Title: Environmental Impact Analysis
1Environmental Impact Analysis
Reading Assignment Environmental Assessments A
How-To Manual Prepared For Iowa Department of
Transportation Prepared By Earth
Tech http//www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/ce453/ei
s/_Start20Here.pdf (26 pages)
2National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
- Sets national environmental policy
- Establishes basis for environmental impact
statement (EIS) - Created Council on Environmental Quality
Chief reference for this lecture
http//www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/index
.asp
3CEQ
- NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ), an office within the White House - Functions
- develop environmental policies
- monitor environmental quality
- prepare annual environmental quality report
- monitor Federal actions.
http//www.epa.gov/indicators/roe/html/roeAir.htm
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6NEPA requires
- Include in every recommendation or report on
proposals for legislation and other major Federal
actions significantly affecting the quality of
the human environment, a detailed statement by
the responsible official on -- - (i) The environmental impact of the proposed
action - (ii) Any adverse environmental effects which
cannot be avoided should the proposal be
implemented, - (iii) Alternatives to the proposed action,
- (iv) The relationship between local short-term
uses of man's environment and the maintenance and
enhancement of long-term productivity, and - (v) Any irreversible and irretrievable
commitments of resources which would be involved
in the proposed action should it be implemented.
7- NEPA calls for an examination and consideration
of impacts of the proposed action on sensitive
resources - Floodplains,
- Historic and archeo-
- logical sites
- Wetlands
- Endangered species
- Parklands
- Air quality
- Wildlife habitat
- etc.
Peregrine Falcon
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
8NEPA potential outcomes
- CE - Categorical Exclusion
- From previous experience will not have env.
impact - Study not needed
- EA Environmental Assessment
- Done if no significant impact is expected
- An investigative tool
- 15 pages
- Usually results in FONSI (Finding of No
Significant Impact) - EIS - Environmental Impact Statement
- Requires more work than an EA
- Full disclosure (specified by code)
- Requires record of decision to proceed
- Can skip EA and do EIS
9Significance
- Level of reporting depends on significance of
proposed project - CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1508.27) require
consideration of context and intensity. - Context
- Society as a whole, the affected region, or
locality. - Both short and long term effects are relevant.
10Context
- Filling one acre of a one hundred-acre wetland
probably could be considered not significant - Filling one acre of a two-acre wetland may be
considered, under certain circumstances, a
significant impact - Same intensity, different context
11Intensity
- (1) impacts that may be both beneficial and
adverse - (2) the degree to which the proposed action
affects public health or safety - (3) unique characteristics of the geographical
area - (4) the degree to which the effects on the
quality of the human environment are likely to be
highly controversial
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
12Intensity
- (5) the degree to which the possible effects on
the human environment are highly uncertain or
involve unique or unknown risks - (6) the degree to which the action may establish
a precedent for future actions with significant
effects - (7) whether the action is related to other
actions with individually insignificant but
cumulatively significant impacts
13Intensity
- (8) the degree to which the action may adversely
affect resources listed in or eligible for
listing in the National Register of Historic
Places - (9) the degree to which the action may adversely
affect an endangered or threatened species or its
habitat - (10) whether the action threatens a violation of
Federal, State, or local law or requirements
imposed for the protection of the environment.
14Categorical Exclusions
15Categorical Exclusions
- Actions that do not individually or cumulatively
have significant social, economic, or
environmental effect
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
16CE Projects (per 23 CFR 771.117c)
- Always
- Studies, administration, etc.
- utility installations along or across a
transportation facility - bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and
facilities. - Activities included in the State's highway safety
plan - noise barriers or alterations for noise reduction
- Landscaping
- fencing, signs, pavement markings, small
passenger shelters, traffic signals, and railroad
warning devices - Emergency repairs
- Acquisition of scenic easements
- Improvements to existing rest areas and truck
weigh stations. - Alterations for accessibility
- Track and railbed maintenance
- With approval
- Resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation,
reconstruction, adding shoulders, or adding
auxiliary lanes (e.g., parking, weaving, turning,
climbing). - Highway safety or traffic operations improvement
projects including the installation of ramp
metering control devices and lighting. - Bridge rehabilitation
- grade separation to replace existing at-grade
railroad crossings. - Transportation corridor fringe parking
facilities. - New truck weigh stations or rest areas.
- changes in access control.
- Rail and bus storage facilities if consistent
with zoning - bus transfer facilities
17Environmental
Assessment
18Environmental Assessment
- Prepared when there is uncertainty as to
significance of project - Only discusses in detail areas where there is
potential for significant impact - No specific format but should include
- Project description
- Project need
- Alternatives considered
- Impacts
- Comments and coordination
19Example EA Contents
- Cover Sheet
- Table of Contents
- Description of the Proposed Action
- Project History
- Project Purpose and Need
- Alternatives
- Project Impacts
- Socioeconomic Impacts
- Air Quality and Noise Impacts
- Threatened and Endangered Species
- Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat
- Wetlands
- Woodlands
- Water Quality
- Parks and Recreational Facilities
- Cultural Resources
- Hazardous Waste
- River and Flood Plain Crossings
- Other Potential Impacts
- Comparison of Alternatives
- Disposition
- Comments and Coordination
- Appendices
20Environmental Assessment
- Must be made available for public inspection and
comment - If it is determined that there is no significant
impact associated with the project, a Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) is prepared - If a significant impact is identified, an EIS
must be prepared
21Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Required when proposed action has significant
impact on environment - lt 5 of FHWA projects involve EIS
- Reports require several major sections
Piping Plover
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
22Sections for EIS
- Project purpose and need
- Alternatives
- Affected environment section
- Environmental consequences
- Comments and coordination section
- List of preparers
23Project Purpose Section
- Clearly states need for project
- Supports need for project
- Why agency proposes to spend large amounts of
taxpayer while also causing significant
environmental impacts - Explains why project is necessary and worthwhile
- Justifies why impacts are acceptable based on
projects importance
24Project Purpose Section
- Capacity - Is the capacity of the present
facility inadequate for the present traffic?
