Executive Director’s Recommendation Commission Meeting: March 5, 2020

PROJECT NCPC FILE NUMBER Andrews Taxiway Whiskey 7711 Joint Base Andrews Camp Springs, NCPC MAP FILE NUMBER 00:00(38.00)45070 SUBMITTED BY Department of Defense, APPLICANT’S REQUEST Department of the Navy Approve preliminary site development plans

REVIEW AUTHORITY PROPOSED ACTION Federal Projects in the Environs Approve preliminary site per 40 U.S.C. § 8722(b)(1) development plans

ACTION ITEM TYPE Consent Calendar

PROJECT SUMMARY The United States Department of the Navy, on behalf of the Joint Base Andrews, proposes to construct a new taxiway connection (TWY W6) in the southwestern area of the airfield at Joint Base Andrews. The taxiway would connect an existing hangar apron to another north-south taxiway. The project would remove some existing above-ground storm water facilities and regrade the site in compliance with Air Force airfield design standards.

KEY INFORMATION

• The Department of the Navy has submitted the proposed project on behalf of the Air Force. • The project is included in the Joint Base Andrews Installation Development Plan, which was reviewed by NCPC for draft comments in January 2018. The plan has not been resubmitted for final review by the Commission. • The project’s stormwater management plan is still under development; however, the design will be finalized at the time of the final project submission. The design will meet State and federal requirements using underground storage and treatment. • The project will impact approximately 4,200 square feet of emergent wetlands and 13,100 square feet of wetland buffer areas. • The Navy classifies the project as Controlled Unclassified Information and under NCPC sensitive information policies, the submission was not referred out to State and local review agencies for comment prior to Commission review.

RECOMMENDATION The Commission:

Executive Director’s Recommendation Page 2 NCPC File No. 7711

Approves the preliminary site development plans for a new taxiway connection, known as Taxiway Whiskey, in the southwestern area of the airfield on Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland.

Notes that the project would permanent impact approximately 4,200 square feet of wetlands, which does not require mitigation under Maryland Department of the Environment standards; however, the Commission encourages wetland mitigation for all projects based on Comprehensive Plan policies.

PROJECT REVIEW TIMELINE Previous actions None.

Remaining actions May/June 2020 – Final site development plan review. (anticipated)

PROJECT ANALYSIS Executive Summary

The project would construct a new second taxiway connection (TWY W6) between a hangar apron and another existing taxiway in the southwestern area of the Joint Base Andrews airfield. The new taxiway would be constructed with reinforced concrete, measuring approximately 1,100 feet in length and 75 feet wide, situated to the south of another similar existing taxiway connection. The new taxiway is designed to comply with current Air Force criteria for modified heavy load aircraft. Existing pavement would be removed at the east and west connections, along with existing above- ground storm water management areas. Construction would include regarding and install new edge lighting and guidance signs. The project is necessary to bring the taxiway network up to Air Force requirements. Therefore, staff recommends that the Commission approve the preliminary site development plans for a new taxiway connection, known as Taxiway Whiskey, in the southwestern area of the airfield on Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland.

The project would not require any tree/vegetation removal but would permanently impact approximately 4,200 square feet of emergent wetlands and 13,100 square feet of wetland buffer areas. The current planned limit of disturbance is 13.64 acres; however, the disturbance area would likely increase in the final design, with erosion and sediment controls and laydown areas identified. Total expected impervious area increase is 0.83 acres, which includes the new taxiway pavement and removal of existing pavement associated with the Compass Calibration Pad, where the new taxiway would connect to another existing north-south taxiway.

Analysis

Executive Director’s Recommendation Page 3 NCPC File No. 7711

The submission shows permanent impacts to only wetlands within the project area; however, due to the relatively small impact area (under 5,000 square feet of emergent wetlands), the Navy anticipates that mitigation would be unnecessary under Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) policies. Wetland mitigation on Joint Base Andrews typically consists of purchasing credits through a state-wide bank to compensate for wetland area loss from development. In particular, Joint Base Andrews mitigation typically funds new wetlands in the Mattawoman Creek mitigation site (Charles County, Maryland), which is downstream from the installation.

Staff believes that as a steward of the natural environment, the Air Force should consider mitigating anticipated wetland impacts despite its exemption under Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) requirements based on its relatively “minor” size of less than 5,000 square feet. Project plans show impacts to approximately 4,200 square feet of wetlands. However, NCPC Comprehensive Plan policies encourage mitigation for all wetland impacts despite the size of the impact area. Therefore, staff recommends that the Commission note that the project would permanent impact approximately 4,200 square feet of wetlands, which does not require mitigation under Maryland Department of the Environment standards; however, the Commission encourages wetland mitigation for all projects based on Comprehensive Plan policies.

CONFORMANCE TO EXISTING PLANS, POLICIES AND RELATED GUIDANCE Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital

NCPC staff has reviewed this proposal for compliance with relevant guidance and has determined that it is not inconsistent with policies established in the Federal Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital.

National Historic Preservation Act

The submission concludes that no historic resources will be affected by this project. For projects outside of the District of Columbia, NCPC does not have a formal Section 106 review responsibility.

National Environmental Policy Act

The Navy concluded its environmental review for the project under NEPA with the issuance of a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX). For projects outside of the District of Columbia, NCPC does not have a formal review responsibility under the National Environmental Policy Act.

CONSULTATION The Navy classifies the project as Controlled Unclassified Information and under NCPC sensitive information policies, the submission was not referred out to State and local review agencies for comment prior to Commission review.

Executive Director’s Recommendation Page 4 NCPC File No. 7711

ONLINE REFERENCE

The following supporting documents for this project are available online at www.ncpc.gov:

• Submission Letter • Project Narrative • Project Plans • NCPC Synopsis

Prepared by Michael Weil 02/27/2020

POWERPOINT (ATTACHED) Joint Base Andrews Taxiway Whiskey

Joint Base Andrews Camp Springs, Maryland

Preliminary Review

United States Department of Defense, Department of the Navy

March 5, 2020 | File: MP02 1 National Capital Planning Commission Project Summary

Commission Meeting Date: March 5, 2020

NCPC Review Authority: Federal Projects in the Environs per 40 U.S.C. § 8722(b)(1)

Applicant Request: Approval of preliminary site development plans

Session: Consent Calendar

NCPC Review Officer: Michael Weil

NCPC File Number: 7711 Project Summary: The United States Department of the Navy, on behalf of the Joint Base Andrews, proposes to construct a new second access taxiway (TWY W6) for an existing hangar at Joint Base Andrews. The new taxiway connection is necessary for the function of the hangar and is designed in compliance with current Air Force criteria for modified heavy load aircraft. Existing pavement will be removed at the east and west connections as well as existing above- ground storm water BMPs. The site will be re-graded to provide positive drainage away from the pavement, and taxiway edge lighting and guidance signs will be installed. The project would not require any tree/vegetation removal based on its location within an active airfield complex, nor result in any change in parking on the installation. However, the project would permanently impact approximately 4,210 square feet of emergent wetlands and 13,100 square feet of wetland buffers.

2 National Capital Planning Commission Project Location

3 National Capital Planning Commission Proposal

new taxiway connection

4 National Capital Planning Commission