8.0 Cumulative Impacts CEQ regulations implementing NEPA require the The evaluation of cumulative impacts was Lake Artemesia (constructed during the completion assessment of cumulative impacts in the decision accomplished using 4 steps; of Metrorail’s Green line) is a man-made lake in making process for Federal projects. Cumulative College Park and Berwyn Heights located south and impacts are defined as “the impact on the environment Step 1 - Identify Affected Resources, downstream of the Greenbelt Alternative along Indian which results from the incremental impact of the action Creek. The lake covers 38 acres and is part of the when added to other past, current, and reasonably Step 2 - Identify appropriate spatial and temporal Lake Artemesia Natural Area that includes aquatic foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency boundaries for each resource, gardens, fishing piers, and hiker-biker trails. or person undertakes such other actions” (40 CFR Step 3 - Identify cumulative action scenario, and 1508.7). As stated in the CEQ handbook, Considering Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) is the largest agricultural research complex in the world Cumulative Effects Under the National Environmental Step 4 - Cumulative impact analysis: determine the covering 6,600-acres of which several thousand acres Policy Act, cumulative impacts should be analyzed in combined impact of the proposed alternative and the is preserved as farmland. The research center house terms of the specific resource, ecosystem, and human other identified actions of the cumulative scenario. community being affected and should focus on effects approximately 1,300 people in four buildings with more that are truly meaningful (CEQ 1997b). Cumulative than 365,000 SF of space and is located north of the impacts are considered for all alternatives, including 8.1 Greenbelt Greenbelt Alternative. the No-action Alternative. M Square / Maryland and Research Park is located Cumulative impacts are most likely to arise when a 8.1.1 Projects Contributing to within a 293-acre transit district at College Park/ relationship or synergy exists between the Proposed Potential Cumulative Impacts University of Maryland (HUB zone). The building Action and other actions expected to occur in a contains 2.5 million SF of public and private research similar location or during a similar time period. Actions Cumulative effects were evaluated for major labs. Various companies in the computer science, overlapping with or in proximity to the Proposed infrastructure projects or private developments that are mathematics, engineering, physical and life sciences, Action at each site alternative and the JEH parcel geographically related to the Greenbelt Alternative and biotechnology, and linguistics sectors are housed in would be expected to have more potential for a that prominently contribute to the overall character of the Research Loop. The $500 million M Square is relationship than those with a greater degree of the area. In order for a future project to be included in set to become the largest research park in the State spatial separation. Likewise, actions closer in time the cumulative impact analysis, it must have received of Maryland and one of the largest in the country. to the Proposed Action at each site alternative would development approval from the Maryland National Construction began in 2004, and full build-out is be expected to have more potential for a relationship Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC). expected at a future date. than those with a greater degree of temporal This analysis refers to these projects as reasonably separation. Cumulative impacts were determined by foreseeable projects. 8.1.1.2 Current Ongoing and Reasonably combining the impacts for each alternative with other Foreseeable Projects past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future 8.1.1.1 Past Projects actions that would also result in beneficial or adverse The South Core portion of Greenbelt Station is an impacts. Therefore, it was necessary to identify The Greenbelt Metro Station was developed in 1993 87-acre transit-oriented, mixed-use infill project with actions in the vicinity of each site alternative and and is located northwest of the Greenbelt Alternative. 350 townhomes, 550 apartments, and 180,000 SF of the JEH parcel that could contribute to cumulative This station serves both Metrorail and MARC. It has retail, located southwest of the Greenbelt Alternative. impacts for the resources discussed in this EIS. a parking lot with 3,300 spaces. The station has two Phase I is currently under construction. The construction The greater the impacts determined under each high-level platforms that are handicap accessible, but schedule for Phase II is currently unknown. alternative, the more they contribute to the cumulative no buildings, restrooms, telephones, ticket kiosks or impacts identified for each resource. heaters. The Greenbelt Alternative is a portion of the existing parking lot for the station. U.S. General Services Administration 593 FBI Headquarters Consolidation Draft Environmental Impact Statement Figure 8- 1: Greenbelt Cumulative Projects The North Core portion of Greenbelt Station is a 8.1.2 Cumulative Impacts Analysis proposed transit-oriented development that would spur commercial revitalization and pedestrian- oriented improvements along the MD 193 corridor 8.1.2.1 Earth Resources around the Greenbelt Metro Station, and currently There would be no measurable long-term impacts to includes the Greenbelt Alternative. If the Greenbelt Greenbelt geology or topography under the Greenbelt Alternative, Alternative is selected, the development of the North Metrorail therefore there would be no measurable cumulative Core would be scaled back to include 800 apartment Station impacts. The majority of the impacts to geologic units, 100,000 SF of retail, 350,000 SF of office Capital Office Park (North) resources would be short-term, limited in geographic space; and a 300-room hotel. The development would extent, and associated with the construction phase be placed between the western edge of the Greenbelt North Capital Office Park (South) at the site, and would include indirect impacts to the Alternative and the Greenbelt Metro station. Core subsurface through rock ripping (the break up and removal of rock material with an excavator) or drilling Capital Office Park sites are located on Cherrywood footers. Lane north of the Ivy Lane intersection just off the South Capital Beltway, and at the southwest corner of Similarly, because potential impacts to soil resources Core Cherrywood Lane and MD 201. A seven-building from the Greenbelt Alternative would be limited to the business park and an on-site upscale hotel with general footprint of the project, and there would no conference facilities is proposed for the Capital Park long-term impacts, there would not be any cumulative (North) site, which was previously an agricultural impacts to soils. The majority of the potential impacts field. Overall, the larger site would include 300,000 to soil resources are short-term, limited in geographic SF of general office space. The Capital Park (South) extent, and associated with the construction phase site is located adjacent to an Maryland Department only. Soil disturbance associated with the North of Transportation (MDOT) salt dome, would include and South Core Greenbelt Station development Lake 46,000 SF general office space. Artemesia would occur close in time and space as the consolidation of FBI HQ at this site and would result A map of all past or currently ongoing and reasonably in short-term, adverse impacts to soils. However, foreseeable projects in the vicinity of the Greenbelt the implementation of erosion and sedimentation Alternative are shown in figure 8-1. control plans and other BMPs, and compliance with applicable permits, would minimize short-term cumulative impacts to soils. 8.1.2.2 Water Resources Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions would result in adverse impacts to water M Square resources. The development of the Greenbelt Metro Station in 1993 permanently impacted wetlands and floodplains surrounding the Greenbelt Alternative. Much of the southern portion of the existing Greenbelt Metro Station parking lot was formerly part of the 100-year floodplain and contained a large emergent Site Boundary 0 2,000 4,000 wetland (FEMA 1989; USFWS 2010). The addition P Current and Reasonably Foreseeable Development I Feet of impervious surface for the parking lot reduced stormwater infiltration at the site and impacted P Past Development 1 inch = 3,000 feet stormwater drainage. Two stormwater ponds were Beltsville Agricultural Research Center constructed to handle the runoff. Sources: ESRI (2013), GSA (2013), FC OCR (2014) U.S. General Services Administration 594 FBI Headquarters Consolidation Draft Environmental Impact Statement The BARC preserves thousands of acres of land Compliance with applicable water quality and 8.1.2.3 Biological Resources as agricultural land. Keeping the land free from stormwater standards and use of appropriate development benefits water resources such as sediment and erosion control and stormwater BMPs Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future stormwater hydrology and, indirectly, surface waters would minimize impacts of all projects during and actions that could impact biological resources and wetlands that would be impacted by changes to after construction. Implementation of stormwater include the development of the South