THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Agricultural Resources Evaluation Handbook Publication No. 324 March 2016 PUB 324 (3-16) THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. i TABLES AND FIGURES ............................................................................................................. iii APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................v AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES EVALUATION HANDBOOK PREFACE .......................... vii SECTION I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 SECTION II. OVERVIEW OF PROTECTED RESOURCES AND GOVERNING LEGISLATION ...............................................................................................................................3 A. Protected Agricultural Resources .....................................................................................3 1. FPPA Farmland ........................................................................................................3 a. Prime farmland ................................................................................................3 b. Unique farmland ..............................................................................................5 c. Farmland of statewide importance ..................................................................5 d. Farmland of local importance ..........................................................................5 2. Productive Agricultural Land (PAL) .......................................................................5 3. Prime Agricultural Land ..........................................................................................6 a. Preserved farmland ..........................................................................................6 b. Agricultural Security Areas (ASA) – Act 43 of 1981 ......................................6 c. Farmland enrolled in preferential tax assessments ..........................................6 d. Farmland planned for agricultural use and subject to effective agricultural zoning ..............................................................................................................7 e. Farmland classified as unique farmland or capability Class I, II, III, or IV land ..................................................................................................................7 B. Governing Legislation ......................................................................................................7 1. Federal Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. §4201) .....................................7 2. Pennsylvania Act 1979-100 .....................................................................................8 3. Pennsylvania Act 1981-43, Agricultural Area Security Law ..................................8 4. 4 Pa Code, Chapter 7, Section 7.301 et seq., Agricultural Land Preservation Policy (ALPP) ..........................................................................................................9 SECTION III. AGRICULTURAL EVALUATION PROCESS ................................................11 A. Applicability of the Agricultural Evaluation Process to Transportation Projects ..........11 B. Agricultural Evaluation Process .....................................................................................12 1. Linking Planning and NEPA and Project Scoping ................................................12 2. Data Collection and Impact Assessment................................................................19 3. Avoidance and Minimization Measures ................................................................22 4. Documentation of Findings ...................................................................................23 5. ALCAB Coordination When Applicable ..............................................................23 SECTION IV. FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY ACT (FPPA) EVALUATION ............25 A. FPPA Exclusionary Conditions ......................................................................................25 B. On-Alignment Bridge Replacement Exemption ............................................................26 C. Small Acreages Exemption ............................................................................................26 D. Projects Subject to FPPA’s Jurisdiction ........................................................................27 SECTION V. ACT 100/ACT 43 (ALCAB) EVALUATION ....................................................35 A. Evaluation Process .........................................................................................................35 i 1. Data Collection ......................................................................................................39 2. Consider Minimization Measures ..........................................................................52 B. Present Results of Evaluation to PennDOT BOPD and OCC-RPD ...............................53 C. ALCAB Coordination Process .......................................................................................56 D. Preparation of the FAR ..................................................................................................58 E. Workshop for ALCAB Hearing .....................................................................................62 F. Submit FAR to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture ........................................64 G. Dry Run for ALCAB Hearing ........................................................................................65 H. ALCAB Hearing ............................................................................................................65 SECTION VI. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION POLICY (ALPP) EVALUATION ...........................................................................................................................69 A. Data Collection ...............................................................................................................69 B. Impact Assessment .........................................................................................................71 C. Consider Minimization Measures ..................................................................................72 D. Summarize in NEPA/PA Act 120 Document ................................................................72 Appendices .....................................................................................................................................75 ii TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1: Agricultural Legislation/Regulation Summary Table 2: Examples of Projects Involving Agricultural Resources Table 3: Agricultural Data and Sources of Information Table 4A: ALCAB Test Worksheet/Alternatives Development and Analysis Table 4B: Alternatives Development and Analysis Results Table 5: FAR Sample Format Table 6: FAR Completeness Checklist Figure 1: FPPA Process Overview Figure 2: Act 100/43 Process Overview Figure 3: ALPP Process Overview Figure 4: FPPA Evaluation Figure 5: Act 100/Act 43 ALCAB Evaluation Figure 6: Sample Interview Form Figure 7: Sample Graphic for FAR Figure 8: Sample Graphic for FAR 2 Figure 9: Sample Graphic for FAR Showing Land by Highest Ranked Category iii APPENDICES Appendix 1: Glossary Appendix 2: Involvement of Agencies and Administrative Boards Appendix 3: Requesting a Legal Opinion from the Office of Chief Counsel – Real Property Division Appendix 4: FPPA Coordination Documents Appendix 5: ALCAB Coordination Examples Appendix 6: County Agricultural Land Preservation Board Contact Information Appendix 7: Private Conservation Organizations Involved in Farmland Preservation Appendix 8: Links to Policies and Important Websites Appendix 9: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission – Westmoreland County, Total Reconstruction and Widening between Mileposts 67 and 75 ALCAB Adjudication and Order Appendix 10: USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey Data Collection Overview iv LIST OF ACRONYMS Act 43 - Agricultural Area Security Law, Pennsylvania Act 1981-43, as amended Act 71 - Pennsylvania Act 1976-71 Act 100 - Pennsylvania Act 1979-100 Act 120 - Pennsylvania Act 1970-120 Act 247 - Pennsylvania Act 1968-247, as amended (Municipalities Planning Code - MPC) Act 319 - Pennsylvania Act 1974-319 Act 442 - Pennsylvania Act 1967-442 Act 515 - Pennsylvania Act 1966-515 ALCAB - Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval Board ALPP - Agricultural Land Preservation Policy ASA - Agricultural Security Area BOPD - Bureau of Project Delivery (including Highway Design and Technology Section and Environmental Policy and Development Section) BOPD-EPDS - Bureau of Project Delivery, Environmental Policy and Development Section BOPD-HDTS - Bureau of Project Delivery, Highway Design and Technology Section BRPA - Bridge and Roadway Programmatic Agreement CEE - Categorical Exclusion Evaluation CRP - Conservation Reserve Program DEIS - Draft Environmental Impact Statement DO - District Office DOQ - Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle EA - Environmental Assessment EIS - Environmental Impact Statement FAR - Farmland Assessment Report FCIR - Farmland Conversion Impact Rating FEIS - Final Environmental Impact Statement FHWA - Federal Highway Administration