CHAPTER 4

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

4.1 Location and Study Area

The Yellowstone Airport is a public-use, commercial service, Interagency Fire Center Smokejumper / Air Tanker Base aviation facility, serving southern Gallatin County, and the surrounding region. The Airport borders the Town of West Yellowstone to the southeast and is in close proximity to Yellowstone National Park to the east. The main Study Area is coincidental with the Airport property due that no significant impacts are foreseen beyond this as a result of any approval by the FAA to switch aircraft from turboprop to jet. Figure 1-1 reflects the bound area being Airport property, as well as the immediate vicinity around the Airport. Environmental consequence elements were analyzed outside of this area to ascertain any projected impacts on adjacent areas. These areas include the neighboring , Town of West Yellowstone, and Yellowstone National Park.

The following affected environment categories: Land Use and Zoning, Demographics and Social Profile, and Physical and Natural Environment are reviewed below for the West Yellowstone area. Specific environmental consequences as they apply to these environments, as well as impacts to other areas of interest, follow the format of FAA Order 1050.1E – Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures . These consequences are discussed in detail in Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences .

4.2 Land Use and Zoning

The Airport and surrounding area fall under multiple land use and zoning jurisdictions. Responsible entities include the Town of West Yellowstone, Gallatin County, Hebgen Lake District of the Gallatin National Forest, and .

The Airport is on property that is not zoned. The only zoning in the general Study Area is that established by the Town of West Yellowstone as provided on Figure 4-1. Section 5.1.4, Compatible Land Use , discusses the land uses and zoning districts within the Study Area and how the ‘No Action’ and ‘Proposed Action’ alternatives would affect these designated areas. Parks and recreation areas, open space, and wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites are discussed in Section 5.1.6, Section 4(f) Lands , as applicable.

Existing 4(f) resources in the area of the Airport include the Gallatin National Forest – Hebgen Lake District (shares the airport property boundary on all sides) that includes Baker’s Hole Campground approximately ½ mile northeast of the airport, and Yellowstone National Park (approximately 1.4 miles from the nearest point on the , 0.2 miles from the nearest property boundary). There is no property acquisition or ground disturbance expected with the Proposed Action. There is also no proposed

Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, MT 12 (September, 2014 Draft) Draft Environmental Assessment – Jet Service

Figure 4-1: Town of West Yellowstone Zoning Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, MT 13 (September, 2014 Draft) Draft Environmental Assessment – Jet Service

change in the existing flight paths, or expected change in existing conditions at the noted properties.

4.3 Demographics and Social Profile

This section discusses human population based on population and race, employment, and income characteristics. Information is presented from the Town of West Yellowstone, Gallatin County, and the State of Montana in order to reflect the general demographics and social profile of the general Study Area.

4.3.1 Population and Race

As provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Town of West Yellowstone and Gallatin County experienced significant changes in population growth between 1990 and 2010, with the majority of the growth occurring within the last 10 years. Historical population data for the Town of West Yellowstone, Gallatin County, and the State of Montana are provided in Table 4-1 below.

Table 4-1. Historical Population

Growth Rate Area 1990 2000 2010 1990-2010 Town of West 913 1,177 1,271 39.2% Yellowstone Gallatin County 50,463 67,831 89,513 77.4% State of Montana 799,065 902,195 989,415 23.8%

The 2010 Demographic Profile (U.S. Census Bureau) for Gallatin County reflects 95 percent of the total population in Gallatin County, which encompasses the Town of West Yellowstone and surrounding area, is comprised of people of white ethnic decent. The largest minority of the remaining 5 percent includes American Indians and Alaska Natives. For the Town of West Yellowstone, 86.6 percent of the population is comprised of people of white ethnic decent.

4.3.2 Employment

As reflected by the U.S. Census Bureau, the breakdown of employment within Gallatin County is as follows:

Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, MT 14 (September, 2014 Draft) Draft Environmental Assessment – Jet Service

Figure 4-2: Gallatin County Employment Breakdown

As a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, the Town of West Yellowstone is largely tourism driven, with the service industry (arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services) making up the majority of the immediate local economy.

Table 4-2 depicts the historical unemployment rates for Gallatin County and the State of Montana. Historical data for the Town of West Yellowstone is unavailable.

