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Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports (2019)

Chapter: Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8)." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25486.
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E-1 A P P E N D I X E Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8) Wetland mitigation presents diverse challenges to airport operators that include physical constraints, the diverse goals and requirements of multiple agencies, safety considerations, construction costs, and life- cycle costs. The goal of this task is to identify future research needs to aid airport managers in mitigating wetland impacts in a manner that is cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and enhances airport safety and operations. Challenges Posed by Wetlands On and Near Airports Airports are unique environments in which the location of many facilities is fixed by function, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design guidance specifies where facilities must be constructed to provide efficient aircraft operations and safety (i.e., runways, taxiways, and navigational aids must be placed in specific locations relative to one another). These requirements can lead to unavoidable impacts when on- site facility improvements are needed and to constraints when identifying an appropriate location for compensatory mitigation. FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-33B, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On or Near Airports, identifies a critical zone or separation criteria that should be observed during the development of facilities that could attract potentially hazardous wildlife to an airport. The AC specifically warns against the creation of wetlands and open water features within 5,000 feet of airports that support piston-powered aircraft, within 10,000 feet of airports that support turbine powered aircraft, and within 5 miles of approach/departure surfaces. However, the critical zone often extends beyond the airport boundaries, and local and regulatory agencies responsible for adjacent properties are not always aware of FAA guidance pertaining to wetlands, wildlife hazards, or other issues associated with project and mitigation planning. Additional Research Needs Local jurisdictions may not be aware of the potential wildlife hazards associated with wetland mitigation on and near airports. In addition, FAA regulations and policies can be difficult to understand and interpret by those unfamiliar with airport operations. There is an ongoing and critical need to identify and educate local jurisdictions about the aviation environment and the challenges associated with wetland mitigation on and near airports. Additional research is necessary to identify a method or rubric for promoting awareness of aviation-specific concerns and wetland mitigation on and near airports. The research should include the development of educational materials that can be provided to local jurisdictions and airport host communities responsible

E-2 Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2: A Guidebook for Airports Multiple Agencies, Competing Mandates An individual wetland or water may be regulated by multiple agencies, such as the USACE (and other federal, state, and local agencies), and airport operators may be required to obtain multiple permits or authorizations to address project-related effects. In addition, not all agencies have similar missions or policy considerations. Whereas the FAA seeks to implement practices that minimize or mitigate wildlife attractants, including wetlands on or near airports, USACE endeavors to preserve wetlands whenever possible. Resource materials are available to help airport managers, regulatory agencies, communities, and developers move towards the goal of responsible wetland management and mitigation. For example, the National Academy of Sciences has overseen several reports to address applicable regulations, environmental assessment and review processes, and environmentally responsible development practices for airports and wetlands, such as: • ACRP Synthesis 17: Approaches to Integrating Airport Development and Federal Environmental Review Processes; • ACRP Research Report 169: Clean Water Act Requirements for Airports; • ACRP Report 43: Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports; and • NCHRP Report 482: Guidelines for Selecting Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Options, which provides information that is transferable to airports as well. • In addition, the FAA’s 2003 “Memorandum of Agreement Between the FAA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Address Aircraft-Wildlife Strikes” was established to prioritize aviation safety and prevent wildlife strikes over all other goals when conflicts arose among agency missions and goals. Additional Research Needs Although additional research pertaining to responsible wetland mitigation near airports is necessary, the need to increase awareness about existing research and promote awareness among agencies may be even greater. Extensive research already exists within the scientific community about wetlands, their functions, and how best to create or preserve them. What is lacking is the link to aviation and how wetlands may impact aviation safety. This is a unique concern for airports. Further research must include tools for education and outreach to the many agencies involved in wetland mitigation. • Develop tools to promote interagency coordination. Additional tools and resources should be developed to assist airport operators in communicating the issues and potential conflicts associated with the presence of on-site and nearby wetland resources, stormwater maintenance challenges, and wildlife hazard management. The materials should be designed to provide a framework for early agency involvement to help airports communicate unique issues and conflicts with on-site for decision making and permitting within the critical zone. The materials should be provided in the form of a guidebook, brochure, or online tool to alert agency representatives and local planners about the additional considerations associated with wetland mitigation on and near airports and include references to FAA’s website, ACRP guidebooks, and other resources.

Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8) E-3 • Identify and promote dialogue among industry organizations. Industry organizations can provide a valuable forum for disseminating available research and promoting further research. Further research should identify specific organizations and stakeholder groups, such as the AAAE, Airports Council International (ACI), and other organizations who may help to distribute available research, engage in or promote dialogue associated with regulatory agencies, and prioritize the mission of aviation safety. Wetlands, Stormwater Management Infrastructure, and Safety Stormwater management facilities (for example, ponds and ditches to treat stormwater runoff or ponds designed to collect and treat deicing chemicals) often provide similar hydrologic and vegetative features as wetlands, and, in some cases, wetlands are created as part of a stormwater management plan to both improve water quality and provide habitat. Innovative stormwater management technologies are available that can be implemented to reduce wildlife attractiveness, and some of these technologies may be applicable to wetland mitigation and management (for example, wetland clustering to reduce wildlife crossings in the airport operations area, etc.). Two current ACRP publications provide tools to help airport managers make decisions regarding wetland mitigation options: • ACRP Report 125: Balancing Airport Stormwater and Bird Hazard Management provides an Excel-based tool for evaluating bird strike risk during stormwater design. Many of these principles can also be applied to wetland design or creation because similar hazardous species are often attracted to both wetlands and stormwater management facilities. • ACRP Report 145: Applying an SMS Approach to Wildlife Hazard Management includes a tool identified by the FAA to avoid the creation of new wildlife attractants. Airport operators can use the tool to reflect site-specific conditions and evaluate potential mitigation-related risks. If existing wetlands or stormwater management facilities are present on an airfield that cannot be removed, ACRP Synthesis 52: Habitat Management to Deter Wildlife at Airports can provide airport operators with tools to reduce their attractiveness to hazardous wildlife. Additional Research Needs The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other industry groups produce research documents that are available to airport operators and managers to help address the potential safety risks associated with wetland mitigation and the similar risks associated with stormwater management facilities. However, many airport operators, regulatory agency representatives, and local jurisdictions may be unaware of these resources. Moreover, airport managers may not have the resources to convey information to those unfamiliar with the airport environment and operations. • Develop Mitigation Banking Guidance. Mitigation banks are important resources and can provide an attractive mitigation option. However, the developers of mitigation banks must be alerted to the dangers of siting banks adjacent to or within the separation criteria identified by the wetlands. Outlining specific steps for airport operators and regulators to follow during project scoping and throughout the permitting process is critical to ensuring that conflicting missions and requirements are identified early. The executive summary developed as part of this project will help to serve that purpose.

E-4 Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2: A Guidebook for Airports Economic Factors and Wetland Mitigation Planning Economic constraints may prove to be the greatest factor when identifying a wetland mitigation strategy (permittee-responsible mitigation, wetland banking, or participation in an in-lieu-fee program). But the costs and risk associated with each strategy may not always be apparent. For example, on-site mitigation may appear to be the least expensive option, but the burden on airport staff associated with construction, management, continual monitoring and reporting, or the potential effect on current operations or on future development may not be discernible. On-site mitigation also has the greatest potential for attracting hazardous wildlife. Additional Research Needs Additional research is necessary to develop a new resource tool that would help airport managers, regulatory agencies, and local agencies identify and more effectively analyze the costs and benefits associated with available mitigation options. The resource could include: • Mitigation Cost and a Decision Matrix. A decision matrix should be developed to help airport operators compare the risk of mitigating wetlands on-site versus the costs of mitigating off-site, and the costs associated with ongoing monitoring and ownership. • Risk Ranking System. A risk ranking system should be developed to evaluate and prioritize the risk associated with the creation of on-site and nearby wetland habitats that considers the potential to attract hazardous wildlife, potential effects on airport operations and long-term development, and mitigation development costs. The tool could be created on a regional scale to aid multiple airports in a specific geographic region. Summary Balancing natural resource protection with airport operations, aviation safety, and long-term airport growth will continue to pose challenges for airport managers. ACRP Research Report 198: Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2: A Guidebook for Airports is intended to outline and summarize the wetland mitigation process and to help airport operators navigate this process. Additional research and tools are necessary to provide ongoing assistance to airport managers. Research opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following: • Decision matrices to help airport operators compare and rank the costs, operational effects, and potential risks associated with available mitigation strategies; • A tool for airport managers to identify and prioritize wetland impacts and to allocate resources when designing future projects or preparing airport master plans; and • A tool to identify potential stakeholders associated with wetland mitigation during project planning and evaluation. banks so that they may be alerted to potential wildlife hazards and other considerations within 5 miles of public-use airports. FAA (in AC 150/5200-33B) and creating potential wildlife attractants. Additional research should be performed to identify the agencies and entities associated with the development of mitigation

