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Michael Culp FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review Michael.culp@dot

Implementing the Concepts Environment Pre-Conference Workshop TRB MPOs Present and Future Conference August 27, 2006. Michael Culp FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review Michael.culp@dot.gov 202-366-9229. Strengthening Planning and NEPA Linkages.

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Michael Culp FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review Michael.culp@dot

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  1. Implementing the ConceptsEnvironment Pre-Conference WorkshopTRB MPOs Present and Future ConferenceAugust 27, 2006 Michael Culp FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review Michael.culp@dot.gov 202-366-9229

  2. Strengthening Planning and NEPA Linkages • NEPA, permitting, and planning • How to do it: • Analysis tools and data • Inter-agency coordination • Planning process changes • Planning products that can be used in NEPA

  3. Essential Elements of NEPA • Assessment of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of a proposed action or project • Analysis of a range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed project, based on the applicants defined purpose and need for the project • Consideration of appropriate impact mitigation: avoidance, minimization and compensation • Interagencyparticipation: coordination and consultation • Public involvement including opportunities to participate and comment • Documentation and disclosure

  4. System-level Planning System-level Planning Transportation Resource Agency Integrated Planning, Consultation Linking Planning and NEPA Impact Analysis, Review Project-level Decision Project-level Decision

  5. Planning, Project Development, and Implementation Linkages NEPA / Preliminary Engineering Design and Construction Planning Level of Activity Early Concept Implementation “A Seamless Process”

  6. Linking Planning and NEPA: Connecting SAFETEA-LU Sections Section 6002 Early coordination with resource agencies, other stakeholders for process improvement and higher predictability • Section 6001 • Coordination with land and resource agencies, others • Consideration of land use, resource concerns in the planning process • Linking Planning and NEPA • Mechanisms and tools for coordination • Planning products for use in NEPA

  7. System-level Planning System-level Planning Transportation Resource Agency Integrated Planning, Consultation 6001 Linking Planning and NEPA 2005 Guidance Impact Analysis, Review 6002 Project-level Decision Project-level Decision

  8. Reviews and Permitting: Who’s Who • US Environmental Protection Agency • US Army Corps of Engineers • US Fish and Wildlife Service • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Fisheries Service • State Historic Preservation Officer

  9. Reviews and Permitting: Some Topics Covered

  10. Planning Analysis link to NEPA • During planning and programming, consider NEPA principles in planning analysis: • Land use • Economic performance • Natural resources • Air quality • Water quality • Community quality of life • Travel performance • Planning analysis tools and approaches, (e.g., context-sensitive solutions, scenario planning, community impact analysis, travel and land use forecasting) • Can result in planning products for ‘hand-off’

  11. Getting Started: What is Entailed? • Data and Analysis Tools • Inter-Agency Coordination • Decision Process Opportunities

  12. Data and Analysis Tools • Obtaining data: from who? • State DOT (Environmental Section) • State department of environmental quality • State fish and game department (State Wildlife Action Plans) • Federal agencies: USACE, FWS • Land use and land management agencies • US Geological Survey • Non-profit organizations: NatureServe

  13. Data and Analysis Tools (cont’d) • What is to be done with the data? • Comparing (a la SAFETEA-LU) • Sharing • Issues: • Don’t necessarily need GIS to compare inventories, although helpful • Some information cannot be shared with the public • Continual updating of data by ‘experts’ or ‘owners’

  14. Inter-Agency Coordination • Agencies are currently set up for project reviews (implication – some adjustments needed to involve agencies in transportation planning) • Potential solutions • Staff funding • Standing inter-agency meetings • Formal agreements to specify coordination procedures and responsibilities (MOA, MOU)

  15. Models of Coordination • Group by • Topic • Physical Boundaries • Level of Government • Opportunistic (State GIS Council) • Live vs. Virtual • Government vs. Non-Government conveners

  16. Decision Process Opportunities • Is the current process documented clearly? • When can NEPA and permitting stakeholders become involved? • Can some analysis be conducted, decisions be made in planning? • NEPA principles used in analysis • ‘Hand-Off’ products • Design guidelines developed • Potential mitigation activities and areas considered

  17. Planning ‘Hand-Off’ Products • Purpose and need statements • Scoping and alternatives identification • Evaluation and/or elimination of alternatives • Indirect and cumulative impacts assessment • Exploration of potential mitigation opportunities • Preparatory analyses for permitting

  18. System-level Planning System-level Planning Transportation Resource Agency Integrated Planning, Consultation Linking Planning and NEPA Impact Analysis, Review Project-level Decision Project-level Decision

  19. Thank You!

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