Okaloosa County BOCC — February 4, 2014 — Pre-application for Design, Construct and Equip Air Traffic Control Tower at DTS — reading text

Section 4(f) and 6(f) Resources - The No Action Alternative would not result in direct or indirect impacts to Section 4(f) or 6(f) resources. The Indian Bayou Golf Club bordering the Airport's southeastern boundary is a privately owned golf course. Although this recreation area is publicly accessible, it does not qualify as a Section A(f) resource, The City of Destin owns and operates the Morgan Sports Center which is located approximately 0.25-mile south of the Airport. The Morgan Sports Center is a local recreation area with a one-half basketball court, 4 baseball fields, stent at is ee OAR SAGEM ERY chalk oatiecah i ceiounauricabmieied seme eneenmeneontacetie ane nit Destin Airport Nevelopment of Contract Air Traffic Controt Towar Paye bd FAA ORLANDO ADO [FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND RECORD OF DECISION picnic tables, a playground, and public restrooms, amongst other amenities. Henderson Beach State Park is located approximately 1.5 miles southeast of the Airport and the Gulf islands National Seashore, a National Park, is located approximately 8 miles west of the Airport. The. Proposed Project would not directly or indirectly impact these resources. In terms of Section 6(f) resources, Fort Walton Landing Park, approximately 8 miles west of the Proposed Project, is the closest public park resource that received a grant from the LWCF. The Proposed Project would not directly or indirectly affect this Section 6(f) resource. Energy Supplies, Natural Resources and Sustainable Design ~ Neither the No Action nor the Proposed Project Alternatives would result in energy supply or natural resource impacts. Construction of the Proposed Project would consume common, readily-available construction materials. The only notable energy consumption that will occur is the consumption of fuel during construction and operation of the Proposed Project. No natural resources that are in limited supply will be utilized in association with the project. Socioeconomic Impacts, Environmental Justice, And Children’s Environmental Health And Safety Risks - Neither the No Action nor the Proposed Project Alternatives would result in environmental justice impacts. The project is located within existing Airport property and no businesses or residences will require relocation. The project study area is located in U.S. Census Tract 12091023305. According to the U.S. EPA’s Environmental Justice Viewer, approximately 5% of this U.S. Census Tract is a minority population and approximately 8% of this U.S. Census Tract is below poverty level. Direct impacts associated with the Proposed Project would occur on Airport Property. Therefore, potential impacts would not directly or indirectly affect low-income or minority populations within this census tract. In addition, the Proposed Project would not cause indirect impacts that would result in disproportionate adverse effects to the low-income or minority population within the census tract. It would not cause disproportionate adverse effects to any environmental resources important to any low-income and minority population. No alteration of surface traffic patterns or noticeable increase in surface traffic congestion will occur as a result of the Proposed Project. No alterations to the road network will be required. The Proposed Project would not alter surface traffic patterns or cause a noticeable increase in traffic congestion in the airport area. Therefore, the Proposed Project would not permanently increase surface traffic congestion or decrease area roadways’ LOS. There are no schools, daycare centers, or other similar facilities within the project study area. Noah's Ark Pre-School is the closest school to the project study area. It is approximately 0.6-mile to the south east of the project study area. The Indian Bayou Golf Club golf course provides a buffer between the preschool and Airport praperty. The operation of the Proposed Project would occur in a secured and controlled environment. Children would not access the site. As a result, the Proposed Project would not have a substantial effect on products or substances that a child is likely to touch, digest, or be exposed to. irene ensreroncumeeennaaee tetany ermapererter ten Or aC a aren mrepamt ee ee tron TG NOE OPN REE HEARTS Destin Airport Development of Contract Air Traffic Cantrot Tower Page [2 FAA ORLANDO ADO | FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND RECORD OF DECISION Therefore, it is not anticipated that the Proposed Project would cause significant risks to the health and safety of children. Prime, Unique or State Significant Farmlands — Neither the No Action Alternative nor the Proposed Project would result in impacts to prime, unique or state significant farmlands. The Proposed Project is located in an area that is not used for agricultural purposes and it would not require the conversion of farmlands to non-agricultural uses. The project study area contains Dorovan muck, Mandarin sand, and Resota sand. According to the NRCS, Web Soil Survey, these soil types are not classified as prime farmland or farmland of statewide importance and this area is not currently used to cultivate crops. Therefore, the Proposed Project would not impact prime, unique, or state-significant farmland soil types. Early coordination initiated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) confirmed that the Proposed Project site does not contain prime farmlands (see Final Focused EA Attachrnent B-2}, Floodplains - The No Action Alternative would not result in impacts to floodplains. The Proposed Project is not located in, and will not encroach upon any base/100-year floodplains as designated by FEMA (see Final Focused EA Exhibit A-7). Hazardous Materials - The No Action Alternative would not result in hazardous materiais impacts. The only existing hazardous materials site on the Airport is the fuel farm, which is located on the northwestern portion of the