Environmental Assessment: Addressing Construction Projects at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York

Abstract : The purpose of the Proposed Action is to construct and operate new facilities required to support the continuing mission at Niagara Falls ARS. This includes new construction to comply with the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission requirement to establish an Air Reserve Component (ARC) association between the 914 A W and 107th Airlift Wing (107 AW), and new construction to complete the Five-Year Defense Plan (FYDP). Base Closure and Realignment Commission projects include construction of Joint AFRC/Air National Guard (ANG) Wing Headquarters, C-130 Flightline Operations Facility, and Joint Medical Facility. FYDP projects include a Flight Simulator Facility Visitor s Quarters Parking Area, Visitor s Quarters Phase III, and Visitor s Quarters Phase IV, Munitions Storage Igloo and Munitions Maintenance and Inspection (M&I) Facility, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Range, and Fill-in Ramp South of Hangar 707. Under the No Action Alternative, the proposed facilities would not be constructed at Niagara Falls ARS. There would be no change from existing conditions at the installation. This alternative would not address Base Closure and Realignment Commission or AFRC mission requirements at Niagara Falls ARS. The EA evaluates the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Resources that are considered in the impacts analysis include noise, land use, air quality, safety, water and soil resources, biological resources, socioeconomics and environmental justice, infrastructure, and hazardous materials and waste.