Draft Environmental Assessment For the Sandpoint Airport Runway and Taxiway Improvements Sandpoint, Idaho PREPARED BY J-U-B ENGINEERS, INC. April 2019 422 W. Riverside Spokane, Washington 99201 (509) 458-3727 www.jub.com DRAFT Environmental Assessment For the Sandpoint Airport Runway and Taxiway Improvements at the Sandpoint Airport Sandpoint, Idaho April 2019 This Environmental Assessment becomes a Federal document when evaluated and signed by the responsible FAA official. ___________________________________ _____________________________ Responsible FAA Official Date Sandpoint Airport 2019 Environmental Assessment i Table of Contents 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Background and Existing Facilities .............................................................................................1 1.3 Existing Operations ...................................................................................................................5 1.4 Airport Forecasts ......................................................................................................................5 1.5 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................7 2.1 Purpose of the Proposed Action .............................................................................................. 17 2.2 Need for the Proposed Action ................................................................................................. 17 2.3 Requested Federal Actions ...................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................ 23 3.2 Preliminary Alternatives Considered ....................................................................................... 25 3.3 Alternatives Carried Forward for Analysis within this EA .......................................................... 50 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 52 4.2 Air Quality .............................................................................................................................. 54 4.3 Biological Resources ............................................................................................................... 58 4.5 Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f) Resources ....................................................... 63 4.6 Farmlands .............................................................................................................................. 66 4.7 Hazardous Materials, Solid Waste, and Pollution Prevention ................................................... 68 4.8 Historical, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources ............................................. 71 4.9 Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 74 4.10 Natural Resources and Energy Supply .................................................................................... 76 4.11 Noise and Compatible Land Use ............................................................................................ 77 4.12 Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice, and Children’s Health and Safety Risks ..................... 81 4.14 Water Resources (including Wetlands, Floodplains, Surface Waters, Groundwater, and Wild and Scenic Rivers) ........................................................................................................................ 87 4.15 Cumulative Impacts ............................................................................................................ 103 4.15.1 Past, Current, and Future Project Listing ....................................................................... 103 4.15.2 Environmental Impact Category Analysis ...................................................................... 104 4.16 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................. 108 Sandpoint Airport 2019 Environmental Assessment ii 4.17 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 108 List of Figures Figure 1.1. Airport Location Map. .......................................................................................................2 Figure 1.2. Vicinity Map. .....................................................................................................................3 Figure 1.3. Existing Conditions Exhibit. ................................................................................................6 Figure 1.4. Runway Shift Exhibit. ........................................................................................................7 Figure 1.5. Wind Cone Location Exhibit. ..............................................................................................7 Figure 1.6. Taxiway Construction Exhibit. ............................................................................................8 Figure 1.7. Land Acquisitions Exhibit. ..................................................................................................9 Figure 1.8. Relocation of North Boyer Avenue Exhibit. ...................................................................... 11 Figure 1.9. New Apron Space and Taxilane Exhibit. ........................................................................... 12 Figure 1.10. Hangar Build-Out Exhibit. .............................................................................................. 13 Figure 1.11. Snow Removal Equipment Building Exhibit. ................................................................... 14 Figure 1.12. Parking Areas and Access Roads Exhibit. ........................................................................ 15 Figure 1.13. Project Action Summary Exhibit. .................................................................................... 16 Figure 3.1. Illustration of MPU Timeline. ........................................................................................... 24 Figure 3.2. Alternative D1 ................................................................................................................. 34 Figure 3.3. Alternative D2 ................................................................................................................. 35 Figure 3.4. Alternative D3 ................................................................................................................. 36 Figure 3.5. Alternative D4 ................................................................................................................. 37 Figure 3.6. Alternative D5 ................................................................................................................. 38 Figure 3.7. Alternative A1 ................................................................................................................. 39 Figure 3.8. Alternative A2 ................................................................................................................. 40 Figure 3.9. Alternative A3 ................................................................................................................. 41 Figure 3.10. Alternative A4 ............................................................................................................... 42 Figure 3.11. Revised Preferred Alternative as reflected on the May 2015 ALP. ................................... 44 Figure 3.12. Landside Development Areas. ....................................................................................... 47 Figure 3.13. Proposed Signage Improvements Exhibit. ...................................................................... 48 Figure 3.14. Proposed Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 49 Figure 4.1. Proposed Action Study Area. ........................................................................................... 53 Figure 4.2. Hangars scheduled for removal at the Airport. ................................................................. 73 Figure 4.3. The existing hangar on Lot 26. ......................................................................................... 73 Figure 4.4. Noise Contour Exhibit. ..................................................................................................... 79 Figure 4.5. Bonner County Employment Breakdown (2016). .............................................................. 82 Figure 4.6. Sandpoint Airport Wetlands Exhibit. ................................................................................ 90 Sandpoint Airport 2019 Environmental Assessment iii List of Tables Table 1.1. Proposed property acquisitions. ....................................................................................... 10 Table 2.1. Comparison of FAA B-II design standards and existing airport conditions. .......................... 18 Table 3.1. Alternative Summary Table .............................................................................................. 28 Table 4.1. Emissions levels associated with primary construction equipment....................................