Chapter 32: Response to Comments 32.1 Chapter 1 – Purpose of and Need for Action ...................................................... 32-7 32.1.1 Section 1.2 – Description of the Needs Assessment Study Area ............ 32-7 32.1.2 Section 1.4 – Summary of Purpose and Need ....................................... 32-12 32.2 Chapter 2 – Alternatives ..................................................................................... 32-29 32.2.1 Section 2.1 – Alternatives Development Process (Screening) .............. 32-29 32.2.2 Section 2.2 – Description of Alternatives Carried Forward for Detailed Study ....................................................................................... 32-46 32.2.3 Section 2.2.1 – No-Action Alternative .................................................. 32-51 32.2.4 Section 2.2.2 – Alternative A1 .............................................................. 32-51 32.2.5 Section 2.2.3 – Alternative A2 .............................................................. 32-53 32.2.6 Section 2.2.4 – Alternative A3 .............................................................. 32-53 32.2.7 Section 2.2.5 – Alternative A4 .............................................................. 32-55 32.2.8 Section 2.2.6 – Alternative B1 .............................................................. 32-55 32.2.9 Section 2.2.7 – Alternative B2 .............................................................. 32-59 32.2.10 Section 2.2.8 – Alternative B3 .............................................................. 32-59 32.2.11 Section 2.2.9 – Alternative B4 .............................................................. 32-60 32.2.12 Section 2.3 – Summary Comparison of Alternatives (Cost, Daily Delay, Travel Time, and Environmental Impacts) ................................ 32-60 32.2.13 Section 2.4 – Identification of UDOT’s Locally Preferred Alternative ............................................................................................. 32-60 32.3 Chapter 3 – Land Use ......................................................................................... 32-79 32.4 Chapter 4 – Farmland ......................................................................................... 32-84 32.5 Chapter 5 – Community Impacts ....................................................................... 32-87 32.5.1 Section 5.4.1 – Community Cohesion and Quality of Life ................... 32-87 32.5.2 Section 5.4.3 – Recreation Resources ................................................... 32-89 32.5.3 Section 5.4.4 – Community Facilities ................................................... 32-90 32.5.4 Section 5.4.5 – Public Health and Safety .............................................. 32-91 32.5.5 Section 5.4.6 – Public Services and Utilities ........................................ 32-91 32.5.6 Section 5.4.7 – Housing and Relocations.............................................. 32-93 32.6 Chapter 6 – Environmental Justice ................................................................... 32-97 32.7 Chapter 7 – Transportation................................................................................ 32-97 32.8 Chapter 8 – Economics ..................................................................................... 32-101 32.9 Chapter 9 – Joint Development ........................................................................ 32-102 32.10 Chapter 10 – Considerations Related to Pedestrians and Bicyclists............. 32-103 Chapter 32: Response to Comments 32-1 32.11 Chapter 11 – Air Quality .................................................................................. 32-108 32.11.1 Section 11.4.2 – Effects on Regional Air Quality ............................... 32-108 32.11.2 Section 11.4.2.2 – Mobile-Source Air Toxics (MSATs) .................... 32-114 32.11.3 Section 11.4.2.3 – Greenhouse Gases ................................................. 32-119 32.11.4 Section 11.4.3 – Effects on Local Air Quality .................................... 32-120 32.12 Chapter 12 – Noise ............................................................................................ 32-127 32.13 Chapter 13 – Water Quality ............................................................................. 32-128 32.14 Chapter 14 – Ecosystem Resources ................................................................. 32-134 32.14.1 Section 14.1 – General Ecosystems .................................................... 32-134 32.14.2 Section 14.3.3 – Wildlife, Sensitive Species, and Migratory Birds .... 32-136 32.14.3 Section 14.3.4 – Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. ............................. 32-164 32.15 Chapter 15 – Floodplains .................................................................................. 32-177 32.16 Chapter 16 – Historic, Archaeological, and Paleontological Resources ....... 32-179 32.17 Chapter 17 – Hazardous Waste Sites .............................................................. 32-180 32.18 Chapter 18 – Visual Resources ......................................................................... 32-180 32.19 Chapter 29 – Energy Impacts ........................................................................... 32-181 32.20 Chapter 20 – Construction Impacts ................................................................. 32-181 32.21 Chapter 21 – Short-Term Uses versus Long-Term Productivity .................. 32-183 32.22 Chapter 22 – Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ..... 32-183 32.23 Chapter 23 – Indirect Effects ........................................................................... 32-184 32.24 Chapter 24 – Cumulative Impacts ................................................................... 32-191 32.25 Chapter 25 – Permits, Reviews, and Approvals ............................................. 32-199 32.26 Chapter 26 – Mitigation Summary .................................................................. 32-200 32.27 Chapter 27 – Section 4(f) Evaluation ............................................................... 32-200 32.28 Chapter 28 – List of Preparers ......................................................................... 32-210 32.29 Chapter 29 – Distribution ................................................................................. 32-210 32.30 Chapter 30 – Public and Agency Consultation and Coordination ................ 32-211 32.31 Other Comments ............................................................................................... 32-214 32.32 References .......................................................................................................... 32-220 32-2 Final Environmental Impact Statement This chapter contains the responses to comments, both oral and written, that were received on the West Davis Corridor (WDC) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from members of the public, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations during the 106-day public comment period from May 24, 2013, to September 6, 2013. Individuals and agencies who commented on the Draft EIS are listed alphabetically in Appendix 32A, Commenter and Response Matrix, along with their associated comment number. To find the response to your comment, first find your name in Appendix 32A, then find the associated response section numbers, which indicate the sections of this chapter that address your comment. Appendix 32B, Reproductions of Comments on the Draft EIS, presents reproductions of written comments and transcriptions of comments that were submitted orally. Each comment document is identified in Appendix 32B by its comment number, and each statement or question regarding a separate environmental issue is labeled with an associated response section in this chapter. The sections below present the responses to comments that were received on the Draft EIS. The section numbers in this chapter correspond to the chapters and sections in the Draft EIS (for example, Section 32.12 in this chapter corresponds to Chapter 12 in the Draft EIS). Summary of Comments About 1,618 comment submissions were received on the Draft EIS from individuals, organizations, and government agencies, which resulted in about 5,000 specific comments. The comment submissions took the form of letters, e-mails, phone messages, website submissions, and public hearing testimonies. The number of comments shows a strong interest by the public in the WDC Project. It is important to note that the process established by the National Environmental Policy Act is not based on vote-counting. The public involvement efforts of the National Environmental Policy Act are intended to gather information and ideas from the public on the proposed action and alternatives, and on the impact assessment and other information in the Draft EIS, in order to ensure that the Final EIS is as accurate, informative, and useful as possible. Analysis of public comments and, as appropriate, modification of the EIS results in a better document and helps the decision-maker make better decisions, not simply count up pros and cons. It is tempting for a proponent or opponent of a particular alternative to “stuff the ballot box” in support of their view. However, even though the decision-maker gathers quantitative information that is important in assessing attitudes and concerns about particular issues, this is only part of the information that the decision-maker analyzes. The reasons for people’s concerns, preferences, and criticisms are also sought in this process. Therefore, this chapter does not usually