environmental assessment repurposing freeport-mcmoran audubon species survival center to ...

298 Pages·2015·48.47 MB·English

Final

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
REPURPOSING
FREEPORT-MCMORAN AUDUBON SPECIES SURVIVAL CENTER
TO
ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE CENTER

ORLEANS AND PLAQUEMINES PARISHES, LOUISIANA

October 2, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Project Description ............................................................................................................3
1.2 Background .......................................................................................................................3
2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION .................................................... 9
3.0 ALTERNATIVES.......................................................................................................... 11
3.1 Alternative Eliminated from Further Consideration .......................................................11
3.2 No Build Alternative .......................................................................................................11
3.2.1 Outdoor Animal Holding Areas ............................................................................. 11
3.2.2 Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species .......................................... 11
3.2.3 Support Facilities for Animal Care ........................................................................ 14
3.2.4 Housing .................................................................................................................. 14
3.2.5 Other Support ......................................................................................................... 14
3.3 Build Alternative .............................................................................................................15
3.3.1 Phase I .................................................................................................................... 15
3.3.2 Phase II ................................................................................................................... 16
4.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 19
4.1 Human Environment .......................................................................................................19
4.1.1 Demographics ........................................................................................................ 19
4.1.2 Business and Economy ........................................................................................... 21
4.1.3 Neighborhoods and Community Cohesion ............................................................. 21
4.1.4 Land Use, Planning and Zoning ............................................................................. 22
4.1.5 Transportation, Public Facilities and Services ...................................................... 22
4.1.6 Hazardous and Solid Waste Sites ........................................................................... 23
4.1.7 Air Quality .............................................................................................................. 24
4.1.8 Noise ....................................................................................................................... 25
4.1.9 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................. 25
4.1.10 Visual and Aesthetic Conditions ............................................................................. 28
4.1.11 Flood Zones ............................................................................................................ 29
4.1.12 Coastal Zone ........................................................................................................... 29
4.2 Natural Environment .......................................................................................................29
4.2.1 Physical Setting, Geology, Soils and Prime Farmland .......................................... 29
4.2.2 Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 34
i CEI No. 214101
4.2.3 Wetlands and Wetland Reserve Program ............................................................... 34
4.2.4 Fish and Wildlife Resources ................................................................................... 35
4.2.5 Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Species and Critical Habitat ........................ 35
4.2.6 Scenic Streams ........................................................................................................ 36
4.2.7 Water Resources and Water Quality ...................................................................... 36
5.0 ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS FOR THE CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVES ........... 37
5.1 Impacts on the Human Environment ...............................................................................37
5.1.1 Displacements/Relocations .................................................................................... 37
5.1.2 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................ 37
5.1.3 Neighborhood and Community Cohesion .............................................................. 37
5.1.4 Land Use, Planning and Zoning ............................................................................. 37
5.1.5 Business and Economy ........................................................................................... 38
5.1.6 Traffic ..................................................................................................................... 38
5.1.7 Public Facilities and Services ................................................................................ 39
5.1.8 Parks and Recreation Facilities ............................................................................. 39
5.1.9 Air Quality .............................................................................................................. 39
5.1.10 Noise ....................................................................................................................... 39
5.1.11 Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 40
5.1.12 Visual and Aesthetic Impacts ................................................................................. 40
5.1.13 Construction Period Impacts .................................................................................. 41
5.1.14 Hazardous and Solid Waste Sites ........................................................................... 41
5.1.15 Flood Zones ............................................................................................................ 41
5.1.16 Coastal Zone Impacts ............................................................................................. 41
5.2 Impacts on the Natural Environment ..............................................................................42
5.2.1 Physical Setting, Geology, Soils and Prime Farmland .......................................... 42
5.2.2 Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 42
5.2.3 Wetlands ................................................................................................................. 43
5.2.4 Fish and Wildlife Resources ................................................................................... 43
5.2.5 Threatened and Endangered Species and Critical Habitat .................................... 43
5.2.6 Scenic Streams ........................................................................................................ 43
5.2.7 Water Resources and Water Quality ...................................................................... 43
6.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NO BUILD AND PROPOSED ACTION AND
MITIGATION................................................................................................................ 45
7.0 EXECUTIVE ORDERS ................................................................................................ 49
8.0 POINT OF CONTACT .................................................................................................. 51
ii CEI No. 214101
9.0 COORDINATION AND RESPONSES ........................................................................ 53
9.1 Agency and Public Input .................................................................................................53
9.2 Regulatory Requirements ................................................................................................53
10.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 55

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Solicitation of Views (SOV) and Responses ................................................... A-1
Appendix B: Environmental Site Assessment Phase I Investigation .....................................B-2
Appendix C: Jurisdictional Determinations and Wetland Maps ............................................C-2
Appendix D: Inquiries and Responses ................................................................................... D-1
Appendix E: Cultural Resources Survey Documentation ...................................................... E-1
Appendix F: Coastal Zone Consistency Documentation ....................................................... F-1
Appendix G: Public Notice .................................................................................................... G-1
Appendix H: Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife Coverage Reports ....................................... H-1

