Environmental Impact Analysis

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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/ei
s/_Start20Here.pdf (26 pages)
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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
http//www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/index
.asp
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CEQ

• NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality
  (CEQ), an office within the White House
• Functions
• develop environmental policies
• monitor environmental quality
• prepare annual environmental quality report
• monitor Federal actions.

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
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
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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

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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 are likely to be
  highly controversial

http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
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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

http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
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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
• bus transfer facilities

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Environmental
Assessment
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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
• lt 5 of FHWA projects involve EIS
• Reports require several major sections

Piping Plover
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
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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 agency proposes 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
  projects 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 overall
  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?

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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
  project improve it?

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Alternatives

• Reasonable alternatives
• How selected
• Clear basis for choice
• Rejected alternatives
• 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

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Alternatives

• Comparable level of detail
• Preferred alternative not required
• But if one selected, must be stated
• No-build must always be included
• May be a reasonable alternative
• Serves as a benchmark
• Include appropriate mitigation measures

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Alternatives

• Transportation system management (TSM) must be
  included
• HOV lanes
• Ridesharing
• Signal coordination
• etc
• Graphics to show project area

Meads Milkweed
http//endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
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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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Environmental consequences
Mainly for EIS

• 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
• Induced growth
• Changes in land use patterns
• Related effects on air, water or other natural
  systems, including ecosystems

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Mitigation

• Chief consideration reduce adverse impacts to
  the environment
• Mitigation for all impacts
• All reasonable mitigation
  measures

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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.

More
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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
• Individuals 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 CN.W. 86TH STREET CORRIDORIOWA 141
TO N.W. BEAVER DRIVEPOLK COUNTY,
IOWAENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTSubmitted Pursuant
to 42 USC 4332(2)(c)
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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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