffic volumes are expected to increase as the projected growth in Colorado occurs.However, cumulative impacts to traffic and transport are expected to be less than significant forAlternative C.5.6.3.7 Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice, and Protection of ChildrenAlternative C would have less than significant impacts on population, economy (business sales,volume), employment, income, housing and schools, and no disproportionate impacts to low-incomeor minority populations or the health and safety of children. Although cumulative impacts tosocioeconomic resources could result from continued population growth and development in theregion, cumulative impacts to socioeconomic resources, minority and low-income populations andprotection of children are also expected to be less than significant for Alternative C.5.6.3.8 Hazardous Materials and Hazardous WasteUnder implementation of Alternative C, impacts to human health and safety are expected to be lessthan significant resulting from hazardous materials and waste. However, additional cumulativeimpacts to human health and safety would result from the other military projects and projectedpopulation growth and urbanization in the region. Cumulative human health and safety impacts wouldresult from the addition of new firing ranges, and enlargement of existing or development of newmaneuver areas, and population growth near FTC and PCMS. Training of the 2/25 th SBCT at FTCwould increase the future use of several planned range improvement projects and those foreseeableactivities that involve maneuver training exercises. The PCMS is used approximately 4 months peryear on average. Future use of the PCMS is projected to increase, and SBCT training wouldcontribute to the training load at PCMS. Cumulative impacts to human health and safety fromhazardous materials and waste are expected to be less than significant for Alternative C.5.6.3.9 Biological ResourcesSome of the projects identified as contributing to cumulative impacts would impact biologicalresources. These projects are expected to contain mitigation measures and SOPs to minimize potentialbiological impacts. The cumulative impacts involving vegetation, threatened and endangered species,noxious weeds, and wildlife and habitat are expected to be significant but mitigable to less thansignificant. There would be no cumulative impacts to wetlands from Alternative C.The cumulative impact to vegetation resources includes the irreversible changes to plant communitieson and surrounding Fort Carson because of implementation of the cumulative projects. Theimplementation of Alternative C and the other projects in the area would result in a variety ofpotential impacts including mortality, disturbance, and loss of habitat. The area of undisturbed shortgrassprairie and foothills habitats in the region is likely to continue to shrink because of thepopulation growth and economic development along the Front Range anticipated by state and localgovernments. The cumulative impacts to vegetation resources on PCMS include those from trackedvehicles and compaction from foot traffic. Damage from shells and ammunition could also result invegetation loss. Overall, cumulative impacts to vegetation are expected to be significant, butmitigable to less than significant.February 2008 5-271 2/25th SBCT Final EIS