1. Environmental Prescreening Training
Module 4
Environmental Screening Process Overview

2. Training Modules NEPA and CEQ FAA Order 1050
Air Traffic Environmental - Noise Review
Environmental Screening Process Overview

3. Environmental Screening Process Overview
Module 4
Environmental Screening Process Overview

4. Environmental Study Process
What is Environmental Filtering?
Low level data assessment of a potential for environmental impact
Focuses on information and data collection
What is Environmental Prescreening?
Low level data assessment in the risk for a potential environmental impact
Focuses on data assessment and various low level tests based on operational, procedural, and lateral changes
What is Environmental Screening?
Low fidelity data modeling which must be constructed with low risk of false-negative results
Dramatic simplification of the of a detailed noise analysis
What is Environmental Analysis?
High fidelity data modeling used to determine the potential environmental impacts for multiple scenarios
Detailed noise/environmental impact evaluation

5. CATEX EA/EIS Environmental Study Outcomes Possible Outcomes:
Categorical Exclusion (CATEX)
Environmental Assessment (EA) / Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
CATEX
EA/EIS

6. Environmental Study Process Goals
Consistent and streamlined process for investigating environmental impacts
Follow National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements
Capture key environmental issues early to prepare schedules and budgets accordingly
Determine if procedure request can be CATEXed early in assessment process
Exercise very low risk of false-negative impact results
E.g. Actions which exceed noise change thresholds deemed as no/low level of impact

7. Environmental Study Process Workflow
Step 1: Filtering
Step 2: Prescreening
Step 3: Screening
Step 4: Full Analysis
Primary Tool:
Environmental Screening Filter
Primary Tool:
NST Prescreening Guidance Wizard
Primary Tools:
NIRS Screening Tool (NST)
TARGETS Noise Plugin
Area Equivalent Method (AEM)
Primary Tools:
Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT)
Integrated Noise Model (INM)
Emissions and Dispersion Modeling System (EDMS)
Legacy Tool(s):
ATNS
Legacy Tool:
NIRS

8. Environmental Filtering
Step 1
Environmental Filtering

9. Environmental Filtering - Overview
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
Tool: Environmental Screening Filter
The Environmental Screening Filter provides a standard streamlined audit process for stepping through the logic of the environmental process for a proposed procedure change.
Purpose:
The purpose of environmental filtering is to collect enough environmental information for the application of a categorical exclusion for a requested procedure approval.
Expected Time Investment: Minimal
Possible Outcomes:
CATEX
Environmental Prescreening (further review)

10. Environmental Filtering – Information Gathering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
The environmental filtering process requires the following information to be collected in order to properly assess the impact of a proposed action:
Involves an Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) service provider?
Involves new or an existing Procedure?
Involves procedure change(s) covered under 311k or 311i?
Involves change(s) over major thoroughfare?
Average daily helicopter operation count
Involves change(s) over noise sensitive areas?
E.g. park, wilderness, residential, educational, etc.
Involves a procedure update?
E.g. name change, increase in altitude, lines of minimum
Lowest altitude in procedure request
Average annual prop and jet operation counts

11. Environmental Prescreening
Step 2
Environmental Prescreening

12. Environmental Prescreening - Overview
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
Tool: NST – Prescreening Guidance Wizard
Provides a standard streamlined audit process for determining if a proposed action poses a risk of exceeding a noise threshold.
Requires acquisition of a minimal amount of data to analyze small degrees of change
Determines if noise screening is needed through a series of questions and look up tables
Supporting Documentation:
MITRE – Guidance for Noise Screening Air Actions
Expected Time Investment:
Minimal
Possible Outcomes:
CATEX
Environmental Screening (further review)
NST Prescreening Guidance Wizard

13. Prescreening – Traffic Test
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
Required Information:
Avg. Daily Departure Operations
Avg. Daily Arrival Operations
Minimum Aircraft Procedure Altitude
Purpose:
Does the action affect enough jet traffic operations to exceed minimum noise exposure levels?