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Project Area ...................................................................................................................2
Figure 2 Project Area on Plat .......................................................................................................4
Figure 3 Wetlands and Other Waters of US ...............................................................................13
Figure 4 No Build Alternative (Tore Design Consortium Ltd. [2015]) .....................................13
Figure 5 Build Alternative (Tore Design Consortium Ltd. [2015]) ...........................................16
Figure 6 2010 Census Tract Map (Regional Planning Commission 2010) ................................20
Figure 7 Hazardous Waste, Water Wells & Oil/Gas Wells .......................................................24
Figure 8 Area of Potential Effect (APE) ....................................................................................26
Figure 9 The Architectural Area Of Potential Effect (APE) ......................................................28
Figure 10 Flood Zone ...................................................................................................................30
Figure 11 Geology ........................................................................................................................32
Figure 12 Soils..............................................................................................................................33

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Comparative Summary of Potential Impacts for No Build and
Build Alternatives .......................................................................................................46
iii CEI No. 214101
ACRONYMS

ACRES Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species
aka Also Known As
ANI Audubon Nature Institute
APE Area of Potential Effect
AST Above Ground Storage Tank
ASTM American Society of Testing Materials
ASW Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife
ASWC Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife Center
AWP Audubon Wilderness Park
AZA Association of Zoos and Aquariums
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COE United States Army Corps of Engineers
DHP Division of Historic Preservation
DOA Division of Archaeology
EA Environmental Assessment
ENJV English Turn Joint Venture
ESA Endangered Species Act
ESA1 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Maps
FMASSC Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center
GIWW Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
GSRI Gulf South Research Corporation
G.U.L.F. Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries
HWY Highway
LDNR Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
LDOTD Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
LNHP Louisiana Natural Heritage Program
LPDES Louisiana Pollution Discharge Elimination System
MSL Mean Sea Level
NA Natural Area (District)
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRHP National Register of Historic Places
OSHA Occupational Health and Safety Association
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
ROW Right(s) of Way
RS Regular Session (of the Louisiana Legislature)
RS-1 Single – Family Residential District
SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer
SOV Solicitation of Views
SPCC Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan
USCG United States Coast Guard
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service
USGS United States Geological Survey
UST Underground Storage Tank
WRP Wetland Reserve Program
iv CEI No. 214101
1.0 INTRODUCTION

The U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) licensed a +/- 986-acre (ac) tract of land on the west bank of the
Mississippi River in the Lower Coast of Algiers to the Audubon Park Commission for use as an
animal species survival center by the Audubon Nature Institute (Audubon). The licensed area is
part of a larger tract referred to as the USCG Communications Station Property (aka USCG
Twelve Mile Point Property and USCG Reservation) and is located in Secs. 3, 4, and 5, T-14-S,
R-25-E, Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana (Figure 1). All of the USCG property in
Orleans Parish is located within the corporate limits of the City of New Orleans.

The USCG license, similar to a lease agreement, was initially executed by Audubon in 1990,
amended in 1991 and renewed in 2010. The license contains a number of provisions including
improvements on the property. The proposed activity consists of the repurposing of the existing
Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) into the Alliance for
Sustainable Wildlife Center (ASWC). The ASWC will be operated through a partnership
between the San Diego Zoo Global and Audubon for the purpose of replenishing animal
populations that face possible extinction. Approximately 200 ac of the grounds within Phase I of
the existing FMASSC have been used by Audubon since 1993 as habitat for rare and endangered
felines, hoofstock and large-bodied birds.

The larger USCG property was initially obtained from its previous owners by the U. S. Navy for
staging military shipments associated with World War II. The USCG acquired the property from
the Navy in 1961 and erected a communications station and antennae field that have been in
active use to the present date. The larger tract also is occupied by a USCG office building,
support buildings, appurtenances, and some improved roads. Because of the sensitivity of the
radio transmissions and the need to avoid electromagnetic interference, most of the original tract
has remained undeveloped since being obtained by the USCG.

In order for the USCG to approve any project and/or activity as a federal action, it must be
investigated, documented, evaluated and found to be in compliance with USCG requirements
relative to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (i.e., Commandant Instruction
M16475.ID 2000). The early planning stage includes a review of a project/activity in the context
of its anticipated impact in an ascending progression of significance and, based on that
determination, the project is evaluated and processed as a Categorical Exclusion, Environmental
Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Categorical Exclusions, utilized in
an effort to reduce time and costs, are defined by the Council of Environmental Quality as a
category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the
human environment and for which, an EA nor an EIS is required. Because the USCG has no
Categorical Exclusions for an ASWC type of project, it does not qualify for this type of
consideration/approval. Due to the limited amount of anticipated impacts believed to be
associated with the proposed project, the USCG has determined that the ASWC should be
evaluated as an EA. However, if it is determined during the course, or at the end, of the EA
process that the ASWC would result in a significant environmental impact, an Environmental
Impact Statement would be required.

1 CEI No. 214101
Figure 1

2 CEI No. 214101