Airport, The Proposed Project would not affect the fuel farrn in any way, The construction of the Proposed Project would cause a temporary increase in municipal solid waste due to the removal and disposal of inorganic materials and vegetation that are removed during clearing and grubbing activities. As noted in Section 8(12)(b) of the Final Focused EA, some of the removed vegetation may be ground and used to mulch disturbed areas, sold as timber, or be reused. Okaloosa County does not have a municipal solid waste landfill. Municipal solid waste and commercial solid waste is transported to the Springhill Regional Landfill in Jackson County, approximately 70 miles northeast of Okaloosa. Currently, the Springhill Regional Landfill has 3,245,441 tons of waste in place and is predicted to close in 2055. The Proposed Project would not cause an increase in operations at the Airport. As noted above, the landfill in Jackson County has sufficient capacity to handle operationally-related municipal solid waste the Proposed Project would generate (i.e., 2-4 acres). As a result, the Proposed Project would not adversely affect the landfill capacities of Jackson County. There are no landfills within 10,000 feet of a runway serving turbo-powered aircraft, or 5,000 feet of a runway serving piston-powered aircraft. Okaloosa County currently transfers its waste to the Springhill Regional Landfill in Jackson County and does not have any landfills within the County. Destin Airport Development of Cantract Ar Traffic Control Tower Kaige 13 FAA ORLANDO ADO |FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND RECORD OF DECISION Historic, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources — The No Action Alternative would not result in impacts to historic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural resources. Several structures in Okaloosa County exist on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The closest NRHP-listed resources are the Gulfview Hotel Historic District, Camp Pinchot Historic District, McKinley Climatic Laboratory, and Eglin Field Historic District. These historic resources are approximately 8 ~ 10 miles west of the Proposed Project. There are no buildings within the project study area. Given the distance of the Proposed Project from historical resources, and since the Proposed Project would not change operations at the Airport, project implementation would not directly or indirectly affect historical resources. There is no reason to believe that significant scientific, prehistoric, historic, archeological, or paleontological resources would be lost or destroyed as a result of the Proposed Project. According to the FLSHPO, "no historical properties will be affected as a result of the proposed undertaking” (see Attachment B-2). If paleontological resources are encountered during construction activities, all ground-disturbing activities within 25 feet of the discovered resources would stop immediately. The contractor would immediately contact Okaloosa County, the FLSHPO, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), and FAA. Okaloosa County would ensure a qualified paleontologist is called as soon as possible to assess the situation. Consultation would be conducted to seek recommendations for the treatment of the discovery. See the Final Focused EA, Altachment 8-2, for coordination with the Florida State Historic Preservation Officer (FLSHPO) and the Seminole Nation, respectively. Induced Socioeconomic Impacts - The No Action Alternative would not result in induced socioeconomic impacts. The proposed project is located entirely within Airport property. The Proposed Project would not result in the relocation of homes or businesses, community disruption, population movement or growth, or changes in public service demands. The Proposed Project would result in positive economic effects due to employment opportunities during construction and operation of the proposed ATCT facilities that would be constructed under the Proposed Project. Light Emissions and Visual Effects - The No Action Alternative would not result in light or visual impacts. The Proposed Project would be constructed on Airport property. Operating hours for the proposed VFR ATCT have not yet been determined. However, the proposed VFR ATCT is expected to operate approximately 16 hours per day, potentially between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. The light emitted from the proposed VFR ATCT would be visible during dark hours (i.e., after 7:00 PM). The proposed VFR ATCT would have an overall height of 84.5 feet AGL and would be lighted with red FAA L-810 obstruction lighting. This light is low emitting and therefore would not impact local residential areas. Parking lot lighting and light emitted from the interior of the proposed VFR ATCT would not impact residential areas surrounding the Airport. Residential areas approximately 0.3-mile northwest of the proposed VFR ATCT site have a buffer of trees between the neighborhood and the proposed VFR ATCT. Residential areas approximately Soren murine enereumataemenmacams Destin Airpart Development of Contract Air Traffic Control Tower Page 14 FAA ORLANDO ADO | FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND RECORD OF DECISION 0.3-mile southwest would be able to see the proposed VFR ATCT. However, the proposed VFR ATCT is consistent with Airport operations and the overall appearance of the Airport (see Final Focused EA Exhibil A-8). Noise Impacts - The No Action Alternative would not result in significant noise impacts to non- compatible land uses. Implementation of the Proposed Project does not trigger the requirement to perform a nolse analysis per FAA Order 1050.1E, Appendix A. No changes to the airport’s existing or future noise contours would occur as a result of the Proposed Project (see Section 8(13) of the Final Focused EA). Construction-related noise would be temporary and be limited to the daylight hours. Water Quality - The No Action Alternative would not result in water quality impacts. Construction and operation of the