Environmental Assessment Des Moines Transload Facility 200 SE. 15th Street, Des Moines, Iowa Issued by: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Prepared pursuant to 23 C.F.R. 771 June 2020 Environmental Assessment Des Moines Transload Facility Issued by: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et. seq. Approved by: Digitally signed by MARLYS A MARLYS A OSTERHUES Date: 2020.06.25 OSTERHUES 10:58:54 -04'00' Marlys Osterhues Date Chief, Environment and Project Engineering Division Office of Railroad Policy and Development Federal Railroad Administration This page intentionally left blank. CONTENTS PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project History ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Project Purpose and Need .................................................................................................. 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES................................................. 9 2.1 Alternatives Considered ...................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Alternatives Carried Forward for Detailed Consideration ................................................. 13 No Action Alternative ........................................................................................... 13 Build Alternative (Preferred Alternative) .............................................................. 13 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ............................... 18 3.1 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................... 18 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 18 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 21 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 23 3.2 Water Quality .................................................................................................................... 24 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 24 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 24 Permit Requirements ........................................................................................... 25 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 25 3.3 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................................... 26 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 27 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 28 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 32 3.4 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................... 32 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 32 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 33 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 33 3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species .............................................................................. 34 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 34 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 35 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 35 3.6 Floodplains ........................................................................................................................ 36 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 36 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 37 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 38 3.7 Energy Use ....................................................................................................................... 38 3.7.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 38 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 38 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 39 3.8 Visual Resources .............................................................................................................. 39 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 39 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 40 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 40 3.9 Transportation ................................................................................................................... 40 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 40 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 41 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 43 3.10 Land Use ........................................................................................................................... 43 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 43 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 43 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 44 3.11 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................................ 44 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 44 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 45 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 46 3.12 Environmental Justice ....................................................................................................... 46 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 47 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 48 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 49 3.13 Public Health and Safety ................................................................................................... 49 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 50 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 50 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 51 3.14 Hazardous Materials ......................................................................................................... 51 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 51 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 53 Minimization Measures ........................................................................................ 53 3.15 Cultural Resources............................................................................................................ 54 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 54 3.15.4 Consultation ........................................................................................................... 65 3.15.5 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 66 3.15.6 Minimization Measures .......................................................................................... 67 3.16 Section 4(f) ........................................................................................................................ 67 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 67 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................