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Record Of Decision <br />On site Alternative 1, both options A & B, light and glare impacts resulting from temporary construction <br />activities and permanent operation of the new courthouse may be significant because of the proximity of <br />the site to residential neighborhoods. In order to accommodate the proposed federal courthouse on the <br />smaller Riverfront site (Alternative 1, option B), the GSA may reduce the footprint of the building and <br />increase the height of the building. This modification is expected to have an effect on the aesthetics of <br />the area. <br />Because the Alternative 2 site lies within the downtown area of Eugene with no residential housing <br />nearby, light and glare resulting from temporary construction activities and permanent operation of the <br />new courthouse would not be significant. <br />Air Quality <br />Air quality impacts maybe the same for both action alternatives. All existing structures on the selected <br />site would be demolished or moved before the new courthouse is constructed. Demolition activities may <br />create fugitive dust emissions. Operation of heavy machinery may produce emissions of criteria <br />pollutants, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These impacts during demolition would be <br />temporary and would not interfere with long-term attainment or maintenance of air quality standards. <br />Temporary increases in criteria pollutants and dust may result from courthouse construction activities. <br />Air quality may be affected by emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and <br />particulates from heavy equipment, and fugitive dust from construction and earth-moving activities. In <br />addition to the mobile equipment, diesel-powered cranes, generators, and compressors would likely be <br />used during construction. <br />Emissions of criteria pollutants from heavy machinery operation during construction may create short- <br />term impacts that would not interfere with long-term attainment or maintenance of air quality standards. <br />Construction activities at the project site could produce approximately 1.2 tons of airborne particulates <br />per month (or approximately 8 to 10 pounds per hour). Activities required later in the construction <br />process, such as framing and interior construction, would not produce significant amounts of airborne <br />particulates. All particulate emissions from construction activities would be temporary and would not <br />interfere with attainment or maintenance of air quality standards. <br />During operation of the new courthouse facility, minimal increases in airborne particulates from traffic <br />in and around the site could be expected. Potential impacts from these sources would also be of short <br />duration and would not interfere with attainment status or long-term maintenance of air quality <br />standards. With on site parking capacity limited to 80 vehicles, sources of vehicle emissions would be <br />minimal at any of the alternative sites. If additional surface parking is provided, vehicle emissions <br />would increase, although not to a level of significance. <br />Noise <br />Demolition, excavation, and building construction activities at the selected site may temporarily increase <br />noise levels in the vicinity of the project. While these construction impacts would be limited to the two- <br />year period of construction, they may be significant for nearby residences and parks during the <br />construction phase. <br />Noise impacts during construction are may be more serious for existing residences and park activities <br />near the Alternative 1 site in Springfield than for the vicinity of the Alternative 2 .site in Eugene.. <br />Construction equipment typically produces noise levels ranging from 60 to 90 decibels at a distance of <br />50 feet from the noise source. Construction equipment noise levels typically would range 20 to 30 <br />decibels higher than ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the proposed courthouse. <br />During the construction phase, the GSA may implement its best practice construction procedures, which ~` ' <br />require that noise limits be placed on the operation of heavy equipment. The GSA general construction <br />New Federal Courthouse Page 4 of 8 March 2001 - <br />, <br />