14. Prescreening – Lateral Test
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
Required Information:
Change in Lateral Distance
Minimum Aircraft Procedure Altitude
Purpose:
Does the action move jet traffic far enough to potentially exceed a screening threshold? This test is only for actions where a route is moving laterally and there are no changes in the number of jet traffic operations or altitudes along the route?

15. Prescreening – Altitude / Operations Test
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
Required Information:
Change in Daily Jet Traffic Operations
Change in Minimum Altitude of Jet Traffic
Purpose:
Does the action change the altitudes and/or amount of jet traffic on an existing route enough to potentially cause a 3 dB increase in noise exposure?

16. Environmental Screening
Step 3
Environmental Screening

17. Environmental Screening - Overview
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
What is Environmental Screening?
Low fidelity data modeling which must be constructed with low risk of false-negative results
A dramatic simplification of a detailed noise analysis
Must be constructed with low risk of false-negative results
Provides a simplified process which determines if further detailed noise analysis is necessary
Provides a consistent streamlined approach for identifying potential noise issues early
Tools:
NIRS Screening Tool (NST)
TARGETS Noise Screening Plug-in
Expected Time Investment: Moderate
Possible Outcomes:
CATEX
Environmental Analysis (further review)
NIRS Screening Tool (NST)

18. Criteria for Determining Level of Impact Increased in Aircraft Noise
Environmental Screening - Overview
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
Criteria for Determining Level of Impact Increased in Aircraft Noise
DNL Noise Exposure With Proposed Action
Minimum Increase in DNL with Proposed Action
Level of Impact
DNL 65 dB or higher
1.5 dB (1)
Significant
DNL 60 to 65 dB
3.0 dB (2)
“Reportable”
DNL 45 to 60 dB
5.0 dB (3)
Source:
FAA Order E, Appendix A, 14.3; Part 150, Sec (2)(d); FICON 1992.
FAA Order E, Appendix A, 14.4c; FICON 1992
FAA Order E, Appendix A, 14.5e.

19. Environmental Analysis
Step 4
Environmental Analysis
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis

20. Environmental Analysis - Overview
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
What is Environmental Analysis?
High fidelity data modeling process used to determine the potential environmental impacts for multiple scenarios
Environmental analysis is the final stage of evaluation process for a proposed procedure request.
When a proposed request cannot be CATEXed in any of the previous steps and has the potential risk of an environmental impact, a detailed analysis is required
After the in depth analysis is complete, a record of decision is prepared stating the final decision of the review and identifies all alternatives considered in the decision
Tools:
Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT)
Integrated Noise Model (INM)
Emissions and Dispersion Modeling System (EDMS)
Legacy Tools:
Noise Integrated Route System (NIRS)
Expected Time Investment: Significant
Possible Outcome:
EA / EIS
Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT)

21. Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process
The result will be one of two outcomes: identification of a possible CATEX or the need for additional environmental review. In both cases, the filter will create a summary of the proponent information entered. When the filter identifies a CATEX, it will also produce an unofficial CATEX Declaration.

22. Aircraft Procedure Environmental Pre-screening Filter
After entering information concerning a proposed procedure into the filter, proponents will know whether a CATEX is identified and implemented, or whether further environmental review will be required.

23. Aircraft Procedure Process
Perform Additional Environmental Review
Complete/ Update Procedure Action Design
Publish or Implement Procedure
Complete Environmental Pre-screening Filter
Review Environmental Submission
Develop Procedure
Need for New/Updated Aircraft Procedure
YES NO
Passed Environmental Review?
No Changes or Changes within Environmental Parameters?
New/Updated Procedure Published or Implemented
Receive FAA Responsible Federal Official (RFO) Approval

24. Aircraft Procedure Environmental Pre-screening Filter
The filter outputs will be ed to the FAA for review. The FAA will determine whether the filter information is complete and complies with FAA Order E paragraph 303C. If the filter information is not complete, it will be returned to the proponent for review.
Perform Additional Environmental Review
Complete/ Update Procedure Action Design
Publish or Implement Procedure
Complete Environmental Pre-screening Filter
Review Environmental Submission
Develop Procedure
Need for New/Updated Aircraft Procedure
YES NO
Passed Environmental Review?
No Changes or Changes within Environmental Parameters?
New/Updated Procedure Published or Implemented
Receive FAA Responsible Federal Official (RFO) Approval

