Draft environmental assessment : proposed runway safety area program : San Francisco International Airport

2011·24.7 MB·English

by  URS Corporation

SANFRANCISCOPUBLICLIBRARY
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DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PROPOSED RUNWAY SAFETY AREA PROGRAM
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
Preparedfor:
CITYAND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT COMMISSION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Aslead FederalAgencypursuanttothe National Environmental PolicyActof1969
Preparedby:
URS Corporation GOVERNMENT
San Francisco
DOCUMENTS DEP'
JUN 2 4 2011
June 2011
SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC LIBRARY
This environmental assessment becomes a Federal document when evaluated, signed and dated by
the Responsible FAA Official.
D
REF
387.736 FAA Official Date
Sa529dr
San Francisco PublicLibrary
Government Information Center
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street, 5''^ Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
REFERENCE BOOK
Nottobetakenfrom thelibrary
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
WHAT'S IN THIS DOCUMENT? This document contains a Draft Environmental Assessment
for the City and County of San Francisco's proposed Runway Safety Area Program, which
involves both runway complexes at San Francisco International Airport. This document
discloses the analysis and findings of the potential impacts of the City and County of San
Francisco's proposal, the No Action and other reasonable alternatives.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Read this Draft EA and attend the public hearing on this proposed
project. Copies of the document are available for review at libraries in San Francisco and
other communities in the San Francisco Bay Area; FAA's offices in Hawthorne, and
Burlingame, California, and the administrative offices of the San Francisco International
Airport. A list of these and other locations where the Draft EA is available is in Chapter 5. If
you have important information you believe has not considered in this document or comments
about the conclusions, please send your written comments to the City and County of
San Francisco at the address below.
Ms. Audrey Park
Environmental Planner
Bureau of Planning and Environmental Affairs
San Francisco International Airport
P.O. Box 8097
San Francisco, California 94128
The cutoff date for comment submission is July 29, 2011, not later than 5:00 PM - Pacific
Daylight Time. Please allow enough time for mailing. The City and County of San Francisco
must receive your comments by the deadline, not simply postmarked, by that date.
BACKGROUND. The Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, Tiie
Judiciary, Ttie District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
(Public Law 109-115), requires completion of Runway Safety Area improvements by airports in
the United States that hold a certificate issued by the FAA under Title 49 of the Unites States
Code, Section 44706 to meet FAA design standards for Runway Safety Areas required by
Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 139 by December 31, 2015. The City and County
of San Francisco, as owner and operator of San Francisco International Airport, has developed
its proposed action to meet the requirements of Public Law 109-1 15.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS? The City and County of San Francisco will prepare written
responses to comments received on the adequacy of the information presented in the Draft EA
and prepare a Final EA for transmittal to the FAA for approval. Following review of the Final
EA, the FAA will either issue a Finding of No Significant Impact or decide to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
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Table ofContents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED 1-1
1.1 INTRODUCTION 1-1
1.2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1-1
1.2.1 Description of Existing Airport 1-1
1.2.2 Description of Existing Runway Safety Areas 1-2
1.2.3 Recent Related Studies 1-8
1.3 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION 1-8
1.3.1 Runways 10L-28R and 10R-28L 1-29
