PEL 101: The Tools for Adopting and Implementing a PEL Approach

1. PEL 101: The Tools for Adopting and Implementing a PEL Approach July 20, 2011

2. Training Objectives • Facilitate higher quality integrated transportation and environmental decisions • Provide tools and methods for: • Considering environmental, community, and economic goals during the transportation planning process, and • Carrying planning decisions and data into the project development and environmental review process.

3. Speakers Spencer Stevens FHWA, Office of Planning Ruth Rentch FHWA, Office of Project Development and Environmental Review

4. Agenda Part 1: Overview of PEL Part 2: Integrated Planning – Q & A Session – Part 3: Linking Planning and NEPA – Q & A Session –

5. Part 1: An Overview ofPlanning and Environment Linkages (PEL)

6. What is PEL? A FHWA PROGRAMpromoting tools and resources, - and - AnAPPROACH to transportation decision-making

7. Elements of the PEL Approach System-level Planning Project level Decisions Conservation & Resource Management Information Transportation Plans IntegratedPlanning Required Linking Planning & NEPA Voluntary Environmental Analysis Process (NEPA )

8. Outcomes of the PEL Approach Can make planning more effective: • Comprehensive look at all factors • Broader basis to help determine which projects are priorities • Less backtracking during NEPA Can make agencies more effective: • Create productive interagency relationships • Chance for resource agencies to shape vs. react

9. Benefits of PEL • Address complex environmental challenges early and avoid environmentally sensitive natural resources. • Design projects that meet mobility, environmental, and community needs. • Minimize duplication of efforts and data. • Improve cost effectiveness Improves transportation decision-making and project delivery timeframes

10. PEL and Every Day Counts EDC Initiative To identify and deploy innovative techniques and technology that will help to accelerate project delivery **PEL is one of the tools promoted in the EDC’s Shortening Project Delivery Toolkit

11. Part 2: Integrated PlanningA Systems Perspective

12. Integrated Planning Land Use System Transportation System Water Resources System Other Natural, Cultural Resource Systems Integrated Approach Opportunities to support multiple community goals and improve quality of life

13. Integrated Planning Requires a New Way of Doing Business FROM… TO…

14. Regulatory Requirements 23 U.S.C. Parts 134 and 135 require: • Resource agency consultation • Potential environmental mitigation Reflected in 2007 Planning Regulations 23 C.F.R. § 450

15. Consultation Requirements Requires comparison of transportation plans with available: • State conservation plans or maps • Inventories of natural or historic resources • Consultation with resource and regulatory agency experts STIP overlaid on map of conservation opportunity areas

16. Mitigation Requirements A long range transportation plan shall include • A discussion of types of potential environmental mitigation activities and potential areas to carry out these activities • The discussion shall be developed in consultation with Federal, State, and tribal wildlife, land management, and regulatory agencies - 23 USC 134 and 135

17. Tools & Methodsjfor Integrating Transportation and Environmental Plans and Data

18. Education and Training Provides agencies with a common understanding of one another’s roles and responsibilities. Example FHWA’s STARS Workshops

19. Formalizing Interagency Coordination Interagency Agreements Can foster the early and continuous involvement of environmental, regulatory, and resource agencies in the planning process. Sample Actions: • Establish interagency work groups or committees • Develop MOUs/MOAs

20. Formal Interagency Example • Formed in 2002 as a forum to consider transportation decision and environmental stewardship • 15 membership agencies • Collaborate during earliest stages of planning • Led to PEL Partnering Agreement in 2009 Colorado’s Transportation Environmental Resource Council (TERC)

21. Funded Resource Agency Positions Use of Federal-aid and/or State funds to provide dedicated staffing at resource agencies Example California DOT Funded Position for Planning • One year pilot project to fund a US EPA liaison position dedicated to transportation planning

22. Analysis and Decision Support Tools Software or web-based systems designed to improve effectiveness of decision-making Examples: • Leverage existing software tools, i.e. GIS • CommunityViz • NatureServe Vista • CorPlan • MetroQuest • PLACE3S • Index • TransView Scenario visualization Metroquest ** FHWA does not specifically endorse any of the tools listed

23. Analysis Support Tools – An Example North Carolina’s Conservation Planning Tool

24. Joint Scenario Planning • Framework for developing a shared vision for the future • Tool to analyze various forces that affect growth: • Transportation • Land use • The economy Sacramento Blueprint

25. Corridor and Subarea Planning Opportunity to inform related planning efforts: • Land use • Housing • Transit • Environment Example Places29, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission

26. QUESTIONS? The operator will now open the phone lines for questions OR Type your question into the chat pod to the left

27. Part 3:Linking Planning and NEPA

28. Current State of the Practice

29. Ideal Future State of the Practice Ideal Future State Environmental Analysis in the Project Planning/Project Development Stage Environmental issues are considered early in the transportation planning process Environmental, regulatory, and resource agencies are involved early and continuously in the planning process Planning decisions are documented in a format that can be appended to the NEPA document or incorporated by reference Planning information that will be used in NEPA will be identified and communicated to agencies and the public

30. Regulatory Authority and Guidance Not required, but strongly supported by Federal regulations and guidance: • Transportation planning regulations (23 CFR 450) and Appendix A • Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR 771) • Environment and Planning Linkage Processes Legal Guidance (2005) • Guidance on Using Corridor and Subarea Planning to Inform NEPA (2011)

