FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Freedom’s Path at Fort Harrison Project Prepared for: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20420 Prepared by: WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. P.O. Box 6045 Helena, MT 59604 August 2017 Freedom’s Path at Fort Harrison i WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. Final Environmental Assessment August 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... vi 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................... 3 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................ 3 2.1 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4 2.2 No Action Alternative.............................................................................................. 4 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................ 4 3.1 Aesthetics ................................................................................................................ 5 3.1.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 5 3.1.2 No Action Alternative..................................................................................... 5 3.2 Air Quality ............................................................................................................... 5 3.2.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 6 3.2.2 No Action Alternative..................................................................................... 6 3.3 Noise ....................................................................................................................... 6 3.3.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 7 3.3.2 No Action Alternative..................................................................................... 7 3.4 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................................. 7 3.4.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 8 3.4.2 No Action Alternative..................................................................................... 8 3.5 Geology and Soils .................................................................................................... 8 3.5.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 9 3.5.2 No Action Alternative................................................................................... 10 3.6 Wildlife and Habitat .............................................................................................. 10 3.6.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 11 3.6.2 No Action Alternative................................................................................... 11 3.7 Wetlands and Floodplains .................................................................................... 11 3.7.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 12 3.7.2 No Action Alternative................................................................................... 12 3.8 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................ 13 3.8.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 13 3.8.2 No Action Alternative................................................................................... 15 3.9 Land Use ................................................................................................................ 15 3.9.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 16 3.9.2 No Action Alternative................................................................................... 17 Freedom’s Path at Fort Harrison ii WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. Final Environmental Assessment August 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 3.10 Socioeconomics .................................................................................................... 17 3.10.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 19 3.10.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 20 3.11 Community Services.............................................................................................. 20 3.11.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 20 3.11.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 20 3.12 Transportation and Parking .................................................................................. 20 3.12.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 21 3.12.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 21 3.13 Utilities .................................................................................................................. 22 3.13.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 22 3.13.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 22 3.14 Solid and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................. 22 3.14.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 23 3.14.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 24 3.15 Environmental Justice ........................................................................................... 24 3.15.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 25 3.15.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 25 3.16 Potential for Generating Substantial Controversy................................................ 25 3.17 Cumulative Impacts .............................................................................................. 26 4.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ...................................................................................................... 26 5.0 MITIGATION ...................................................................................................................... 26 6.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................... 31 7.0 LIST OF PREPARERS ........................................................................................................... 32 8.0 REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................................ 33 APPENDICES Appendix A – Cultural Resources Construction Monitoring Plan Appendix B – Agency Correspondence FIGURES Figure 1 – Project Location ........................................................................................................... 35 Figure 2 – Project Layout and Features ........................................................................................ 36 Figure 3 – Water Resources and Floodplain Map ......................................................................... 37 Figure 4 – Former Historic Structures ........................................................................................... 38 Figure 5 – Land Use ....................................................................................................................... 39 Freedom’s Path at Fort Harrison iii WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. Final Environmental Assessment August 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) TABLES Table 1‐1 Historic Buildings Proposed for Renovation ................................................................... 2 Table 3‐1 Percent of Total Earnings in Basic Industries ‐ Lewis and Clark County, 2014‐2016 .... 18 Table 5‐1 Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................... 27 Table 7‐1 List of Preparers ............................................................................................................ 32 Freedom’s Path at Fort Harrison iv WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. Final Environmental Assessment August 2017 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ACP Asbestos Control Program ACUB Army Compatible Use Buffer ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ACM Asbestos Containing