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The NEPA Umbrella: Scoping Environmental Issues

The NEPA Umbrella: Scoping Environmental Issues. Greg Holthoff NEPA Program Coordinator ODOT Geo-Environmental Section. Overview of Today’s Presentations. “Front End” of the Environmental Process NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) context

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The NEPA Umbrella: Scoping Environmental Issues

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  1. The NEPA Umbrella:Scoping Environmental Issues Greg Holthoff NEPA Program Coordinator ODOT Geo-Environmental Section

  2. Overview of Today’s Presentations • “Front End” of the Environmental Process • NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) context • Scopingfor environmental compliance issues and actions • Environmental Disciplines* • FHWA Perspective on Environmental Compliance • NEPA Documentation for Categorical Exclusions * These are just SOME of the environmental compliance disciplines that fall under the NEPA umbrella...

  3. What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)? • NEPA is a 1970 statute that requires Federal agencies to consider impacts on the environment from proposed actions and to disclose environmental impacts during project planning. • The NEPA process provides a comprehensive framework for compliance with other Federal, State, and local environmental statutory requirements (hence the term “NEPA umbrella”) • NEPA provides a forum for stakeholder (public and agency) involvement, as appropriate. • NEPA is a procedural law, meaning that a certain amount of process is required, but agency decisions are not mandated based upon least impact. 42 USC § 4332

  4. Why Should We Care About NEPA? • It’s Federal law and frequently litigated. • NEPA is the governing environmental decision-making process for proposed Federal actions. • NEPA compliance must be demonstrated before subsequent approvals or authorizations (e.g., Right-of-Way acquisition) will be made by FHWA. NOTE: Permits do not equal NEPA, and NEPA does not equal permits.

  5. NEPA “Umbrella” NEPA “Umbrella” • Farmland Protection Policy Act • National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 • Land and Water Conservation Fund Act Section 6(f)(3) • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act • Clean Air Act and amendments • Highway Noise Standards • Public Involvement Requirements • NEPA case law In Oregon: • Land Use Actions / Goal Exceptions • Fish Passage Statute • Removal/Fill Law • AND MORE, including state and local requirements… • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act • Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act • Americans with Disabilities Act • E. O. 12898 (Environmental Justice) • Section 4(f) of 1966 U.S. DOT Act (49 USC 303) • Clean Air Act and amendments • Endangered Species Act Section 7 • Migratory Bird Treaty Act • Clean Water Act Section 401(b) • E. O. 11988 (Floodplain Management) • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act • Clean Water Act Section 404

  6. Federal Environmental Laws &E.O.s Affecting Transportation 70 EO13148 TEA-21 EO13186 EO13061 EO13112 60 EO13007 EO13089 SNRTA SDWA CAA EO12898 CZARA ISTEA STURAA ADA 50 URA NAGPRA EWRA STURAA HSWA CWA FPPA SDWA ANILCA CBRA 40 ARPA LAA CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF LAWS AND AMENDMENTS EO11990 CERCLA CWA EO11988 MSFCMA CAA SDWA RCRA 30 CZMA FNWA WBA ESA RRA CWA EAA URA CAA NEPA 20 FAHA WSRA 4(f) FAHA HBA FAHA CAA NHPA AHPA 10 FIFRA SWDA FWCA MBTA CRA AA WA RHAA LWCF CAA HSBAA 0 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 YEAR

  7. When Does NEPA Apply? • The proposed action has a Federal nexus; in our case, usually this is an FHWA (or FTA) nexus: • FHWA funding for any phase of the proposal • FHWA approval actions (e.g., interstate access) • NEPA may also apply for other jurisdictional authorities’ actions (e.g., Corps of Engineers, USFS), even with no FHWA nexus • It is rare when NEPA does not apply to projects listed in the Oregon STIP.

  8. NEPA Regulatory and Guidance Hierarchy NEPA Statute Public Law No. 91-190 42 USC § 4332 CEQ NEPA Regulations 40 CFR 1500 FHWA / FTA NEPA Implementing Regulations 23 CFR 771 FHWA Oregon and ODOT NEPA Procedures http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/e_guide.shtml FHWA Guidance for Preparing and Processing Environmental and Section 4(f) Documents Technical Advisory T6640.8A

  9. FHWA / FTA NEPA “Classes of Action” • Class 1 - Environmental Impact Statement • around 3% of ODOT STIP projects • Class II - Categorical Exclusion (CE) • around 92% of ODOT STIP projects • Class III - Environmental Assessment • around 5% of ODOT STIP projects 23 CFR 771.115

  10. Basic NEPA Process Elements • Scoping • Public and interagency involvement • Study environmental issues commensuratewithscopeandrisk • Develop alternatives that avoid impacts to the built and natural environment • Impact minimization and mitigation • Informed decision-making

  11. NEPA Process by Class of Action Proposed Action Coordination and Analysis YES NO Significant Impact ? Categorical Exclusion Environmental Impact Statement Unknown Significant impact (d)-list CE (c)-list CE Environmental Assessment Notice of Intent & Scoping Process Draft EIS Coordination and analysis as needed No significant impacts Public Comment Document appropriately Final EIS Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Record of Decision (ROD) Agency Action Agency Action Agency Action

