css class 5 css and environmental analysis 111809
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
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Class 5
CSS and Environmental Analysis
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
National Environmental Policy Act• Enacted 1969• Purpose:
– Prevent further endangerment to environment– Protect environment for future generations– Make agencies accountable to consider
environment• Federal agencies• Federally funded projects• Others that choose to do so
What is NEPA?
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Includes• Natural• Social• Built
Environments?
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Also• Safety• Health• Historical, archeological
resources• Consumable resources
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Environmental analyses
• Categorical exclusion
• Environmental assessment
FONSI
EIS
• Environmental impact statement
NEPA requirements
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
• Research programs• Safety improvements• Landscaping• Noise barriers• Planning and technical studies• Utility installations across ROW• Fencing, signing, pavement markings• Construction of bike and pedestrian facilities• Elderly/handicapped accessibility improvements
CE examples
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and DesignCE examples: I-35 Minn.
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and DesignCE examples: I-40 Okla.
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and DesignNEPA requirements
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and DesignNEPA requirements
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Include, but not limited to
• Possible impacts (positive or adverse)
• Impacts that can’t be avoided
• Controversial aspects
• Attainment of objectives
• Possible alternatives to the proposed action
• Impacts of “no action”
• Preferred action
What is analyzed?
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Impact areas• Land use• Farmland• Social• Relocation• Economic• Joint development• Pedestrians and bicyclists• Air quality• Noise• Water quality• Wetlands• Water bodies and wildlife• Floodplains• Wild and scenic rivers
Types of impacts
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• Coastal barriers• Coastal zones• Threatened and endangered
species• Historic and archeological
preservation• Hazardous waste sites• Visual• Energy• Construction• Productivity• Irreversible, irretrievable
commitment of resources• Others identified in scoping
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
• Purpose and need• Scoping• Analysis methodologies• Existing conditions (context)• Alternatives*• Impacts of alternatives• Evaluation• (Recycle)• Documentation (DEIS)• Review • Additional analysis• Identify preferred alternative• Documentation (FEIS)• Review• Agency action (ROD)
Analysis steps
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Public involvement
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Project development
Relationships
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Environmental analysis
Public involvement
Agency coordination
CSS
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Required minimum
• Build (multiple)
• Transportation system management (TSM)
• Other modes
• No build
Alternatives
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
• Per scoping– Needs– Issues– Obvious and perceived (see list of types)– Controversial aspects– uncertainties
• Types– Direct– Indirect– Cumulative
Impacts needing analysis
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
• Develop right after scoping• Per issues and intensities• Use accepted methods• Respond to local values• May differ from project to project
– Detail– Extent
Analysis methodologies
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Historic site along Kentucky corridor
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
• Public involvement
• Agency coordination
• Environmental justice– Full participation for all– Proportional impacts and benefits
• Documentation – Document everything– Needed for potential challenges
Essentials
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Your expectations?
Are all EISs the same?
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Discussion: why?
Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Typical minimum contents (FEIS)• Purpose and need for action• Alternatives• Affected environment• Environmental consequences• Evaluation• Comments and responses (FEIS)• Preferred alternative (FEIS)• Mitigation (FEIS)• Next steps
EIS outline
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
• No EIS needed when:• Exempted by Congress• Emergency situation• Rejection of proposed action from external
source
3 exemptions
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
For possible grade separation at Wellborn and George Bush:
• Prepare:– List of potential stakeholders– List of potential environmental impacts
Exercise
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Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation Planning, Environmental
Analysis and Design
Good resource starting point:• Center for Environmental Excellence by
AASHTOwww.environment.transportation.org
• FHWA Environmental Guidebook (online)
http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/guidebook/index.asp
• Read NCHRP Report 480, Section E
Resource
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