Table 4-2. Historical Unemployment Rates

Area 1990 2000 20 13 Gallatin County 5.1 3.0 3.5 State of Montana 6.0 4.9 5.3

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4.3.3 Income

Per Capita Income (PCI), also known as income per person, is the mean income in an economic unit such as a county or state. It is often used to measure a country’s standard of living and prosperity. Historically, the Gallatin County PCI has been higher than the State of Montana, with a higher percentage growth rate. Table 4-3 provides an overview of the historical PCI for Gallatin County and the State of Montana. Historical data for the Town of West Yellowstone is unavailable.

Table 4-3. Per Capita Income

Growth Rate Area 1990 2000 2010 1990-2010 Gallatin County $15,374 $25,502 $35,174 129% State of Montana $15,346 $23,457 $34,405 124%

4.4 Physical and Natural Environment

This section briefly addresses the physical and natural components of the Town of West Yellowstone and Gallatin County that are found in the general Study Area, as well as discusses the National Park and forest in the area. The geography section describes the natural features that relate to topography and vegetation of the area, the climate section describes the general weather conditions to include temperature and precipitation, the national parks and forests section reviews the presence of Yellowstone National Park and the national forest, and the wildlife section reviews the diversity of the fauna.

4.4.1 Geography

The Airport is bound on all sides by the Gallatin National Forest. The Town of West Yellowstone is to the southeast of Airport property approximately 0.5 miles. Highway 191 parallels the Airport to the east, with the Madison River flowing from Yellowstone National Park from the east, around the Airport to the north until it flows into Hebgen Lake, approximately 1.9 miles to the north. The Airport is located on a bench above the Madison River and is surrounded by a Lodgepole Pine – Douglas Fir forest, with a few trees existing within the bounds of the animal control fence. There are no identified wetlands or natural surface waters on the airport. The Town of West Yellowstone’s sewer lagoons are on airport property, approximately 0.6 miles off the approach end of Runway 01. The soils are mostly obsidian sand. The general Study Area is relatively flat, aside from the river bottom, with the topography largely in the elevation range of 6,650 feet above sea level.

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4.4.2 Climate

With the general Study Area located at 6,650 feet above sea level, it experiences a subarctic climate with cold, sometimes bitterly cold winters, and brief but generally warm summers. The Western Regional Climate Center collected data reflects an average low temperature during the summer of 41 °F, with an average high of 78 °F. During the winter, the average low is 1 °F, with an average high of 24 °F. The area receives on average approximately 21.79 inches of precipitation, with the highest amounts occurring during May and June, and then again in November and December. Given the cold climate, the area receives on average approximately 160.2 inches of snowfall, with the highest amounts occurring during December and January.

4.4.3 National Parks and Forests

Yellowstone National Park is located a short distance to the east of the airport runway, approximately 1.4 miles at the closest point to the runway, and 0.2 miles at the closest airport property boundary. Per the National Park Service, the west entrance to the Park remains the Park’s busiest with 1,407,762 of nearly 3,447,729 visitors (41%) accessing the Park through this entrance in 2012. Park records reflect that the percentage of visitation accessing the west entrance has remained steady at 41% of total visitations since at least 2009. See Section 5.1.6, Section 4(f) Land , for more specific discussion of Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f) property.

The Airport is bordered by the Gallatin National Forest on all sides. Baker’s Hole Campground lies across Highway 191, just offset to the east from the approach end to Runway 19, approximately ½ mile to the northeast of the Airport as identified on Figure 1-1. The majority of the campsites are within 350’ of Highway 191. The campground is open from May 15 th through September 15 th of each year. There are 73 camp sites that facilitate tents up to full sized RV’s with electrical service.

4.4.4 Wildlife

Nearby Yellowstone National Park is widely considered to be the finest megafauna wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states. There are almost 60 species of mammals in the Park, 18 species of fish, and 311 species of birds have been reported. See Section 5.1.8 for more specific discussion regarding fish, wildlife, and plants in the area.

A 9’ tall animal control fence encompasses the vast majority of the airport property and was installed in 2007. The high tensile fence restricts entry to the larger wildlife – deer, elk, moose, bear, bison, etc. to reduce hazards to aircraft. Smaller wildlife, including fox, skunk, and birds are not restricted by the animal control fence. A Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA) is complete and a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan is near completion for the Airport. The WHA identified several dens of foxes in the airside environment, as well as bird sightings.

Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, MT 17 (September, 2014 Draft) Draft Environmental Assessment – Jet Service