Point Defiance Bypass Project Environmental Assessment Prepared for: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Prepared by: For more information you can: Call the WSDOT Rail Office at (360) 705-7900 Write to the WSDOT Rail Office at WSDOT Rail Office, P.O. Box 47407 Olympia, WA 98504-7407 Fax your comments to (360) 705-6821 E-mail your comments to [email protected] Title VI Notice to Public It is the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated may file a complaint with WSDOT's Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For Title VI complaint forms and advice, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinators, George Laue at (509) 324-6018 or Jonte' Sulton at (360) 705-7082. Persons with disabilities may request this information be prepared and supplied in alternate forms by calling the WSDOT ADA Accommodations Hotline collect at (206) 389-2839. Persons with vision or hearing impairments may access the WA State Telecommunications Relay Service at TT 1-800-833-6388, Tele-Braille at 1-800-833-6385, or voice at 1-800-833- 6384, and ask to be connected to (360) 705-7097. Point Defiance Bypass Project Environmental Assessment Submitted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) Prepared for: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Prepared by: Washington State Department of Transportation February 22, 2013 Date of Approval Megan White, P.E. Director, Environmental Services Office Washington State Department of Transportation Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 1‐1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1‐1 1.2 Project Area Description .................................................................................................................... 1‐1 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................................................................... 2‐1 2.1 Purpose of the Project ........................................................................................................................ 2‐1 2.2 Need for the Project ............................................................................................................................ 2‐1 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................... 3‐1 3.1 No Build Alternative ............................................................................................................................ 3‐1 3.2 Build Alternative .................................................................................................................................. 3‐2 3.2.1 Construct New Track Adjacent to the Existing Main Line ............................................................... 3‐2 3.2.2 Reconstruct and Rehabilitate the Existing Main Line ...................................................................... 3‐4 3.2.3 Improvements at Grade Crossings .................................................................................................. 3‐4 3.2.4 Tacoma Amtrak Station Relocation ................................................................................................. 3‐4 3.2.5 Operational Changes ....................................................................................................................... 3‐6 3.3 Laws, Regulations, and Permits ........................................................................................................ 3‐6 4.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ............................................................... 4‐1 4.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................. 4‐1 4.1.1 Study Area and Methodology – Air Quality ..................................................................................... 4‐1 4.1.2 Affected Environment – Air Quality ................................................................................................ 4‐2 4.1.3 Environmental Consequences – Air Quality .................................................................................... 4‐2 4.1.4 Minimization Measures – Air Quality .............................................................................................. 4‐3 4.2 Noise and Vibration ............................................................................................................................ 4‐4 4.2.1 Study Area and Methodology – Noise and Vibration ...................................................................... 4‐4 4.2.2 Affected Environment – Noise and Vibration .................................................................................. 4‐6 4.2.3 Environmental Consequences – Noise and Vibration ..................................................................... 4‐9 Point Defiance Bypass Project February 2013 Environmental Assessment Page i 4.2.4 Minimization Measures – Noise and Vibration ............................................................................. 4‐11 4.3 Transportation .................................................................................................................................. 4‐11 4.3.1 Study Area and Methodology – Transportation ............................................................................ 4‐11 4.3.2 Affected Environment – Transportation ....................................................................................... 4‐12 4.3.3 Environmental Consequences – Transportation ........................................................................... 4‐14 4.3.4 Minimization Measures – Transportation ..................................................................................... 4‐18 4.4 Geology and Soils.............................................................................................................................. 4‐18 4.4.1 Study Area and Methodology – Geology and Soils ....................................................................... 4‐18 4.4.2 Affected Environment – Geology and Soils ................................................................................... 4‐19 4.4.3 Environmental Consequences – Geology and Soils ....................................................................... 4‐19 4.4.4 Minimization Measures – Geology and Soils ................................................................................. 4‐20 4.5 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................... 4‐20 4.5.1 Study Area and Methodology – Water Resources ........................................................................ 4‐20 4.5.2 Affected Environment – Water Resources .................................................................................... 4‐21 4.5.3 Environmental Consequences – Water Resources ........................................................................ 4‐23 4.5.4 Minimization Measures – Water Resources .................................................................................. 4‐23 4.6 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................ 4‐23 4.6.1 Study Area and Methodology – Wetlands .................................................................................... 4‐23 4.6.2 Affected Environment – Wetlands ................................................................................................ 4‐24 4.6.3 Environmental Consequences – Wetlands .................................................................................... 4‐24 4.6.4 Minimization Measures – Wetlands .............................................................................................. 4‐25 4.7 Fish, Vegetation, and Wildlife ........................................................................................................ 4‐25 4.7.1 Study Area and Methodology – Fish, Vegetation, and Wildlife ..................................................... 4‐25 4.7.2 Affected Environment – Fish, Vegetation, and Wildlife ................................................................ 4‐25 4.7.3 Environmental Consequences – Fish, Vegetation, and Wildlife .................................................... 4‐27 4.7.4 Minimization Measures – Fish, Vegetation, and Wildlife .............................................................. 4‐27 February 2013 Point Defiance Bypass Project Page ii Environmental Assessment 4.8 Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................................................ 4‐28 4.8.1 Study Area and Methodology – Hazardous Materials ................................................................... 4‐28 4.8.2 Affected Environment – Hazardous Materials .............................................................................