Environmental Protection Agency
253 Centennial Street
Sacramento, CA 98221

        The Environmental Protection Agency has outlined major issues to be considered in evaluation of the proposed Airport Development Plan. In order to ensure law compliance, an EPA agent must oversee initial groundbreaking. This EPA agent will also measure changes to the region over the first period of development and operation (likely the first 5 years), to determine adverse affects on the environment.

        The land region is currently used for grazing and recreation. Impact upon the environment is very minor, and soil quality reflects this. Soil layers are typical for a undeveloped region of this type. Erosion is largely limited to slopes and riverside regions, which experience the highest-speed runoff. It can be expected that adding an airport will impact erosion and thus soil quality. Along the edges of developed areas, water will be routed at high speeds and flood these areas, unless sufficient drainage in the form of ditches or similar structures is developed. The northwest corner of the region is currently used as a landfill, so some pollution into the soil and groundwater for that region has occurred. Landfill management monitors this land regularly and is currently building structures to minimize neighboring region damage.

        The grasslands of this region provide homes for various insect species, two species of rabbits, over a dozen species of birds, and several ground-dwelling rodents including mice and moles. One endangered species, the burrowing owl, has been identified in this region. It requires open areas with tall grasses to nest. The EPA has concern about development in habitat of any rare species, but given the size of the grassland region, some development may occur without encroachment upon the owl population. Our EPA agent, Amberlee Chaussee, will be consulting with you on this issue.

        The wetlands and river region provide habitat for various invertebrate species that rely on an aquatic environment for reproduction and / or nesting. These include amphipods, snails, stoneflies, mayflies, mosquitoes, caddis flies, midges, dragonflies, beetles, and birds such as herons and egrets. Fish such as trout have been found in this region, and the pools near the wetlands provide vital regions for fish reproduction. Several amphibious species live in the region, including newts, turtles, and frogs. The endangered red-legged frog has been observed on rare occasions here. In 1996, a researcher with UC Santa Cruz studied some of the frog species and their response to UV irradiation, as some mutants had been identified in this region. The community has since been very aware of the wetland habitat diversity, and values this environment.

        Regardless of mutants being found in this region, water quality is very high in the wetlands and the nearby river / creeks. Indicator species such as midge flies and stone flies show this, as well as chemical studies.

        The EPA is concerned that development of the airport might result in pollution of runoff, by adding oils and other industrial wastes to rainwater. Such pollutants could leach into the soil, wetlands, river water, or into groundwater supplies. Ditches used for rerouting water could help prevent much of the tainted runoff, but that would leave one region to accept all of this runoff, and where would that be? Water treatment programs could be implemented, but are costly. It is expected that the airport will produce a lot of domestic sewage, so the airport committee should consider constructing its own treatment facility for handling this. Sewage cannot seep into the surrounding soil and groundwater, as it would certainly negatively effect bacterial communities and the higher trophic levels that bacteria influence. The airport planning committee should be aware of issues such as this, and be ready to plan the airport in order to prevent adverse environmental effects.

        Air quality in the region is very good, with pollutants originating from the light industrial activity at the southwest corner of the land plot. Small amounts of pollution come from the highway and city / residential area, but because of wind conditions, the proposed region rarely comes in contact with pollutants from the east. Studies have shown that aircraft produce about 3% of the Carbon Dioxide emissions globally per year, so it is reasonable to assume that the airplanes will not be a major contributor to air pollution. However, exhaust from land-vehicles used at the airport is expected to produce a non-ending source of carbon dioxide and other gases. As the area has been largely untouched by pollution, it may respond dramatically to it. Ms. Chaussee is prepared to establish partnerships between the Airport Planning Committee and Environmental Groups that can help monitor and potentially move species that are adversely affected by the development.

        Just as adding the airport could result in dramatic changes in air pollution, noise pollution will also increase dramatically. The EPA recommends that the Airport Development Committee create local regulations to minimize noise pollution by:

• limiting times of air travel
• limiting regions of air travel (far from residential region)
• limiting number of runways and frequency of takeoffs and landings
• requiring airliners to use modern airplanes equipped with negative noise controlling devices, to reduce decibel levels

        Sincerely,
                Donald James
                Agency President