25. Review of the Filter Results
After the filter identifies a CATEX or the need for additional environmental review, the results will be sent via to the FAA specialist coordinating the proposed procedure for review. The will include the following attachments:
A PDF of the questions and responses entered into the Filter by the proponent, and either
an unofficial CATEX Declaration, or
instructions for additional environmental review,
Electronic satellite (such as Google) or land use map (if the proposed procedure directs traffic over a noise-sensitive area)

26. Aircraft Procedure Environmental Pre-screening Filter
If the filter information is complete and meets all the environmental requirements and once the procedure package is complete it is sent forward for development
Perform Additional Environmental Review
Complete/ Update Procedure Action Design
Publish or Implement Procedure
Complete Environmental Pre-screening Filter
Review Environmental Submission
Develop Procedure
Need for New/Updated Aircraft Procedure
YES NO
Passed Environmental Review?
No Changes or Changes within Environmental Parameters?
New/Updated Procedure Published or Implemented
Receive FAA Responsible Federal Official (RFO) Approval

27. Operations Support Group (OSG) Flight Procedures Team (FPT)
The OSG FPT will review the filter results, verify information and ensure the results comply with FAA Order E paragraph 303C. The expected outcomes are to:
Produce an approved CATEX declaration to be included in the procedure package
Send a completed procedure package to AeroNav Products for development if the conditions for a CATEX are met, or
Forward the procedure package to the OSG Environmental Specialist (ES) if a CATEX can not be applied
Return the filter results to the proponent to determine next steps if information submitted is incomplete

28. OSG Environmental Specialists
An OSG ES will use the filter results to verify whether the proposed procedure meets the conditions for:
A CATEX declaration,
An environmental assessment (EA), or
An environmental impact statement (EIS).
The OSG ES will send the results of the additional environmental review to OSG FPT for final processing.

29. OSG Environmental Specialists
If the filter results indicate that additional environmental review is required, an OSG ES will conduct the review using the filter results as a starting point to determine the appropriate level of environmental documentation required for the action:
CATEX,
Environmental assessment (EA), or
Environmental impact statement (EIS).

30. OSG Environmental Specialists
Third Party Special IFPs
An OSG ES will also review filter results for AFS third party IFP submittals
Third party applications will be processed the same as others
If further environmental review is required the OSG ES will conduct the review
If further information is required to complete the environmental review the OSG ES will send the information request back to AFS to work with the applicant
The OSG environmental specialist will send the results of the additional environmental review to AFS for final processing

31. Live Filter Demonstration

32. Overview
However, the filter will never be used as a substitute for human expertise in the review process. In fact, human expertise will be essential in reviewing the output(s) of the filter. The FAA personnel who have been responsible for environmental review in the past will retain their roles as reviewers.

33. Works Cited
Bankert, Fred B. (2009) “Guidance for Noise Screening Air Traffic Actions.” MITRE, McLean, VA

34. Module 1 Review National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Definition, Resources, Applicability
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
CEQ Regulations
NEPA Process
High level examination of the NEPA process

35. Module 2 Review 1050.1 Categorical Exclusions
Purpose, intent, applicability
Categorical Exclusions
Definition, process, extraordinary circumstances, categories, examples
Environmental Assessments
Applicability, process, content, FONSI
Environmental Impact Statements
Purpose, applicability, content
Impact Categories

36. Module 3 Review Noise Impact Categories Noise sensitive Areas
What is noise?
Metrics used
Impact Categories
What categories are examined for potential significant impacts?
Noise sensitive Areas
What are these areas?
Why are they important?

37. Module 4 Review Environmental Screening Process Overview
Environmental Study Process
Environmental Filtering
Environmental Prescreening
Environmental Screening
Environmental Analysis
There are many tools that can streamline the environmental study process, that also meet NEPA regulations.
Environmental Prescreening Filter Demo

38. Questions?