Draft Environmental Assessment for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Buffalo Sector Niagara Area of Responsibility Border Patrol Station Niagara County, New York May 2014 Draft Environmental Assessment CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1 SECTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Project Location .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Purpose, Need, and Scope ........................................................................................... 1-1 1.4 Public Involvement ..................................................................................................... 1-4 1.5 Framework for Analysis ............................................................................................. 1-4 1.5.1 Federal Statutes ..................................................................................................... 1-5 1.5.2 Regulations ........................................................................................................... 1-5 1.5.3 DHS Directive ....................................................................................................... 1-5 1.5.4 Executive Orders and AF Instruction .................................................................... 1-5 SECTION 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ...................................... 2-1 2.1 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.1 No Action Alternative ........................................................................................... 2-4 2.2.2 Alternative 1: Proposed Action Alternative: Construct, Operate, and Maintain a New BPS at the Alternative 1 Parcel .................................................. 2-4 2.2.3 Alternative 2: Construct, Operate, and Maintain a New BPS at the Alternative 2 Parcel .............................................................................................. 2-6 2.2.4 Alternative 3: Construct, Operate, and Maintain a New BPS at the Alternative 3 Parcel .............................................................................................. 2-6 2.2.5 Preferred Alternative ............................................................................................. 2-8 2.2.6 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Consideration .................. 2-8 SECTION 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND CONSEQUENCES ...................... 3-1 3.1 Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Consequences ........................................................................................................ 3-2 3.2 Geology and Soils ....................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.2 Consequences ........................................................................................................ 3-4 3.3 Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.2 Consequences ........................................................................................................ 3-7 3.4 Wildlife and Aquatic Resources ................................................................................. 3-8 3.4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-8 3.4.2 Consequences ........................................................................................................ 3-9 3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ......................................................................... 3-10 3.5.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-10 3.5.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-10 3.6 Hydrology and Groundwater .................................................................................... 3-12 3.6.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-12 3.6.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-13 3.7 Surface Waters and Waters of the United States ...................................................... 3-14 3.7.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-14 3.7.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-16 3.8 Floodplains ................................................................................................................ 3-16 3.8.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-16 Niagara, NY BPS May 2014 i Draft Environmental Assessment 3.8.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-17 3.9 Air Quality ................................................................................................................ 3-18 3.9.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-18 3.9.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-19 3.10 Noise ......................................................................................................................... 3-22 3.10.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-22 3.10.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-24 3.11 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 3-26 3.11.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-26 3.11.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-30 3.12 Utilities and Infrastructure ........................................................................................ 3-30 3.12.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-30 3.12.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-31 3.13 Roadways and Traffic ............................................................................................... 3-32 3.13.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-32 3.13.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-33 3.14 Aesthetics and Visual Resources .............................................................................. 3-34 3.14.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-34 3.14.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-35 3.15 Hazardous Materials ................................................................................................. 3-35 3.15.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-35 3.15.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-38 3.16 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................................ 3-39 3.16.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-39 3.16.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-42 3.17 Environmental Justice and Protection of Children .................................................... 3-43 3.17.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-43 3.17.2 Consequences ...................................................................................................... 3-45 3.18 Human Health and Safety ......................................................................................... 3-46 3.18.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................