Rota runway extension project hits snag

The Historic Preservation Office is requiring the Commonwealth Ports Authority to enter into an agreement for the protection of historic spots at the Rota International Airport runway extension site.

Following a review of CPA’s draft environment assessment for the project, HPO said it could not approve the project until a memorandum of agreement was signed between both agencies.

“The HPO does not concur with the findings of no effects to historic properties. With historic properties located in the [area of potential effect], a memorandum of agreement will have to be drawn up to specify exactly how these historic properties will be avoided. Only with such an agreement could the HPO concur with a no affect to historic properties,” HPO said.

In its draft assessment, CPA cited three historic sites that might be impacted by the runway extension project.

In an interview, CPA engineer John Sablan said HPO’s concerns could be resolved without much difficulty and were not expected to slow down the environmental assessment process.

He said the possible impact on these sites could be avoided through use of appropriate monitoring during construction.

He added that except from HPO’s review, CPA received mostly favorable comments regarding the runway extension project.

According to CPA’s draft assessment, the proposed $22-million, federally funded development is not expected to significantly affect environmental quality. The project involves adding 1,000 feet to the current 6,000-feet long Rota airport runway.

“This environmental assessment concludes that the proposed action doe not constitute a major federal action which significantly affects the quality of the human environment. Therefore, a federal environmental impact statement is not required,” a portion of the draft study read.

CPA findings show that the construction project will have some short-term effects, including noise from the operation of heavy equipment and interruptions or traffic slow-downs if fill-hauling trucks need to use public roads.

However, the project is not expected to have significant long-term adverse impact to geology, hydrology, flora and fauna, historic resources, hazardous materials, air quality, noise quality, and socio-economic resources, CPA said.

The ports authority assured the public that after construction, exposed areas would be seeded with grass or otherwise covered to minimize soil erosion.

The noise that will be added to Rota’s quiet environment is not considered significant, CPA said, because it would not impact residential areas or other “noise sensitive receptors” such as schools and hospitals.

Emissions from diesel driven equipment, which will be used during construction, may slightly degrade air quality. But CPA vowed that all applicable emission and ambient air quality standards would continue to be met.

Likewise, the project is expected to have no effect on water quality because there are no defined groundwater sources, streams, or waterways in the vicinity of the proposed project, CPA said.