Environmental Impact Analysis Process. Final Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Air Force Reserve Mission Change (C-130 to C-5A Aircraft) and Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation (Expansion of Civil Aviation Operations through 1995) at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Volume 1.

摘要

This statement assesses the environmental impacts expected to result from implementing either proposed action alone and the cumulative impacts of both actions; the no action alternative is also considered. Implementation of either proposed action would create positive economic impacts through increases in both permanent and temporary increases in direct and indirect employment. The principal adverse impacts expected to result from implementation of either proposed action, alone or in combination, would be related to increases in noise levels in areas surrounding the base. In all cases, the primary human response would be annoyance; no other significant adverse effects on humans, including hearing loss and nonauditory health impacts would be expected to result. Increases in noise levels would result in impacts on current land uses (primarily residential development) and could impose constraints on future development (also primarily residential uses). Some decreases in property values may also occur in affected areas. Nighttime operations that may occur if civil aviation operations are developed to the levels indicated in the traffic demand analysis would result in sleep disturbance to some residents. WMDC has proposed a mitigation plan that will reduce but not eliminate sleep disturbance and other noise impacts.