Transcript Policy Issues Related to the New NAAQS and Climate Change

I
Larry Heil, FHWA
October 15, 2003
Environmental Streamlining
Why integrate planning into
NEPA?
Hoosier Heartland Corridor Study – 1995
 Ohio River MIS (ORMIS) - 1997
 US 231 & SR 641 FEIS/ROD – 2000
 Indiana NEPA/404 Merger Agreement was
a limited success

Desired Outcome
ONE decision-making process that is
efficient, inclusive, structured, that
resolves issues as early as possible, and
results in high-quality transportation
decisions and NEPA documents
Why integrate planning into
NEPA?

Section 1308 of TEA-21 (June 9, 1997),
entitled Major Investment Study (MIS)
Integration
– shall eliminate the MIS as a separate
requirement, and
– integrate the MIS requirement into NEPA
Why integrate planning into
NEPA?

Section 1309 of TEA-21 (June 9, 1997),
entitled Environmental Streamlining
– Develop/Implement coordinated environmental
review process
– Environmental reviews for all Federal permits
& approvals conducted concurrently
– Establish time frames for reviews
– Dispute Resolution
How did Indiana integrate
planning into NEPA?

Environmental Streamlining Task Group
– 1st Draft and agency expectations/issues
discussed at January 19, 2001 Meeting
– 2nd Draft and response to agency comments
discussed at February26, 2001 Meeting
– 3rd Draft and 30-minute presentation on each
active EISs and EA/Corridor Studies presented
at March 28-29,2001 Interagency Meeting
– Final EIS Procedures issued July 6, 2001
Basic Elements of EIS
Procedures
Establish “Project Coordination Team” to
provide a structured mechanism for INDOT,
FHWA-IN, and the MPO to guide
consultant EIS development
 Eliminate the duplication of effort between
planning and NEPA studies (eliminate MIS,
per Section 1308 of TEA-21)

Basic Elements of EIS
Procedures (cont.)

Provide a structured interagency
coordination process with deadlines and a
dispute resolution process (per Section 1309
of TEA-21)
 Seek agency input at key decision points
 Result in timely decisions that avoid project
delay
Key Coordination Points with
Agencies

Required: NOI (early coordination), DEIS,
FEIS, ROD
 Three Interagency Review Meetings:
– Purpose and Need/Preliminary Alternatives
– Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and
Screening
– Preferred Alternative and Mitigation
Interagency Review Meetings

Face-to-face meetings with agencies held 30
days into 60-day review period
 Minutes documenting issues sent 7 days
after meeting.
 Any remaining agency issues may be
submitted in writing by the deadline
Purpose and Need and
Preliminary Alternatives

Purpose and Need Package:
– 2-page summary
– Core objectives & evaluation criteria
– Map of conceptual alternatives
– Discuss study area problems/issues
– Supporting documentation/details
Purpose and Need and
Preliminary Alternatives(cont.)

Seeking agency feedback on:
– Statement of core project objectives
– Evaluation criteria for alternatives
– Additional alternatives
– Modification of existing alternatives
– Specific resource issues
– Response to FHWA invitation to be
Cooperating Agency
Preliminary Alternatives
Analysis and Screening

Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and
Screening Package:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Revised 2-page P&N
Alternatives Screening Summary Table
Map of alternatives retained/discarded
Preliminary alternatives analysis (GIS)
Rationale for dropping/retaining alternatives
Scope of special studies
Preliminary Alternatives
Analysis and Screening (cont.)

Seeking agency feedback on:
– Clarity of preliminary alternatives analysis
– Alternatives retained
– Methodologies for evaluating impacts
– Scope of study needed for critical impacts
Preferred Alternative and
Mitigation

Package:
– 2-page summary with map
– Summary of major public and agency issues
and responses
– Recommended Selected Action with rationale
– Preliminary proposed mitigation
Preferred Alternative and
Mitigation (cont.)

Seek Agency Feedback on:
– Response to agency issues
– Rationale for selecting Preferred Alternative
and not others
EA/Corridor Study vs. EIS

INDOT/MPO Funding Commitment
 Clarity from INDOT and MPO 20-year
Transportation Plans
 Congressionally Mandated Feasibility Study
 New Transit Start
Option 1 – Planning in Context
of EIS

NOI
 P&N Interagency
Meeting
 Preliminary
Alternatives Analysis
and Screening
Interagency Meeting
 DEIS

Preferred Alternative
and Mitigation
Interagency Meeting
 FEIS/ROD
 Final Design
Option 2 – Planning in Context
of EA/Corridor Study

Early Coordination
Letter
 P&N Interagency
Meeting
 Preliminary
Alternatives Analysis
and Screening
Interagency Meeting
 EA/Corridor Study





NOI
DEIS
Preferred Alternative
and Mitigation
Interagency Meeting
FEIS/ROD
Final Design
Contacts
Virginia Laszewski
USEPA - Region 5
[email protected]
312-886-7501
Larry Heil
FHWA-IN
[email protected]
317-226-7491
Janice Osadczuk
INDOT
[email protected]
317-232-5468