Environmental Assessment and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation March 2017 Environmental Assessment and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation March 2017 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (ES) .................................................................................................................. v ES – Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................. v ES – Alternatives Analysis ....................................................................................................................... v ES – Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................... vi ES – Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................................... vii ES – Agency Coordination and Public Involvement ................................................................................ x ES – Section 4(f) ...................................................................................................................................... xi 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Existing Conditions ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Proposed Action Area ................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Applicable Regulations and Permits ............................................................................................. 4 2.0 ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 No-Build Alternative..................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ................................................. 7 2.3.1 Maintain Bryn Mawr Substation ........................................................................................... 7 2.3.2 Improve Former Pennsylvania Railroad Line ....................................................................... 7 2.3.3 Eliminate Electric Service ..................................................................................................... 7 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .......................... 7 3.1 Location and Land Use ................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.1 Affected Environment and Existing Conditions ................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................... 9 3.2 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 9 3.2.1 Participants ............................................................................................................................ 9 3.2.2 Archaeology ........................................................................................................................ 11 3.2.3 Historic Resources .............................................................................................................. 12 3.2.4 Draft Memorandum of Agreement ...................................................................................... 15 3.3 Parks and Wildlife Refuges ......................................................................................................... 16 3.3.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 17 3.4 Transportation ............................................................................................................................. 18 3.4.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 18 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 18 3.5 Noise and Vibration .................................................................................................................... 19 3.5.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 19 Philadelphia Zoo to Paoli Transmission Line Project Page | i Environmental Assessment and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation March 2017 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 19 3.6 Electric/Magnetic Fields ............................................................................................................. 19 3.6.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 20 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 20 3.7 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................. 21 3.7.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 21 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 22 3.8 Hazardous Materials and Waste .................................................................................................. 22 3.8.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 22 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 23 3.9 Property Acquisitions and Easements ......................................................................................... 23 3.9.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 23 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 23 3.10 Communities ............................................................................................................................... 23 3.10.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 23 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 24 3.11 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................................. 24 3.11.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 25 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 25 3.12 Visual .......................................................................................................................................... 25 3.12.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 26 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 26 3.13 Floodplains .................................................................................................................................. 29 3.13.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 29 3.13.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 29 3.14 Water Quality .............................................................................................................................. 30 3.14.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 30 3.14.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 30 3.15 Endangered Species .................................................................................................................... 30 3.15.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 30 3.15.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 30 3.16 Public Safety ..............................................................................................................................