1.3.2 Runways 1L-19R and 1R-19L 1-30
1.4 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION 1-31
1.4.1 Sponsor's Purpose and Need 1-31
1.4.2 FAA Purpose and Need 1-32
1.5 REQUESTED FEDERAL ACTIONS 1-33
1.6 PRELIMINARY SFO RSA PROGRAM SCHEDULE 1-33
1.7 DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION 1-34
CHAPTER 2.0 ALTERNATIVES 2-1
2.1 INTRODUCTION 2-1
2.1.1 Scope ofthe Alternatives Analysis 2-1
2.1.2 Requirements ofthe National Environmental PolicyAct 2-1
2.1.3 Alternatives Screening Process Overview 2-2
2.2 ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION CRITERIA 2-2
2.2.1 Step 1 Criteria - Purpose and Need 2-2
2.2.2 Step 2 Criteria - Practicability and Implementation Schedule 2-6
2.2.3 Step 3 Criteria - Safe and Efficient Use of Navigable Airspace and Impact
on Airfield Operations 2-7
2.3 EVALUATION OF OFF-AIRPORT AND NON-STRUCTURAL ALTERNATIVES 2-7
2.3.1 Use ofAlternative Modes ofTransportation 2-7
2.3.2 Use ofOtherArea Public Airports 2-8
2.3.3 Use ofAlternative Aircraft 2-8
2.4 DESCRIPTION OF BASIC ON-FIELD ALTERNATIVES 2-8
2.4.1 Construct Standard Runway Safety Areas 2-8
2.4.2 Relocate, Shift, or Realign the Runways 2-8
2.4.3 Reduce Runway Lengths 2-9
2.4.4 Implement Declared Distances 2-9
2.4.5 Install Standard Engineered Materials Arresting Systems 2-9
2.5 DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF BASIC ON-AIRPORT ALTERNATIVES 2-10
2.5.1 Runways 10L-28R and 10R-28L 2-10
2.5.2 Runways 1L-19R and 1R-19L 2-27
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2.6 DEVELOPMENT OF REFINED ALTERNATIVES FOR RUNWAYS 1L-19R
AND 1R-19L 2-41
2.6.1 Development of Refined Alternatives 2-41
2.6.2 Description and Evaluation ofShort-Listed Refined Alternatives 2-41
2.7 SUMMARY OF THE ALTERNATIVES SCREENING PROCESS 2-65
2.8 PERMITS REQUIRED 2-65
2.9 LISTING OF FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS CONSIDERED 2-65
CHAPTER 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3-1
3.1 INTRODUCTION 3-1
3.1.1 Study Areas and Study Years 3-1
3.2 NOISE 3-2
3.2.1 Aircraft Noise Description and Methodology 3-2
3.2.2 201 (Existing) Noise Environment 3-5
3.2.3 Existing Noise Management Program 3-6
3.3 COMPATIBLE LAND USE 3-6
3.3.1 Existing Land Use 3-6
3.3.2 Local Plans and Land Use Regulations 3-12
3.4 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACT, SECTION 4(F) AND LAND AND
WATER CONSERVATION FUND ACT, SECTION 6(F) RESOURCES 3-13
3.4.1 Public Lands Located Within the GSA 3-14
3.5 DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIOECONOMIC, AND TRANSPORTATION
CHARACTERISTICS 3-14
3.5.1 Population 3-14
3.5.2 Ethnicity of Population and Poverty Status 3-14
3.5.3 Employment 3-18
3.5.4 Income and Housing Distribution 3-19
3.5.5 Children's Environmental Health and Safety 3-19
3.5.6 Surface Transportation and Traffic 3-20
3.6 AIR QUALITY 3-20
3.6.1 Sources ofAir Emissions 3-22
3.6.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change 3-23
3.6.3 201 Existing Conditions 3-23
3.7 WATER RESOURCES 3-25
3.7.1 Surface and Storm Water 3-25
3.7.2 Groundwater 3-26
3.7.3 Water Supply 3-26
3.7.4 Sanitary Wastewaterand Treatment 3-26
3.8 FISH, WILDLIFE AND PLANTS 3-26
3.8.1 Vegetation Communities and CoverTypes 3-26
3.8.2 Wildlife : 3-29
3.8.3 Protected Species 3-30
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3.9 WETLANDS 3-37
3.9.1 Wetlands and OtherWaters 3-37
3.10 FLOODPLAINS 3-38
3.11 COASTAL RESOURCES 3-45
3.12 HISTORIC, ARCHITECTURAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL, AND CULTURAL
RESOURCES 3-45
3.12.1 Compliance with Section 106 ofthe National Historic Preservation Act 3-45
3.12.2 Area ofPotential Effects 3-46
3.12.3 Archaeological Resources 3-46
3.12.4 HistoricArchitectural Resources 3-49
3.13 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY SUPPLY 3-50
3.13.1 Natural Resources 3-50
3.13.2 Energy Supply 3-50
3.14 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, POLLUTION PREVENTION, AND SOLID WASTE 3-50
3.14.1 Hazardous Materials Regulations 3-51
3.14.2 Known/Potential Sites 3-51
3.14.3 Solid Waste Collection and Disposal 3-54
3.15 PAST, PRESENT, AND REASONABLY FORESEEABLE FUTURE ACTIONS 3-57
CHAPTER 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES AND MITIGATION MEASURES 4-1
4.1 INTRODUCTION 4-1
4.2 NOISE 4-1
