Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement For Northern Border Activities Section 7: New England Region July 2012 PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CONTENTS 7 New England Region ............................................................................................................. 7-1 7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................... 7-4 7.2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 7-4 7.2.2 Affected Environment .............................................................................................. 7-4 7.2.2.1 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Attainment Status ..................... 7-4 7.2.2.2 Class I Areas ..................................................................................................... 7-6 7.3 Biological Resources ...................................................................................................... 7-8 7.3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 7-8 7.3.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-10 7.3.2.1 Blocks of Regionally Significant Habitat ....................................................... 7-10 7.3.2.2 Sensitive Habitats ............................................................................................ 7-12 7.3.2.3 Threatened and Endangered Species .............................................................. 7-13 7.3.2.4 Wildlife Typically Found in the Region ......................................................... 7-15 7.3.2.5 Vegetative Habitat Typically Found in the New England Region ................. 7-16 7.3.2.6 Wetlands and Waterways ................................................................................ 7-16 7.3.2.7 Aquatic Resources in the Region .................................................................... 7-17 7.4 Geology and Soils ......................................................................................................... 7-18 7.4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7-18 7.4.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-18 7.4.2.1 Physiographic Provinces ................................................................................. 7-18 7.4.2.2 Geologic Conditions ....................................................................................... 7-21 7.4.2.3 Soils ................................................................................................................. 7-27 7.4.2.4 Prime and Unique Farmland ........................................................................... 7-27 7.5 Water Resources ........................................................................................................... 7-30 7.5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7-30 7.5.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-30 7.5.2.1 Groundwater ................................................................................................... 7-30 7.5.2.2 Surface Waters and Waters of the United States ............................................ 7-32 7.5.2.3 Floodplains ...................................................................................................... 7-35 7.5.2.4 Transboundary Water Agreements ................................................................. 7-35 7.6 Noise ............................................................................................................................. 7-36 7.6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7-36 7.6.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-36 Northern Border Activities 7-i July 2012 PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 7.6.2.1 Regulatory Review .......................................................................................... 7-37 7.6.2.2 CBP Noise Sources ......................................................................................... 7-37 7.6.2.3 Non-CBP Noise Sources ................................................................................. 7-38 7.6.2.4 Background Noise Levels ............................................................................... 7-38 7.6.2.5 National Parks ................................................................................................. 7-39 7.7 Climate Change and Sustainability ............................................................................... 7-41 7.7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7-41 7.7.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-41 7.7.2.1 Climate Regions of the Northern Border—Overview .................................... 7-41 7.7.2.2 Climate in the New England Region .............................................................. 7-41 7.7.2.3 Climate Change in the United States—New England Regional Assessment . 7-42 7.8 Land Use ....................................................................................................................... 7-43 7.8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7-43 7.8.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-43 7.8.2.1 Land Cover and Related Land Uses in the New England Region .................. 7-43 7.8.2.2 Land Cover and Related Land Uses in the Areas North of the New England Region .. ........................................................................................................................ 7-47 7.8.2.3 Land Ownership in the New England Region ................................................ 7-53 7.8.2.4 Land Ownership in Canada North of the New England Region ..................... 7-56 7.8.2.5 Land Use Management ................................................................................... 7-58 7.8.2.6 Consistency with Enforceable Policies of the Coastal Zone Management Act ………… ........................................................................................................................ 7-58 7.9 Aesthetic and Visual Resources .................................................................................... 7-60 7.9.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7-60 7.9.2 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 7-60 7.9.2.1 Affected Landscapes ....................................................................................... 7-60 7.9.2.2 Areas with High Visual Sensitivity ................................................................. 7-62 7.9.2.3 Affected User Groups ..................................................................................... 7-62 7.10 Socioeconomic Resources .......................................................................................... 7-65 7.10.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 7-65 7.10.2 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 7-65 7.10.2.1 Regional Demographics ................................................................................ 7-65 7.10.2.2 Population and Growth Trends ..................................................................... 7-66 7.10.2.3 Income, Poverty, and Unemployment .......................................................... 7-71 7.10.2.4 Property Values ............................................................................................. 7-74 Northern Border Activities 7-ii July 2012 PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 7.10.2.5 Regional Economies ..................................................................................... 7-76 7.10.2.6 Economic Profiles of POEs and BPSs in the New England Region ............. 7-79 7.11 Cultural and Paleontological Resources ..................................................................... 7-85 7.11.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 7-85 7.11.2 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 7-85 7.11.2.1 Archaeological Resources: Prehistoric/Precontact Context .......................... 7-85 7.11.2.2 Prehistoric Archaeological Site Probability .................................................. 7-86 7.11.2.3 Historic Context ............................................................................................ 7-87 7.11.2.4 Historic/Protohistoric