Environmental Assessment, Travis Air Force Base, Burke Property Housing

Summary

In support of previously reviewed, approved, and implemented Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions, Travis Air Force Base (AFB) proposes to construct military family housing on the 101-acre Burke Property on the north side of the base. The use of the property for that purpose was previously reviewed and approved along with the other BRAC actions in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), from which this Environmental Assessment (EA) is tiered (40 CFR 1502.20). To meet the BRAC-related housing needs, a design for the construction of 281 units has been developed and is evaluated in this EA. A 226-unit alter- native that could minimally satisfy Air Force policies is also considered, along with No Action, in this EA.

This EA focuses on Site Contamination, Biological Resources, and Cultural Resources. For other resource and issue areas, impacts and, where appropriate, mitigation measures associated with the construction of housing on the Burke Property were adequately described in the BRAC EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) (USAF 1994a,b). This EA finds that there are no potentially significant areas of site contamination or cultural resources on the site. With respect to Biological Resources, the 281-unit design would eliminate 2.81 acres of wetland and aquatic habitats, including some areas that may support threatened and endangered species. The 226-unit alternative would eliminate 1.18 acre of wetland and aquatic habitats while avoiding wetlands that may support threatened and endangered species. This EA identifies mitigation measures that, subject to further discussion with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, would mitigate these impacts to less than significance. Other potential short- and long-term impacts associated with the construction and use of housing in proximity to wetland and aquatic habitats on the site would be mitigated to insignificance through measures described in this EA. No other potentially significant environmental impacts are identified for either the Proposed or Alternative projects.

The No-Action alternative would be inconsistent with Air Force policies and the Congressionally approved realignment, which included the construction of new on-base housing. No Action also results in a diminished quality of life for junior-enlisted personnel who must cope with off-base housing that is distant from their place of work, and in short supply, at costs that exceed the housing allowance provided with their salaries. Off-base housing does not provide the community support that military families need when personnel are called to duty.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Travis Air Force Base Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management Archive - Documents, Images, and other Data   •
• Department of the Air Force Cultural Resources Archive

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Travis Air Force Base

Prepared By(s): Earth Tech; Engineering Field Activity West, Naval Facilities Engineering Command

Submitted To(s): Travis Air Force Base

Notes

General Note: Appendix C contains "Archaeological Investigation for the Burke Property, Travis AFB, California," a stand alone report prepared by Earth Tech. This report has an individual tDAR resource page located at: https://core.tdar.org/document/399398/archaeological-investigation-for-the-burke-property

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