Current State-of-the-Art and Additional Research Requirements (Task 8) E-5 Increased awareness and interagency dialogue are critical to enable informed decision making by airport operators and regulatory agencies. Additional tools are necessary to help airport managers convey aviation- specific concerns regarding existing wetland mitigation information to regulatory agency representatives, local jurisdictions, and other stakeholders more effectively. Such tools could include: • Website/Wiki. A website or wiki site could be developed that presents a comprehensive list of available resources, examples of successful mitigation projects, and tools for agency outreach and stakeholder involvement. If developed as a wiki, airport managers and others could contribute to the site as new projects or strategies are developed. (For an ongoing, successful example, refer to the SAGA website on aviation sustainability at: http://airportsustainability.org/). • Educational publications and presentations. Many airport managers are aware of the challenges associated with wetlands and mitigation in an aviation environment, but these challenges must be conveyed to others. Additional tools are necessary to help airport managers explain aviation-related concerns to regulatory representatives and jurisdictions—especially those within FAA’s separation criteria—and others. Publications or PowerPoint presentations could be prepared and posted to a nationwide website, such as the FAA website or wiki described above, and used by airport operators when engaging regulatory agency representatives or local stakeholders. • Guidance for identifying potential stakeholders. Offer guidance to help identify stakeholders during project design, impact evaluation, and mitigation planning. Examples of interested parties could include adjacent land owners, local government representatives, federal, state, and regional conservation agencies/field offices.

E-6 Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2: A Guidebook for Airports References Andrews, Donald G., David J. Full, and Mary L. Vigilante. 2009. ACRP Synthesis 17: Approaches to Integrating Airport Development and Federal Environmental Review Processes. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., www.nap.edu/catalog/22988/approaches-to-integrating-airport-development-and-federal- environmental-review-processes. Allerton, Kim, Amy Johnson, John Lengel, Melanie Knecht, Devon Seal, Paul Esposito, and Ginga Griffin. 2015. ACRP Report 125: Balancing Airport Stormwater and Bird Hazard Management. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., www.nap.edu/catalog/22216/balancing-airport-stormwater-and-bird-hazard-management. DeFusco, Russell P., Edward T. Unangst, Jr., Timothy R. Cooley, and Joanne M. Landry. 2015. ACRP Report 145: Applying an SMS Approach to Wildlife Hazard Management. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. www.nap.edu/catalog/22091/applying-an-sms-approach-to-wildlife-hazard-management. DeVault, Travis L.; Bradley F. Blackwell; and Jerrold L. Belant, eds.Wildlife in Airport Environments: Preventing Animal-Aircraft Collisions through Science-Based Management. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013. Mericas, Dean, Jeffrey Longsworth, and Kim Shannon. 2017. ACRP Research Report 169: Clean Water Act Requirements for Airports. Transportation Research Board, www.nap.edu/catalog/24657/clean-water-act-requirements-for-airports.

Abbreviations and acronyms used without definitions in TRB publications: A4A Airlines for America AAAE American Association of Airport Executives AASHO American Association of State Highway Officials AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ACI–NA Airports Council International–North America ACRP Airport Cooperative Research Program ADA Americans with Disabilities Act APTA American Public Transportation Association ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials ATA American Trucking Associations CTAA Community Transportation Association of America CTBSSP Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program DHS Department of Homeland Security DOE Department of Energy EPA Environmental Protection Agency FAA Federal Aviation Administration FAST Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (2015) FHWA Federal Highway Administration FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FRA Federal Railroad Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration HMCRP Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers MAP-21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (2012) NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASAO National Association of State Aviation Officials NCFRP National Cooperative Freight Research Program NCHRP National Cooperative Highway Research Program NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NTSB National Transportation Safety Board PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration RITA Research and Innovative Technology Administration SAE Society of Automotive Engineers SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (2005) TCRP Transit Cooperative Research Program TDC Transit Development Corporation TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998) TRB Transportation Research Board TSA Transportation Security Administration U.S. DOT United States Department of Transportation

TRA N SPO RTATIO N RESEA RCH BO A RD 500 Fifth Street, N W W ashington, D C 20001 A D D RESS SERV ICE REQ U ESTED N O N -PR O FIT O R G . U .S. PO STA G E PA ID C O LU M B IA , M D PER M IT N O . 88 W etland M itigation, Volum e 2: A G uidebook for A irports A CRP Research Report 198 TRB ISBN 978-0-309-48034-5 9 7 8 0 3 0 9 4 8 0 3 4 5 9 0 0 0 0

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ACRP Research Report 198: Wetland Mitigation, Volume 2, A Guidebook for Airports explores how to mitigate potential impacts to wetlands from airport construction, expansion, and safety improvements.

The report addresses a broad range of issues, including:

• Concerns over the creation of potential wildlife hazards;

• Existing requirements, which may or may not be conflicting;

• Impact to existing and future airport development;

• Airport considerations of cost and logistics in developing mitigation and related life-cycle obligations; and

• Environmental benefits.

Airport improvements often result in the unavoidable loss of wetlands, as many airports are located in or adjacent to wetlands. In addition, the size and scale of airports and supporting infrastructure is extensive, which has made it difficult to completely avoid impacting wetlands.

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