Environmental Impact

Analysis
CE 453 Lecture 9

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/eis/_Start%20Here.pdf
(26 pages) 1
 National 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:

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http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/index.asp
• NEPA created the
Council on
CEQ
Environmental
Quality (CEQ), an
office within the
White House
• Functions:
– develop
environmental
policies
– monitor
environmental
quality
– prepare annual
environmental
quality report
– monitor Federal
actions.
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http://www.epa.gov/indicators/roe/html/roeAir.htm
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 NEPA 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.
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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
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http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
 NEPA 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 8
 Significance
• 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.

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 Context
• 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

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 Intensity
(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
http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html

are likely to be highly

controversial 11
 Intensity
(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;
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 Intensity
(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.
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Categorical Exclusions

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 Categorical Exclusions
Actions that do not
individually or
cumulatively have
significant social,
economic, or
environmental effect

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http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
 CE 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 16
• bus transfer facilities
17
 Environmental 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
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 Example 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
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 Environmental 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

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 Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS)
• Required when
proposed action has
significant impact on
environment
• < 5% of FHWA
projects involve EIS
• Reports require
several major
sections Piping Plover
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http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
 Sections for EIS
• Project purpose and need
• Alternatives
• Affected Environment Section
• Environmental consequences
• Comments and Coordination section
• List of Preparers

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 Project Purpose Section
• Clearly states need for project
• Supports need for project
• Why is agency proposing 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 project’s importance
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 Project 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
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? 25
 Project 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
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project improve it?
 Alternatives
• Describes reasonable alternatives
• Discusses how they were selected
• Proves clear basis for choosing among the
options
• Should explain alternatives that were rejected
early in the process because they were found to
be unreasonable
• 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 27
 Alternatives
• All reasonable alternatives should be
discussed at comparable level of detail
• No requirement for “preferred” alternative
at this stage
• But if one has been selected, this must be
stated
• No-build must always be included
– May be a reasonable alternative
– Serves as a benchmark against which the
impacts of other projects can be compared
• Include appropriate mitigation measures
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 Alternatives
• Transportation
system management
(TSM) must be
included as an
alternative or design
option when
applicable
– HOV lanes
– Ridesharing
– Signal coordination
– etc
• Graphics should be Meads Milkweed
included to show
project area 29
http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
 Alternatives
Should give clear indication of WHY
particular range of alternatives was
developed, through what process, and
with what public and agency input

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Affected 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
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Mainly for EIS …

Environmental consequences
• 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
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 Section 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

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 Effects
• 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
– Induce growth
– Changes in land use patterns
– Related effects on air, water or other natural
systems, including ecosystems
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 Mitigation
• Chief consideration in developing
transportation projects is to reduce
adverse impacts to the environment
• Mitigation must be considered for all
impacts, whether or not the impacts are
significant
• All reasonable mitigation
measures that could improve
the project are to be identified
and included

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 Mitigation
• 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.
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More …
 Mitigation
– 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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 Comments and Coordination
• Scoping process
• Results of any meetings
• Comments received during preliminary
coordination

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 List of preparers
• Lists those primarily responsible for
preparing the EIS or background
papers
• Individual’s name and qualifications

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 Environmental 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.
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Instructions and sample report for class, located at
http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/ce453/eis/

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Appendix C

N.W. 86TH STREET

CORRIDOR

IOWA 141 TO N.W.

BEAVER DRIVE

POLK COUNTY, IOWA

ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT

Submitted Pursuant to
42 USC 4332(2)(c) 44
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 Iowa 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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