4.2.1 Overviewof Impacts 4-1
4.2.2 Methodology 4-2
4.2.3 Comparison ofthe No Action and Proposed Action Alternatives 4-13
4.2.4 Construction Noise Impacts 4-14
4.2.5 Mitigation 4-21
4.3 COMPATIBLE LAND USE 4-21
4.3.1 Overview of Impacts 4-21
4.3.2 Methodology 4-21
4.3.3 Operational Impacts (2015 and 2020) 4-22
4.3.4 Construction-related Impacts 4-24
4.4 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACT, SECTION 4(F) AND LAND AND
WATER CONSERVATION FUND ACT, SECTION 6(F) RESOURCES 4-25
4.4.1 Overview of Impacts 4-25
4.4.2 Methodology 4-25
4.4.3 Operational Impacts (Years 2015 and 2020) 4-25
4.4.4 Construction-related Impacts 4-26
4.5 SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND CHILDREN'S
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK 4-26
4.5.1 Overview of Impacts 4-26
4.5.2 Methodology 4-26
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4.5.3 Operational Impacts (Years 2015 and 2020) 4-28
4.5.4 Construction Impacts 4-29
4.6 AIR QUALITY 4-29
4.6.1 Overview of Impacts 4-30
4.6.2 Methodology 4-30
4.6.3 Thresholds ofSignificance 4-31
4.6.4 Operational Impacts (Years 2015 and 2020) 4-31
4.6.5 Construction Impacts 4-32
4.6.6 Construction Minimization Measures 4-34
4.7 WATER RESOURCES 4-35
4.7.1 Overview of Impacts 4-35
4.7.2 Methodology 4-35
4.7.3 Operational Impacts 4-36
4.7.4 Construction Impacts 4-38
4.7.5 Permits 4-41
4.8 FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS 4-41
4.8.1 Overview of Impacts 4-41
4.8.2 Methodology 4^2
4.8.3 Operational Impacts 4-42
4.8.4 Construction Impacts 4-43
4.8.5 Mitigation 4-46
4.9 WETLANDS 4-48
4.9.1 Overview of Impacts 4-48
4.9.2 Methodology 4-48
4.9.3 Operational Impacts 4-49
4.9.4 Construction Impacts 4-49
4.9.5 Mitigation 4-50
4.9.6 Permits 4-50
4.10 FLOODPLAINS 4-50
4.10.1 Overview of Impacts 4-50
4.10.2 Thresholds ofSignificance 4-50
4.10.3 Operational Impacts 4-57
4.10.4 Construction Impacts 4-58
4.11 COASTAL RESOURCES 4-58
4.11.1 Overview of Impacts 4-58
4.11.2 Thresholds ofSignificance 4-58
4.11.3 Operational Impacts 4-58
4.11.4 Construction Impacts 4-59
4.12 HISTORIC, ARCHITECTURAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL, AND CULTURAL
RESOURCES 4-60
4.12.1 Overview of Impacts 4-60
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4.12.2 Thresholds ofSignificance 4-60
4.12.3 Operational Impacts 4-61
4.12.4 Construction Impacts 4-61
4.13 LIGHT EMISSIONS AND VISUAL IMPACTS 4-62
4.13.1 Overview of Impacts 4-62
4.13.2 Methodology 4-62
4.13.3 Operational Impacts 4-62
4.13.4 Construction Impacts 4-63
4.14 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY SUPPLY 4-63
4.14.1 Overview of Impacts 4-63
4.14.2 Thresholds ofSignificance 4-63
4.14.3 Operational Impacts 4-64
4.14.4 Construction Impacts 4-64
4.15 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, POLLUTION PREVENTION, AND SOLID WASTE 4-65
4.15.1 Overview of Impacts 4-65
4.15.2 Thresholds ofSignificance 4-65
4.15.3 Operational Impacts 4-66
4.15.4 Construction Impacts 4-66
4.16 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 4-67
4.16.1 Methodology 4-67
4.16.2 Construction and Operational Impacts 4-68
CHAPTER 5.0 COORDINATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 5-1
5.1 INTRODUCTION 5-1
5.2 EARLY NOTIFICATION 5-1
5.3 AGENCYAND COMMUNITY MEETINGS 5-1
5.3.1 Local Community Meetings 5-2
5.3.2 Agency Meetings 5-2
5.3.3 Project Website 5-2
5.4 COMMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE EARLY NOTIFICATION 5-2
5.4.1 Applicability and Use ofCivil Airport Imaginary Surfaces 5-3
5.4.2 Approach Surfaces 5-3
5.4.3 Change in Overlaying Approach Surface Heights for Runways 10L, 10R, 1L,
and 1R 5-4
5.5 DRAFT EAAVAILABILITY FOR REVIEW 5-6
5.6 PUBLIC HEARING 5-15
5.7 FINAL EA 5-15
CHAPTER 6.0 LIST OF PREPARERS 6-1
6.1 PRINCIPAL FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REVIEWERS 6-1
6.2 CITYAND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT 6-1
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6.3 URS CORPORATION 6-2
6.4 BRIDGENET INTERNATIONAL 6-3
6.5 KB ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, INC ..6-4
6.6 LSA ASSOCIATES, INC 6-4
CHAPTER 7.0 REFERENCES 7-1
CHAPTER 8.0 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 8-1
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