ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

This chapter provides an overview of the major environmental concerns in the Barling Planning Area. Major issues and topics addressed include protection of environmental resources, environmental constraints on development, mitigation of environmental hazards, provision of public utilities and services, and opportunity for energy conservation. Major emphasis will be placed on the Fort Chaffee site because of its past use as a military base which has created certain environmental and health hazards. Also, most of the buildings that currently exist on the site were built in the 1940's, 50's and 60's in which both lead based paint and asbestos were used.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND CONSTRAINTS

Environmental factors which affected previous growth patterns in the city now function as both constraints and opportunities for achieving the mature landscape of an established community. In certain instances, factors that were formerly thought of as environmental constraints to development are now seen as resources for the community. However, it is the policy of the City of Barling to limit development in sensitive areas and to maintain vital qualities of the air, water and earth.

Environmental consequences of changing the topography of sizable areas include changes in viewshed, modification of drainage patterns and elimination of established vegetation cover.

Barling lies east of Fort Smith and south of the Arkansas River causing the city to be landlocked. The topography of the city varies in elevation from approximately 660 feet above mean sea level to 375 feet. The City generally slopes to the north and east towards the river.

Barling has a lot of natural scenery including beautiful old trees which is part of the City's charm. It has a rural, open feeling which the city wishes to sustain and keep in mind when developing the land. The Arkansas River is not only an economic necessity of the area but it also holds an aesthetic quality which the residents of Barling appreciate. Development review should consider the consequences of altered drainage patterns on neighboring properties. Protection of off-site vegetation patterns from the effects of on-site grading and fill should also be considered. The wetlands, the majority existing on the Fort Chaffee site, should be protected because they offer an excellent habitat for many different types of species.

Barling lies within the Arkansas Valley Geological section which is primarily a lowland area of the Arkansas River. The predominant geological formations are identified within the Pennsylvania system and include from oldest to youngest: the Atoka, Hartshorne, McAlester, and Savannah.

The Atoka is the oldest unit and contains mostly shale with some sandstone and siltstone. The Hartshorne is fine to very fine grained sandstone with thin to massive bedding. The McAlester formation overlies the Harthshorne and is mostly shale with siltstone and sandstone. The top formation is the Savannah and it is mostly shale with some siltstone with a very limited amount of sandstone. It is very important to consider the types of soil located at a site for development. Development should not take place in areas that are unfit for certain types of development.

Barling is comprised of upland forests, bottomland hardwood forests, tall grass prairies, old fields, maintained cool season grasslands and wetlands. Existing vegetation is a mix of deciduous and coniferous forest species. The wetlands, pond areas, and grassland have been identified as having a high value for forage and habitat to wildlife species in decline. Therefore, it is very important to protect these environments from any type of harm, including development.

A variety of wetland and non-wetland mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish and bird species have been observed in Barling. The American Burying Beetle was found on the Fort Chaffee site and is on the Federal list of endangered species. Viable wildlife habitats are sensitive to development and are becoming scarce. In addition, some species, including deer, birds and a few mammals are found in the most developed residential zones of the city. Rare and sensitive species sometimes require much more effort in their management and protection than more common wildlife species.

Various archaeological surveys have been conducted at Fort Chaffee since 1986. According to the surveys, 28 sites have been determined to be eligible for listing in the National Registry of Historic Places; 21 sites are potentially eligible for listing in the National Registry; and 25 sites were undetermined, but additional investigation was recommended. Many of these sites have included remains of a concentration of Euro-American farmsteads. It is the policy of the city to protect its history.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

This section addresses both natural and man-made hazards in the environment.

NOISE

Noise levels in the planning area will likely increase as population density levels increase and as new areas are developed throughout the city, principally because of noise from transportation sources such as interstates, streets, and railroads. As noise levels continue to increase, so will the possibility of adverse effects on the health, behavior, attitudes, and economic well-being of local residents.

Noise from vehicles, especially motorcycles, is a source of annoyance for Barling residents. Although complaints about vehicular noise are centered on major streets and highways, complaints about local streets and public vehicles (emergency and garbage) are also made. Although the city cannot control the amount of noise that vehicles are designed to emit, it can control actual noise emissions which exceed certain State standards. The city can also regulate truck traffic to lower the average noise levels adjacent to restricted streets and highways. Vehicular noise in Barling will probably increase in the future and will affect new areas as additional streets and highways are built.

Railroads create very high peak levels of noise, caused primarily by wheel/rail interaction, locomotive noise, and air horns or whistles. Railroad noise is the cause of high levels of annoyance in Barling near street crossings. Furthermore, it is difficult to project increases in railroad noise due to the lack of predictability of operational changes.

