Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation NEPA&CEQ

 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)  Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 40 CFR Part 1500 to Part 1508  Federal Highway Administration & Federal Transit Administration (FHWA & FTA) 23 CFR 771 NEPA & CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

The Law United States Code (USC) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Policy & Guidance How Federal Agencies Operate Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Section 101 Congress, recognizing the profound impact of mans activity and the critical importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the overall welfare and development of man declares that it is the continuing policy of the federal government to use all practical means and measure in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.NEPA Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Section 102  All policies, regulations and laws of the Federal Government be interpreted and administered in accordance with NEPA  Federal agencies required to use an interdisciplinary approach in the planning and decision-making that impacts man’s environment  Requires preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on all major federal actions that significantly affect the human environment. NEPA Amended in 1975 to Allow States to Prepare EISs NEPA Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

What the Law Provides  Examination of alternatives to proposed action  Basis for Cooperating Agency Concept  Public and Agency Coordination What it Did  Set national environmental policy  Basis for EIS  Created CEQNEPA Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Basic Functions  Develop Environmental Policies  Monitor Environmental Quality  Environmental Quality Report  Monitor Federal ActionsCEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part Purpose, Policy and Mandate  Information prior to decisions  Better decisions, not better documents  Concentrate on true significant issues  Encourage public involvement in decisionsCEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1501 – NEPA and Agency Planning  Integrate NEPA into early planning  Systematic, interdisciplinary approach  Cooperating agencies  ScopingCEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1502 – Environmental Impact Statement  Major federal actions  Recommended format  Circulation requirements Is it Reader Friendly?CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1503 – Commenting  Inviting comments  Specificity of comments  Response to comments CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1504 – Predecision Referrals to the Council of Proposed Federal Actions Determined to be Environmentally Unsatisfactory  Possible violation of standards or policies  Severity  Geographical scope  Duration  Importance as precedents  Availability of environmentally preferable alternatives CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1505 – NEPA and Agency Decision Making:  Adopt agency procedures  Record of Decision (ROD)  Agency Monitoring CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1506 – Other Requirements of NEPA  Limitations on actions during the NEPA process  Agency adoption of documents  Filing requirements CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1507 – Agency Compliance  All Federal Government Agencies  Agency procedures CEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation

Part 1508 – Terminology and Index  Definition of TermsCEQ Managing the Environmental & Project Development Process Presented by the Ohio Department of Transportation