  12. Categorical Exclusion (CE) • CEQ - actions which donot individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment • FHWA - actions which meet the CEQ definition and, based on past experience with similar actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts or “unusual circumstances” • Neither an EA nor an EIS is required • Approximately 92% of ODOT projects are CEs 40 CFR 1508.4 23 CFR 771.117

  13. Unusual Circumstances • No “Significant” environmental impacts, i.e.: • No significant impacts to planned growth or land use • No relocation of significant numbers of people • No significant impacts on any natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resource • Would not involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts • Would not have significant impacts on travel patterns • No substantial controversy on environmental grounds • No significant impacts on properties protected by Section 4(f) or NHPA Section 106 • No inconsistencies with any Federal, State, or local law or requirement 23 CFR 771.117(a) & (b)

  14. Environmental Process Overview (for CEs) Project Development Timeframe Environmental Review Process Planning • identify critical environmental issues Environmental (NEPA) Scoping • establish Area of Potential Impact (API) • identify all environmental issues and compliance requirements • identify probable class of action • Prepare Prospectus Part 3 Conduct environmental studies • as appropriate to scope of action • environmental resources inform design • coordinate with jurisdictional agencies Obtain clearances / approvals Document CE rationale • document environmental commitments • submit CE Closeout package • FHWA signature concludes CE process Pre-STIP Draft STIP PDT Kick-Off Prelim. Engineering Design Acceptance Final Plans R/W Authorization or Construction Pre-Let

  15. What is NEPA “Scoping”? • A continuation of early (Planning) coordination with public and agencies • Identify scope of project and study area(s)* • Identify “red flag” as well as minor issues • Identify compliance activities (e.g., permits) and their cost / timing • Allocate staff assignments • Identify probable NEPA Class of Action • Invite participation in NEPA process 40 CFR 1501.7

  16. How Do I Perform NEPA Scoping? • Review the project history, including the STIP Scoping Summary Report and the Prospectus “Part 5” from Planning. • Use the Prospectus Part 3 Expanded Checklist as a topic / research guide. • Perform due diligence to determine specific environmental requirements and to program the necessary work into the project schedule. • Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate. • Prepare the Prospectus Part 3.

  17. Project Prospectus Part 3 • The Part 3 is intended to identify: • critical environmental issues, • potential environmental effects by discipline, • necessary permits and approvals,, and • probable NEPA class of action. • Part 3s are no longer submitted to FHWA for signature, but are submitted as part of the documentation needed for FHWA to make a decision on CEs.

  18. PROJECT PROSPECTUS Part 3 Project Environmental Classification Project Classification Class 1 EIS Class 2 CE Class 2 PCE Class 3 EA Key Number:     Jurisdiction:     Project Name:     Bridge No.:     County:     Region:     Area:     District:      1) Provide a brief description of the Project USGS Quad Name, Township, Range, Section: 2) Estimated Right-of-Way Impacts (Including Easements, Number of Parcels, Acreage, and Improvements) 3) Estimated Traffic Volume, Flow Pattern and Safety Impacts (Including Construction Impacts, Detours, etc.) 4) Estimated Land Use and Socioeconomic Impact (Including Consistency with Comprehensive Plan) 5) Estimated Wetlands, Waterways and Water Quality Impacts 6) Estimated Biological & Threatened & Endangered Species Impacts: 7) Estimated Archaeology and Historical Impacts 8) Estimated Park, Visual Impacts and 4(f) Impacts 9) Estimated Air, Noise and Energy Impacts 10) Estimated Hazardous Materials Impacts 11) Preliminary Identification of Potential Areas of Critical Concern and Controversial Issues 12) Documentation / Permit Requirements 13) Estimated Pre-Construction Activity Impacts (drilling, survey work, etc) 14) Preliminary Identification of Public/Stakeholder Concerns

  19. Preparation of the Part 3 • Read instructions found under “Region Environmental Coordination” at: • Project Delivery Work Planning (PDWP) • Part 3 / Environmental Workbook • Elements of the Part 3 • Part 3 “short form” • Part 3 Expanded Checklist • Categorical Exclusion Checklist • Submit to ODOT Region Environmental Coordinator or Local Agency Liaison www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/manual_procedures_practices.shtml

  20. ODOT Policy and Guidance • ODOT Geo-Environmental Section web page • http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/index.shtml This is ODOT’s primary website for environmental guidance and procedures. • ODOT Geo-Environmental e-Guide • http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/e_guide.shtml This site is oriented to NEPA compliance matters. This site and its subcomponents are still under construction. • ODOT Geo-Environmental REC e-Guide • http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/e_guide_rec_guide.shtml This site contains guidance, forms, and protocols for NEPA Categorical Exclusions, including: • Links to project delivery guidance • Prospectus Part 3 information • CE documentation guidance and templates

  21. FHWA NEPA Regulations and Guidance • 23 CFR 771 - Environmental Impact and Related Procedures • FHWA Technical Advisory T6640.8A - Guidance for Preparing and Processing Environmental and Section 4(f) Documents • 23 CFR 774 - Section 4(f) Regulations • FHWA’s Environmental Guidebook - http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/guidebook/index.asp • FHWA’s Environment web site - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/

  22. The End Questions???? Questions???? Questions???? Greg Holthoff ODOT NEPA Program Coordinator greg_holthoff@odot.state.or.us (503) 986-3428

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