Flight operations at the FCMTC, the 188th Air Guard Unit at Fort Smith Airport the Fort Smith Airport generate noise that will likely interact with more residents in the future as the city continues to grow. The current flight pattern for the Fort Smith Airport includes the Barling water tower on N Terrace. Thus, a significant part of Barling is already affected by flight operations at Fort Smith Airport. Currently, the majority of aircraft at Fort Smith Airport are commuter type aircraft which emit a relatively low level of noise. The majority of loud aircraft noise is emitted by Air Guard Fighter aircraft during their operations. As the region grows, the potential for larger aircraft operating out of the airport could increase. This would increase aircraft noise in Barling.

Noise emissions from commerce, industry, recreational activities (other than those involving vehicles), construction, and structural sources can be lessened with current technology. Barling has the authority to institute controls for these sources through zoning ordinances, building codes, and noise control ordinances.

Domestic noise which involves mechanized equipment or amplified sound can be limited to current or lower levels. Intermittent nuisance noises (such as loud parties, children playing, and dogs barking) are more difficult to control. As population densities increase, the number of occurrences of excess domestic noise will increase if no noise controls are instituted, but the level of noise per incident will probably not increase.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

The City of Barling has a contract with Environmental Remediation Services Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma to assist the Barling Fire Department on all HazMat incidences. The City is currently working on a plan to restrict truck traffic to major state highways limiting its exposure to HazMat incidences. There is no available data on the number of hazardous transport trips through the City. However, it is the opinion of city leaders that most hazardous materials traveling through the region do so on the interstate highway system. That system currently does not go through the City of Barling.

In 1998, Sebastian County Solid Waste District in cooperation with Fort Smith City landfill had its first annual household hazardous waste free collection day. The City of Barling is a participant in this program.

HAZARDS UNIQUE TO THE FORT CHAFFEE SITE

This section discusses the types of hazardous waste found at the Fort Chaffee Military Reservation. Items covered include projects for the Installation Restoration Program such as: asbestos, lead-based paint, PCB's, radon, unexploded ordinance, radiological sources, pesticides, herbicides and fungicide usage, medical wastes, and storage tanks.

The process of cleaning up hazardous waste sites by the Department of the Army is referred to as the Installation Restoration Program (IRP). In addition, a Draft Environmental Baseline Survey (EBS) was prepared. The EBS documents the physical condition of property at the site and contains readily available information (including data collected for the IRP) in regard to storage, use, and disposal of hazardous waste and petroleum products during the life of Fort Chaffee. The Army uses the EBS to determine its obligations under federal environmental laws before it makes any decisions concerning real property transfers. In fact, the completion of an EBS is required by the Department of Defense before any property can be sold, leased, transferred or acquired by another organization.

Information on the potential presence of asbestos in buildings on site was obtained from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (December 1996). The Fort Chaffee asbestos program consists of identification, monitoring, determination of health hazards, awareness education, removal and disposal of asbestos. All areas of concern have been surveyed for asbestos, and Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) are generally limited to installation buildings which are located overwhelmingly within the cantonment area. Installation personnel estimate that ACM is present in 99 percent of the buildings at Fort Chaffee.

Asbestos removal is generally completed in conjunction with demolition activities, but may also be performed when needed due to deteriorated conditions or to accomplish other maintenance. Asbestos is disposed of in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and Army regulations.

Nearly all buildings at Fort Chaffee were constructed prior to 1980, generally recognized as the year when lead-based paint (LBP) was no longer permitted to be used in the United States. LBP is estimated to be present in 99 percent of the buildings and structures at Fort Chaffee including those within the excess area. A representative inspection of buildings and structures at Fort Chaffee by base personnel identified that both interior and exterior painted surfaces have a strong likelihood of containing LBP. A significant number of the excess buildings have also been sided with metal siding.

Guidance for PCB management of Fort Chaffee comes from the 1989 TRADOC PCBA Policy. The installation underwent a post-wide transformer inventory, testing and replacement program in the mid-1980's. The installation used a temporary accumulation and storage area located in Building 426 and on a concrete pad in the nearby Coal Yard east of building 460, both outside the excess area. All existing PCB transformers and fluid were removed and properly disposed. No PCB-containing materials are known to remain at Fort Chaffee.

Fort Chaffee has a pesticide handling area just south of Roberts Boulevard. Pesticides are stored and mixed in the building. According to EBS, the building has been used for this purpose since the late 1970's. Prior to that, pesticides were stored and mixed in a building located on the southwest corner of Roberts Boulevard and Taylor Avenue.

Previous reports note no evidence of release to the environment. This area was listed as an Area of Concern because of the materials handled and lack of a containment berm.

Although there appear to be no medical waste hazards at Fort Chaffee, the EBS reports that mercury from broken thermometers has been found in sink drains throughout the hospital area buildings. The EBS finds that it would be unlikely that mercury would be found in any area other than sink drains.

Regulated underground tanks at Fort Chaffee are used to hold gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and used oil. There are 25 regulated Underground Storage Tanks (UST) on the site. Only two regulated UST's are within the disposal area. These two tanks have passed tightness testing but are scheduled for removal. Removal of regulated UST's is monitored by the ADPCE.