Environmental Assessments: a How-To Manual
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10 'A DE ARTMENT OF TRA SPORTAT\OM LIBRARY 0 LINCOLN WAY Af\.~ ES , IOWA 50010 Prepared by Iowa Department of Transportation E ARTH @ T E C H A tqca INTERNATIONAL LTD. COMPANY Environmental Assessments: A How-To Manual Prepared For: Iowa Department of Transportation Prepared By: Earth Tech June,2001 l NOTE: The following flow chart shows the general steps of the environmental assessment process needed to gain location approval. Although not specifically shown, DOT does all Cultural Resources coordination with SHPO and all Environmental Assessment coordination with FHWA. Project Authorization Conduct Early Coordination and Iowa Intergovernmental Review; 30-Da Comment Period Write Preliminary Hold Public Environmental Assessment (EA) Information Meetings I Receive SHPO DOT/Client Review of Concurrence on Preliminary EA Cultural Resources I Redraft EA per DOT Comments and Resubmit FHWA Review of Preliminary EA Redraft EA per FHWA Comments (if needed) and Resubmit I FHWA Signs Title Page Print EA I Hold Public Hearing 10-Day Comment Period Receive ~ Environmental Location Approval ~ Assessment Process Environmental Assessments: A How-To Manual Iowa Department of Transportation TABLE OF CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS: A HOW-TO MANUAL IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION I. INTRODUCTION .............................................. ~ ........................................................ 1 n. DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION ...•••...••..•••••• 3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)................................................... 3 CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION (CE) ................... ~........................................................ 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) ........... :...................................................... 4 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONS!) ............ ~ ...... :................................... 4 SECTION 4(t) STATEMENTS ............................. ~........................................................ 4 Ill. GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS............................................................................................................ 6 EARLY COORDINATION........................................................................................... 6 PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENT AL ASSESSMENTS...................................... 7 Cover Sheet ...................................................................................................... 8 Table of Contents ............................................................................................. 8 Description of the Proposed Action ............. ;................................................... .. 8 Project History ......................................................................... :........................ 8 Project Purpose and Need ................................................................................. 9 Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 9 Project Impacts ................................................................................................. 9 Socioeconomic Impacts........................................................................ 9 Air Quality and Noise Impacts............................................................. 10 Threatened and Endangered Species .... :............................................... · 13 Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat...................................................... 14 Wetlands............................................................................................... 14 Woodlands ................................... ·......................................................... 16 Water Quality ...... .................. ................ .... ....................... ... .... ..... ........ 16 Parks and Recreational Facilities.......................................................... 17 Cultural Resources................................................................................ 17 Hazardous Waste.................................................................................. 18 River and Flood Plain Crossings ...... .... .................................. ...... .. ...... 18 Other Potential Impacts .................. .. .... ..... ............ .... ... .......... ...... ......... 18 Comparison of Alternatives............................................................................... 19 Disposition......................................................................................................... 20 Comments and Coordination............................................................................. 21 Appendices ........................................................................................... ;............ 21 40913102.002/HowToTOC.doc June 2001 Environmental Assessments: A How-To Manual Iowa Department of Transportation ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION ................................................. ·............................................................ 21 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............ ·................................................................................ 22 PUBLIC HEARINGS ................................................................................................. 23 PREPARATION OF THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONS!).......................................................................................................... 25 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A Environmental Laws and Regulations B Address List of Agencies for Early Coordination C Example Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment D Farmland Protection Form and Instructions E Public Involvement Materials ,- 40913102.002/HowToTOC.doc June 2001 Environmental Assessments: A How-To Manual Iowa Department of Transportation I. INTRODUCTION This manual is intended to provide complete but concise information on how to prepare an Environmental Assessment in accordance with Federal Highway Administration (FHW A) regulations. These regulations incorporate the requirements of the NEPA 's Intent U.S. Department of Transportation Order 5610.lC, "Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts," as found in 23 CFR 771 Assess Project Impacts on (Federal Regulations (F.R.) August 28, 1987) and the "Regulations the Human and Natural for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the Environmental Environment Policy Act," as set forth by the Council on Environmental Quality (i.e., 40 CFR Part 1500-1508). NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT Addressed in NEPA Documents The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), signed into law by President Richard Nixon on January 1, 1970, articulated national • Socioeconomic policy and goals for the nation, established the Council on Impacts Environmental Quality (CEQ) and, among other things, required all federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of and • Environmental Justice alternatives to proposals for major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment (Appendix A). • Air Quality and Noise Impacts The Council on Environmental Quality, charged with the duty of overseeing the implementation of NEPA, developed guidelines to • Threatened and aid federal agencies in assessing the environmental impacts of their Endangered Species proposals. A combination of agency practice, judicial decisions and CEQ guidance resulted in the development of what is • Natural Areas and commonly referred to as ''the NEPA process." Wildlife Habitat NEPA makes environmental protection a part of the mandate of • Wetlands every federal agency and department. NEPA requires a detailed statement on the environmental impact of any proposed action, by • Water Quality the lead federal agency, using a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to environmental planning and evaluation of projects to • Park and Recreational assess the effect on the environment. Facilities Part of the interdisciplinary approach includes addressing, in the Hazardous Waste NEPA document, other federal laws such as Section 106 of the • Historic Preservation Act for cultural resources, Sections 404/401 • River and Flood Plain of the Clean Water Act for wetlands, Section 6(f) of the Land and Crossings Water Conservation Act (LAWCON) and Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act for public parks and historic sites, and Section 7 of the Threatened and Endangered Species Act. These detailed statements are completed when federal actions are required for the project and may take the form of Environmental 40913102.002/HowToTEX.doc -1- June 2001 Environmental Assessments: A How-To Manual Iowa Department of Transportation Assessments (EA) or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), depending upon the type of federal action. Specific Federal This manual will focus on the preparation of Environmental Legislation Addressed in Assessments. Discussion regarding the preparation of NEPA Documents Environmental Impact Statements and Categorical Exclusions is not included in this document. Information relevant to the preparation • Section I 06: of these documents can be found in 23 CFR 771 .123 and 23 CFR Cultural Resources 771.117. • Section 4041401 Wetlands • Section 4(/): Public Parks, Recreation Areas and Historic Sites • Section 6(/): Parks with I.A WCON Funds • Section 7: Threatened and Endangered Species 40913102.002/HowToTEX.doc -2- June 2001 Environmental Assessments: A How-To Manual Iowa Department of Transportation II. DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENT AL