Environmental Assessment for the Hercules Tanker Plane Recapitalization at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

摘要

This EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This EA was released twice for public review. It was made available for public comments from 3 October to 3 November 2010 and from 19 April 2011 to 19 May 2011 comments received during both the public comment periods were addressed in the EA and are presented in Appendix D. The EA team focused the analysis on the following environmental and human resources: land use, infrastructure, cultural resources, socioeconomics and environmental justice, biological resources, earth resources, air quality, greenhouse gases (GHGs) and climate change, hazardous wastes sites, hazardous materials and waste management, safety and occupational health, noise, and airspace. The Proposed Action would result in a small increase (4.7 percent) in the number of aircraft operations at Kirtland AFB relative to existing operations; however, the increase would not equal the number of operations or number of personnel that have historically occurred at the installation. Therefore, significant effects on the installation's airspace management, safety, water supply, air quality, and transportation systems are not expected. The Albuquerque Sunport Day/Night Average Sound Levels (DNL) noise contours would not increase. The U.S. Air Force 58th Special Operations Wing (SOW) campus area, where the construction activities would occur, is located in previously disturbed areas with no natural habitats; therefore, the impacts on physical and biological resources would be less than significant. Short-term regional socioeconomic stimulation is anticipated from renovation and construction activities. Long- term personnel and population increases are anticipated from the proposed recapitalization, with concomitant increases in regional income, sales volumes, and taxes. There would be no disproportionate effects upon minorities or low- income populations or children.