Projected traffic? What capacity is needed? What
is(are) the level(s) of service for existing and
proposed facilities? - System Linkage - Is the proposed project a
"connecting link?" How does it fit in the overall
transportation system? - Transportation Demand - Including relationship to
any statewide plan or adopted urban
transportation plan together with an explanation
of the project's traffic forecasts that are
substantially different from those estimates from
the 23 U.S.C. 134 (Section 134) planning process.
- Legislation - Is there a Federal, State, or local
governmental mandate for the action?
25Project Purpose Section
- Social Demands or Economic Development - New
employment, schools, land use plans, recreation,
etc. What projected economic development/land use
changes indicate the need to improve or add to
the highway capacity? - Modal Interrelationships - How will the proposed
facility interface with and serve to complement
airports, rail and port facilities, mass transit
services, etc.? - Safety - Is the proposed project necessary to
correct an existing or potential safety hazard?
Is the existing accident rate excessively high?
Why? How will the proposed project improve it? - Roadway Deficiencies - Is the proposed project
necessary to correct existing roadway
deficiencies (e.g., substandard geometrics, load
limits on structures, inadequate cross-section,
or high maintenance costs)? How will the proposed
project improve it?
26Alternatives
- Reasonable alternatives
- How selected
- Clear basis for choice
- Rejected alternatives
- Alternatives must comply with requirements of 23
CFR 771.11(f) - Projects must connect logical termini
- Have independent utility
- Not restrict consideration of future
transportation alternatives
27Alternatives
- Comparable level of detail
- Preferred alternative not required
- But if one selected, must be stated
- No-build must always be included
- May be a reasonable alternative
- Serves as a benchmark
- Include appropriate mitigation measures
28Alternatives
- Transportation system management (TSM) must be
included - HOV lanes
- Ridesharing
- Signal coordination
- etc
- Graphics to show project area
Meads Milkweed
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
29Alternatives
- Should give clear indication of WHY particular
range of alternatives was developed, through what
process, and with what public and agency input
30Affected Environment Section
- Enough description to understand the area and
impact of alternative - Should discuss, commensurate with importance of
project, existing social, economic, and
environmental setting - Should identify environmentally sensitive
features - Effective with graphics or images
31Environmental consequences
Mainly for EIS
- Describes impact of alternatives on the affected
environment - Documents methodologies to evaluate
- Forms basis for comparison of alternatives
- Should provide enough information to quantify the
impact - All alternatives cross streams but one may cross
more than others - Is one stream more sensitive than another?
- Discuss both impacts and mitigation
- Mitigation must be considered for all impacts
regardless of significance
32Section 4f - Special Documentation
- Section 4f acquisition of publicly owned or
used - public parks
- public recreational area
- public wildlife refuge
- historic site (not all are 4f, only NRHP)
- Most stringent law (except Endangered Species)
- Avoidance alternative must be selected even if
not preferred - Only applies to agencies under DOT
33Effects
- Assessment of impacts should include direct and
indirect effects, as well as evaluation of what
cumulative effects might occur due to other
actions - Direct effects caused by action and occur at
the same time and place - Indirect Effects caused by action but occur
later in time or at a distance from the project
but are reasonably foreseeable - Induced growth
- Changes in land use patterns
- Related effects on air, water or other natural
systems, including ecosystems
34Mitigation
- Chief consideration reduce adverse impacts to
the environment - Mitigation for all impacts
- All reasonable mitigation
measures
35Mitigation
- The CEQ regulations define mitigation to include
- Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a
certain action or parts of an action. - Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or
magnitude of the action and its implementation. - Rectifying the impact by repairing,
rehabilitating, or restoring the affected
environment.
More
36Mitigation
- Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by
preservation and maintenance operations during
the life of the action. - Compensating for the impact by replacing or
providing substitute resources or environments.
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39Comments and Coordination
- Scoping process
- Results of any meetings
- Comments received during preliminary coordination
40List of preparers
- Lists those primarily responsible for preparing
the EIS or background papers - Individuals name and qualifications
41Environmental Justice
- Neither minority nor low-income populations may
receive disproportionately high and adverse
impacts as a result of a proposed project - Representatives of any low-income or minority
populations that could be affected shall be given
the opportunity to be included in the impact
assessment and public involvement process.
42Instructions and sample report for class, located
at http//www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/ce453/eis/
43Appendix CN.W. 86TH STREET CORRIDORIOWA 141
TO N.W. BEAVER DRIVEPOLK COUNTY,
IOWAENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTSubmitted Pursuant
to 42 USC 4332(2)(c)
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53Iowa River Bridge/US 20 see http//www.dot.state.
ia.us/iowariverbridge/
- Monkshood plant
- Mussels (lampsilis higginsii)
- Special runoff and construction process
- I-girder launching
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