SAFETEALU Section 6009 Implementation Study Section 4f Amendments

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SAFETEA-LU Section 6009 Implementation
StudySection 4(f) Amendments
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SAFETEA-LU Section 6009

• Evaluation Study
• Implementation of Section 6009
• Efficiencies that may result
• Post-construction effectiveness of impact
  mitigation and avoidance commitments
• Quantity of projects with impacts that are
  considered de minimis, including
• location, size, and cost of the projects

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Implementation Study

• Independent review by TRB of the study plan,
  methodology, and associated conclusions
• Report to Congress, DOI and ACHP and make
  available to the public
• No sooner than August 10, 2008
• No later than March 1, 2010

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Study Phases

• Phase I
• De minimis impacts will address the first three
  years of implementation
• Feasible and prudent alternative standards
  review the process used to develop the
  regulations

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Study Phases

• Phase II
• Feasible and prudent alternative standard
  implementation of the new regulations from April
  11, 2008 through early 2010
• De minimis impacts update and extend Phase I
  evaluation

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Research Areas

• Time implications
• Cost implications
• Impacts to 4(f) properties
• including benefits and enhancements
• Impacts on transportation projects
• Institutional issues

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Data Collection

• Baseline Data
• Basic, factual and required information
• Project data, cost, 4(f) resources
• Supporting Data
• Mitigation and/or enhancement measures
• Additional relevant information and comments
  about the project and the de minimis impact
  findings
• Ongoing Data Collection
• Quarterly division reporting needed

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Preliminary Data

• 237 projects with de minimis impact findings
• Number of de minimis impact findings per project
• 1 finding 184 projects
• Multiple findings 53 projects
• 11 projects with de minimis impact findings have
  completed construction

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Preliminary Data (contd)

• Class of Action
• CE 191 or 81
• EA 36 or 15
• EIS 4 or 2
• Reevaluation 6 or 3

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Preliminary Data (contd)

• Types of 4(f) Property
• Historic properties 167 or 67
• Parks 58 or 23
• Recreation areas 21 or 8
• Wildlife refuges 3 or 1

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Study Sample

• Objectives
• Obtain accurate depiction of issues and impacts
  of de minimis impact provision implementation
• Select representative sample of the 41 FHWA
  divisions, 2 FHWA Federal Land divisions, and 2
  FTA regions with findings to evaluate (could
  include site visits)

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Schedule

• Phase I
• Draft Study Report and Phase II plan to TRB for
  review and comment November / December 2008
• Final Report to Congress March / April 2009
• Phase II
• Conduct Evaluation March to October 2009
• Draft Study Report to TRB for review and comment
  October / November 2009
• Final Report to Congress by March 1, 2010