FAA RNAV and RNP Procedures at Denver International Airport, Centennial Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER ONE: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE ACTION 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Study Area ...................................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Background .................................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3.1 National Airspace System ........................................................................................................... 1-3 1.3.2 Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) ........................................................... 1-4 1.4 Proposed Action............................................................................................................................ 1-5 1.5 Purpose and Need......................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.5.1 National Airspace Needs ............................................................................................................. 1-6 1.5.2 Denver Complex Airspace Needs .............................................................................................. 1-7 1.6 Implementation .............................................................................................................................. 1-8 CHAPTER TWO: ALTERNATIVES 2.1 Identification of Potential Alternatives ...................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternatives Eliminated ................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2.1 Improved ATC Technology ......................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 DEN PBN Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 2-3 2.2.2.1 DEN STAR Option 2007-2009: Primary STAR / Offload STAR ................................ 2-3 2.2.2.2 DEN SID Option 2007-2009: No VNAV ....................................................................... 2-3 2.2.3 Satellite STAR Options 2011 ...................................................................................................... 2-4 2.3 Alternatives Carried Forward for Environmental Review ...................................................... 2-5 2.3.1 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................................... 2-5 2.3.2 PBN Alternatives .......................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.3.2.1 DEN PBN Procedures - All Alternatives ...................................................................... 2-7 2.3.2.2 Alternative 1 ................................................................................................................... 2-8 2.3.2.3 Alternative 2 ................................................................................................................. 2-10 2.3.2.4 Alternative 3 ................................................................................................................. 2-11 2.3.2.5 Alternative 4 ................................................................................................................. 2-14 2.3.3 Comparison of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 2-14 CHAPTER THREE: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Study Area Setting and General Conditions ............................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Setting and Location .................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Airport Facilities ............................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.3 Primary Airport ............................................................................................................................. 3-4 3.1.4 Satellite Airports ........................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.5 Airspace ........................................................................................................................................ 3-4 i FAA RNAV and RNP Procedures at Denver International Airport, Centennial Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Environmental Assessment 3.1.6 Land Use ...................................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.1.7 Demographics .............................................................................................................................. 3-7 3.1.8 Weather and Climate .................................................................................................................. 3-9 3.2 Non-Issue Impact Categories .................................................................................................... 3-10 3.3 Affected Environmental Resource Categories ...................................................................... 3-13 3.3.1 Noise ........................................................................................................................................... 3-13 3.3.1.1 Noise Modeling Methodology ..................................................................................... 3-13 3.3.1.2 Existing Aircraft Noise Exposure at Population Centroids ........................................ 3-16 3.3.2 Section 4(f) and 6(f) of the DOT Act ......................................................................................... 3-17 3.3.2.1 National Park Service Lands ...................................................................................... 3-18 3.3.2.2 National Forest System ............................................................................................... 3-19 3.3.2.3 National Wildlife Refuge System ................................................................................ 3-20 3.3.2.4 National Wilderness Areas ......................................................................................... 3-20 3.3.2.5 State Parks, Forests and Other Area of Significance ............................................... 3-20 3.3.3 Historical, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources ......................................... 3-23 3.3.4 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 3-24 3.3.4.1 Carbon Monoxide (CO) ............................................................................................... 3-24 3.3.4.2 Ozone ........................................................................................................................... 3-25 3.3.4.3 Particulate Matter (PM) ............................................................................................... 3-26 3.3.5 Climate ........................................................................................................................................ 3-27 3.3.6 Threatened and Endangered Species and Migratory Birds ................................................... 3-29 3.3.6.1 Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Candidate Species ................................ 3-29 3.3.6.2 Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................. 3-30 3.3.6.3 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ...................................................................... 3-36 3.4 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 3-37 CHAPTER FOUR: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 4.1 Noise ................................................................................................................................................ 4-1 4.1.1 Noise Modeling Methodology ..................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Noise Impact Criteria ................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.3 Aircraft Noise Impact Analysis .................................................................................................... 4-3 4.1.4 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................................... 4-3 4.1.5 Proposed Action Alternatives ...................................................................................................... 4-4 4.1.6 Alternative 1 ................................................................................................................................. 4-5 4.1.7 Alternative 2 ................................................................................................................................. 4-8 4.1.8 Alternative 3 ................................................................................................................................