Draft ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE Quantico National Cemetery Prince William County, Triangle, Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs 425 I Street, NW Washington DC 20001 May 2016 Page intentionally left blank. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETERY PAGE 2 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, TRIANGLE, VIRGINIA Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................. 11 1.2 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Scope of the Analysis .................................................................................................................. 14 1.4 Decision Making .......................................................................................................................... 14 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ......................................................... 15 2.1 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1 Environmental Best Management Practices, Permits, and Approvals ............................... 18 2.2 Alternatives Analysis ................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Evaluated Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 19 2.2.2 Alternative Eliminated from Detailed Consideration .......................................................... 20 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ..................................................... 20 3.1 Aesthetics .................................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 22 3.1.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 23 3.1.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 24 3.2 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 24 3.2.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 25 3.2.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 26 3.2.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 26 3.3 Geology, Topography, and Soils .................................................................................................. 26 3.3.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 26 3.3.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 29 3.3.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 30 3.3.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 30 3.4 Water Resources ......................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 31 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETERY PAGE 3 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, TRIANGLE, VIRGINIA 3.4.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 31 3.4.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 32 3.4.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 32 3.5 Wildlife and Habitat .................................................................................................................... 32 3.5.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 32 3.5.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 33 3.5.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 34 3.6 Threatened and Endangered Species and Bald Eagles ............................................................... 34 3.6.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 34 3.6.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 36 3.6.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 38 3.7 Noise ........................................................................................................................................... 38 3.7.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 38 3.7.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 39 3.7.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 40 3.7.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 40 3.8 Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste .................................................................................. 40 3.8.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 40 3.8.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 41 3.8.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 41 3.8.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 41 3.9 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................... 41 3.9.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 41 3.9.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 55 3.9.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 56 3.9.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 56 3.10 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................................................... 56 3.10.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 56 3.10.2 Effects of the Preferred Alternative .................................................................................... 57 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETERY PAGE 4 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, TRIANGLE, VIRGINIA 3.10.3 Effects of the No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 57 3.10.4 Minimization and Best Management Practices .................................................................. 57 3.11 Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................................................... 57 3.11.1 Considered Cumulative Actions .......................................................................................... 58 3.11.2 Effects of Cumulative Actions on the Proposed Action ...................................................... 58 3.11.3 Effects of Cumulative Actions on the No Action Alternative .............................................. 58 3.12 Potential for Generating Substantial Public Controversy ........................................................... 59 4. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 59 4.1 Public and Agency Involvement .................................................................................................. 59 4.1.1 Agency Coordination ........................................................................................................... 59 4.1.2 Public Review .....................................................................................................................