MOBILE DOWNTOWN AIRPORT TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Environmental Assessment July 2021 Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM) Introduction and Background Table of Contents 1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Description of the Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 9 1.3 Document Content and Organization .......................................................................................... 11 2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Implementation Phasing .............................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Required Land Use / Environmental Permits and Approvals ....................................................... 12 3 Alternatives .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Development Alternative Sites Considered for Further Environmental Review ......................... 14 3.2 Alternative A (BFM Site) ............................................................................................................... 17 3.3 Alternative B (MOB Site) .............................................................................................................. 17 3.4 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................................... 17 3.5 Summary of Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 18 3.6 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed from detailed Environmental Review ........................... 20 3.7 Alternatives Carried Forward for Detailed Environmental Review .............................................. 20 4 Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences ........................................................ 23 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 23 4.2 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................... 23 4.3 Climate ......................................................................................................................................... 28 4.4 Noise and Noise-Compatible Land Use ........................................................................................ 29 4.5 Visual Effects ................................................................................................................................ 39 4.6 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 41 4.7 Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f) .......................................................................... 42 4.8 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................... 43 4.9 Biological Resources ..................................................................................................................... 46 4.10 Coastal Resources......................................................................................................................... 55 4.11 Land Use ....................................................................................................................................... 56 4.12 Hazardous Materials, Solid Waste, and Pollution Prevention ..................................................... 58 4.13 Natural Resources and Energy Supply .......................................................................................... 60 4.14 Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice, and Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Risks 61 4.15 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................................................ 69 5 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................... 71 6 List of Preparers ................................................................................................................... 73 7 List of Agencies and Persons Consulted ................................................................................ 74 8 References ........................................................................................................................... 75 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A: Noise and Air Quality Data Appendix B: Cultural Resources Correspondence and Data Appendix C: Biological Data Appendix D: Agency Correspondence Appendix E: Public Outreach Material Terminal Development Program Environmental Assessment 1 Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM) Introduction and Background LIST OF EXHIBITS Exhibit 1-1: MAA Airports ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Exhibit 1-2: BFM – Project Area ............................................................................................................................ 8 Exhibit 1-3: Proposed Action BFM Terminal Development Program ................................................................. 10 Exhibit 3-1: Alternative Sites .............................................................................................................................. 16 Exhibit 3-2: Project Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 19 Exhibit 4-1: 2018 Day-Night Average Sound Level Contours ............................................................................. 32 Exhibit 4-2: 2025 No Action/2025 Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 35 Exhibit 4-3: 2030 No Action/2030 Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 36 Exhibit 4-4: Residential Parcels in DNL 65 North (with 2030 Contour) .............................................................. 38 Exhibit 4-5: Residential Parcel in DNL 65 South (with 2030 Contour) ................................................................ 39 Exhibit 4-6: Surface Water Systems within the Project Area ............................................................................. 45 Exhibit 4-7: Land Cover at BFM .......................................................................................................................... 48 Exhibit 4-8: Tenants in the Study Area ............................................................................................................... 57 Exhibit 4-8: Census Tracts in the Study Area ...................................................................................................... 63 Exhibit 6-1: List of Preparers .............................................................................................................................. 73 Exhibit 7-1: Coordinating Agencies ..................................................................................................................... 74 LIST OF TABLES Table 3-1: Development Alternatives Analysis Summary .................................................................................. 18 Table 4-1: Existing (2018) Conditions Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory ........................................................... 25 Table 4-2: List of BFM Construction Projects and Modeling Parameters .......................................................... 26 Table 4-3: BFM Operational Emissions for the Proposed Action and No Action Scenarios ............................... 27 Table 4-4: Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Emissions ............................................................................................... 29 Table 4-5: Common Sounds On the A-Weighted Decibel Scale ......................................................................... 30 Table 4-6: Existing Conditions (2018) Annual Operations by Aircraft Category ................................................ 31 Table 4-7: Land Uses within the DNL 65 dBA and Higher Contours 2018 Existing Condition Scenario ............. 32 Table 4-8: No Action and Proposed Action Operation Counts Annual Operations by Aircraft Category .......... 34 Table 4-9: Land Uses within the DNL 65 and Higher Contours (2025) ............................................................... 37 Table 4-10: Land Uses within the DNL 65 and Higher Contours (2030) ............................................................. 37 Table 4-11: Residential Parcels Within the DNL 65 Contours ............................................................................ 38 Table 4-12: Potentially Occurring Special Status Wildlife Species ..................................................................... 50 Table 4-13: Aquatic Habitat in the Project Area ................................................................................................