Environmental Assessment, Wetland Delineation and Endangered Species Assessment for Airport Expansion

To accommodate an anticipated increase in both aircraft gauge and cargo volumes, the Chicago Rockford International Airport needed to expand its Northwest Cargo Apron. The CMT environmental team completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project and conducted a wetland delineation using the Floristic Quality Index (FQI) and endangered species assessments for the proposed project.

CMT identified one wetland in the eastern portion of the study area. Based on the FQI, the plant community was considered to be low quality and degraded. The entire study area was also searched for streams, and no features with an ordinary high-water mark (OHWM) were noted.

The project area was also investigated for potential habitat for the Eastern prairie fringed orchid (Plantanthera leucophaea), prairie bush-clover (Lespedeza leptostachya), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) and the leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa). The habitats present were searched for suitability and the presence of species. No suitable habitat was identified within the study area, and no threatened or endangered species were observed. This confirmed that the proposed Northwest Cargo Apron would have no effect on listed species.