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EPA Region 6 GIS Screening Tool for Environmental Assessment (GISST)

EPA Region 6 GIS Screening Tool for Environmental Assessment (GISST). Sharon L. Osowski, Ph.D. Ecologist EPA Region 6. WHAT IS IT?. GISST is a GIS-based tool that uses criteria that are scored to assist in initial assessment of potential environmental impacts. Who can use GISST?.

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EPA Region 6 GIS Screening Tool for Environmental Assessment (GISST)

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  1. EPA Region 6 GIS Screening Tool for Environmental Assessment (GISST) Sharon L. Osowski, Ph.D. Ecologist EPA Region 6

  2. WHAT IS IT? GISST is a GIS-based tool that uses criteria that are scored to assist in initial assessment of potential environmental impacts

  3. Who can use GISST? Anyone with training can use & interpret the GISST output for planning and analysis purposes

  4. Two Components • Uses a geographic unit approach to evaluate “risks” of potential impacts • Imposes a scoring structure on data • i.e., criteria scored 1 (low impact) to 5 (high impact) Over 90 different criteria, but 20 used regularly

  5. How does GISST work? Program Needs DATA Ready for use Develop Criteria (1-5) Program into GIS Document It’s a process as well as a tool

  6. Uses of GISST • NEPA Scoping • Project Planning • EA/EIS Preparation & Review • Single direct impacts • Alternatives analysis

  7. Application:IH69 Example

  8. Hypothetical TO SIU Study Area National Corridor

  9. Combined Constraints Map T & E Species Potential EJ area Wetlands National Forests

  10. Floodplain TEAP Rarity Economics

  11. FHWA used GISST along with other information to narrow the Congressional study area to a “reasonable corridor” • EPA overlaid the GISST results with the “reasonable corridor” to determine how well the corridor avoided and minimized potential impacts and provided comments back to FHWA • TPWD stated that the application of GISST in determining corridors resulted in an 80% avoidance of their areas of concern

  12. Benefits Identification of “red flags” Mitigation:True AVOIDANCE!! Then Minimization,Then Compensation Open process, documentation

  13. NEPAssist An innovative tool that facilitates the environmental review process and EPA's project planning. NEPAssist is an easy to use web-based application that draws environmental data dynamically from EPA regions' Geographic Information System databases. It provides a preliminary environmental assessment of a project's potential environmental impacts. These features contribute to a streamlined review process that potentially raises important environmental issues at the earliest stages of project development.

  14. The Future!! GISST Incorporation into NEPAssist Recalculations using new land cover data Recalculation to a 0.25 km2 grid—more useful to MPOs

  15. The Process Step 1: Can you transfer funds to a Fed Agency? Step 2: Develop Interagency MOU (template) Step 3: Agree on Scope of Work and Budget (template) Step 4: Agency Execs sign IAG document obligating funds Step 5: Training session is scheduled (approximately 1-2 months from funds transfer)

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