31. Litigation Risk Planning activities are not considered a Federal action subject to review under NEPA [see 23 CFR 450.222 and 450.336]

32. Linking Planning and NEPA A variety of planning studies can inform NEPA: • Statewide & Metropolitan Long-Range Plans • Strategic Highway Safety Plan • Congestion Management Process • Feasibility Studies • Corridor and Subarea Studies

33. Using Planning Products in NEPA • To help inform project level purpose and need statement • Identify general travel corridor and/or general mode definition • Preliminary screening of alternatives and elimination of unreasonable alternatives • Preliminary identification of environmental impacts

34. Considerations • Before using information in NEPA consider: • Were relevant entities offered the opportunity to participate in planning study? • The age, relevance, and reliability of the planning study, its data, and its analysis • Was the planning level information documented and available for public review during the study process?

35. Using Planning Products in NEPA Transportation Planning • NEPA • Decision Making Project Scoping Project Scoping Transportation Goals & Objectives Purpose & Need Purpose & Need Problem Statement Travel Corridor or Mode Mode of Study Solutions Evaluation & Screening Alternatives Context & Baseline Conditions Affected Environment & Consequences Documentation Documentation

36. Inform Purpose & Need Transportation Planning • NEPA • Decision Making Project Scoping Transportation Goals & Objectives Purpose & Need Problem Statement Travel Corridor or Mode Mode of Study Solutions Evaluation & Screening Alternatives Context & Baseline Conditions Affected Environment & Consequences Documentation Documentation Documentation Documentation

37. Identify Travel Corridor or Mode Transportation Planning • NEPA • Decision Making Project Scoping Transportation Goals & Objectives Purpose & Need Problem Statement Travel Corridor or Mode Mode of Study Solutions Evaluation & Screening Alternatives Context & Baseline Conditions Affected Environment & Consequences Documentation Documentation Documentation Documentation

38. Screening of Alternatives Transportation Planning • NEPA • Decision Making Project Scoping Transportation Goals & Objectives Purpose & Need Problem Statement Travel Corridor or Mode Mode of Study Solutions Evaluation & Screening Alternatives Context & Baseline Conditions Affected Environment & Consequences Documentation Documentation Documentation Documentation

39. Preliminary Identification of Environmental Impacts Transportation Planning • NEPA • Decision Making Project Scoping Transportation Goals & Objectives Purpose & Need Problem Statement Travel Corridor or Mode Mode of Study Solutions Evaluation & Screening Alternatives Context & Baseline Conditions Affected Environment & Consequences Documentation Documentation Documentation Documentation

40. Making the Connection between Planning and NEPA Notice of Intent • Relevant planning information to be utilized in NEPA: • Preliminary purpose and need. • Range of alternatives for study.

41. Example: I-95 Improvement Project “Improvements to the I–95 corridor are considered necessary to improve safety and to provide for increases in projected traffic volumes. Alternatives under consideration include, but are not limited to: (1) taking no action and (2) addition of a third travel lane in each direction. The EIS will use data and findings from two major deficiency and needs studies entitled ‘‘Southeastern Connecticut Corridor Study’’ dated January 1999 and ‘‘I–95 Corridor Feasibility Study, Branford to Rhode Island’’ dated December 2004. Copies of these studies are available from ConnDOT’s Office of Environmental Planning.” Reference: Federal Register/Vol.72, No.162 /Wed, August 22, 2007

42. Documentation Critical to document: • Thought process underlying analytical conclusions and planning decisions, • Information used at the planning stage, including what that information is, how current or complete it is, and how reliable it is over time; and • Public and agency involvement.

43. Tools and Methods for Linking Planning and NEPA

44. Cross Training Staff Example: Oregon DOT • “Planning for Nonplanners” for ODOT project delivery staff • NEPA training for planning staff

45. PEL Questionnaire Purpose: • Serves as a guide for the planning project team on the questions/issues to address in the study, • Provides a summary of the planning process, and • Provides a documented transition from planning to NEPA analysis.

46. Questionnaire Sections • Background • Methodology used • Agency coordination • Public coordination • Purpose and need • Range of alternatives • Planning assumptions and analytical methods • Environmental resources • Cumulative impacts • Potential strategies for mitigation

47. Example: Arapahoe Road Corridor • PEL Questionnaire completed as part of corridor study • NEPA study is incorporating the analysis and documentation • Helped to develop a more focused and detailed scope of work for associated EA

48. Formalize Business Processes Montana DOT’s Business Process to Link Planning Studies and NEPA/MEPA Reviews • Establishes eight steps to linking corridor planning and NEPA • Includes a Corridor Planning Checklist to use at the beginning and throughout the process 1: Identify Corridor Study Candidate 2: Develop Corridor Study Work Plan 3: Develop Existing and Project Conditions Report 4: Identify Needs, Issues, Goals and Screening Criteria 5: Determine Alternatives Advanced and Not Advanced 6: Recommend Alternatives 7: Prepare Draft Corridor Study Report 8: Make Recommendations

49. Example: Libby North Corridor Study • Used Appendix A as a guide for corridor study • MDT held monthly meetings with USFS, FHWA, county staff, and elected officials • Conducted preliminary alternatives analysis and developed the P&N • Resulted in a shift from EIS to CE on Hwy 567

50. QUESTIONS? The operator will now open the phone lines for questions OR Type your question into the chat pod to the left