NEPA Process

Research, Documents & Reports

• AASHTO Practitioner's Handbooks
• Samples and Templates for SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 Environmental Review Process
• Joint Task Force on Improving the Quality of NEPA Documents
• NCHRP Reports
• CEQ NEPA Resources
  • CEQ NEPA Task Force Report and Information
  • CEQ NEPAnet Resources: statutes, regulations, guidance, executive orders, EIS information
• FHWA Links
• FHWA Links to Laws and Regulations
• FTA Links
• EPA Links
• Other Federal Agency Links
• State DOT Policy and Guidance
• Other Resources

AASHTO Practitioner's Handbooks

• 01 Maintaining a Project File and Preparing an Administrative Record for a NEPA Study 
• 02 Responding to Comments on an Environmental Impact Statement 
• 03 Managing the NEPA Process for Toll Lanes and Toll Roads 
• 04 Tracking Compliance with Environmental Commitments/Use of Environmental Monitors 
• 05 Utilizing Community Advisory Committees for NEPA Studies 
• 06 Consulting Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
• 07 Defining the Purpose and Need and Determining the Range of Alternatives for Transportation Projects 
• 08 Developing and Implementing an Environmental Management System in a State Department of Transportation (DOT) 
• 09 Using the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process (23 U.S.C. 139) 
• 10 Using the Transportation Planning Process to Support the NEPA Process
• 11 Complying with Section 4(f) of the U.S. DOT Act
• 12 Assessing Indirect Effects and Cumulative Impacts under NEPA
• 13 Developing and Implementing a Stormwater Management Program in a Transportation Agency

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Samples and Templates for SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 Environmental Review Process

• Power Point Presentation on SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 Environmental Review Process, FHWA and State DOT presentations (AASHTO Washington Briefing, 3/8/07)
• Coordination Plan Template FHWA California Division 
• Cooperation/Participating Agency Sample Letter FHWA California Division
• Participating Agency Sample Letter FHWA California Division   
• Cooperating Agency Invitation Template - FHWA
• Participating Agencies Invitation Template - FHWA
• Participating Agencies Sample for Tribes - FHWA
• Section 6002 Notice to FHWA (Oregon DOT)
• Section 6002 Notice to FTA (Oregon DOT)
• Participating Agency Invitation Template (Oregon DOT)
• Coordination Plan Template (Oregon DOT)
• Participating Agency Letter (Ohio DOT)

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Joint Task Force on Improving the Quality of NEPA Documents

• Improving the Quality of NEPA Documents, a Joint Report from the AASHTO/ACEC Committee in Cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (May 2006) [PDF 1.09mb]

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NCHRP Reports

• NCHRP Web-Only Document 183: Guide for Managing NEPA-Related and Other Risks in Project Delivery (NCHRP Project 20-24, Task 71) (February 2012)
• Guidelines on the Use of Tiered Environmental Impact Statements for Transportation Projects (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 38) (June 2009)
• Effective Project Management for NEPA and Appendix (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 27) (Aug. 2008)
• Reevaluations of NEPA Documents (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 28) (March 2008)
• Improved Linkage Between Transportation Systems Planning and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (NCHRP Project 8-36, Task 48) (January 2006)
• Synthesis on Data Needs for EA and EIS Documentation (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 1) (January 2005)

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CEQ NEPA Resources

CEQ NEPA Task Force Report and Information

• A Citizen's Guide to the NEPA - Having Your Voice Heard (December 2007)
• Collaboration in NEPA: A Handbook for NEPA Practitioners (October 2007)
• EMS-NEPA Guide: Aligning NEPA Processes with Environmental Management Systems - A Guide for NEPA and EMS Practitioners (April 2007)  in WORD or PDF format; Federal Register Notice (4/26/07)
• Collaboration Handbook: Collaboration in NEPA - A Handbook for NEPA Practitioners, (October 2007) in PDF format; Federal Register Notice (11/07/07)
• Proposed Guidance: Establishing, Revising, and Using Categorical Exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (September 14, 2006) in WORD or pdf format. Federal Register Notice (9/19/06); Federal Register Notice Extended Comment Period Until December 1, 2006 (10/18/06)
• Recommendations to Modernize NEPA Implementation Interagency Work Groups (June 30, 2006)
• Recommendations to Modernize NEPA Implementation Interagency Work Groups (May 31, 2006)
• Modernizing NEPA Implementation, the report of the federal NEPA Task Force, issued Sept. 23, 2003
• NEPA Task Force information

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CEQ NEPAnet Resources: statutes, regulations, guidance, executive orders, EIS information

• NEPAnet Homepage
• CEQ NEPA Guidance
  • Improving the Process for Preparing Efficient and Timely Environmental Reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (March 6, 2012)
  • Establishing, Applying and Revising Categorical Exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (Nov. 13, 2010)
  • Appropriate Use of Mitigation and Monitoring and Clarifying the Appropriate Use of Mitigated Findings of No Significant Impact (Jan. 14, 2011)
  • Considering Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change (Draft, 2-18-10)

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FHWA Links

• Integrating Road Safety into NEPA Analysis: A Primer for Safety and Environmental Professionals (June 2011) - This primer provides practitioners with basic concepts for incorporating meaningful consideration of safety impacts in NEPA documents. The document also highlights opportunities to apply the latest research and analytical techniques for project-level safety analysis during the NEPA process.
• Integrating Freight into NEPA Analysis (2-23-11)
• FHWA Policy on Permissible Project Related Activities During the NEPA Process (10-1-10)
• Interim Guidance on the Application of Travel and Land Use Forecasting in NEPA (March 2010, includes links to five case studies, the interim guidance memorandum, and frequently asked questions) 
• Guidance on Early Acquisitions and Compliance with NEPA and Uniform Act  (8-24-07)
• SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process Final Guidance (Nov. 15, 2006)
• Statewide Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning; Final Rule (effective 3/16/07), (includes updated version of FHWA Guidance on Linking Planning and NEPA as an appendix) Feb.14, 2007
• FHWA Guidance on Linking Planning and NEPA (Feb. 22, 2005, superseded by Feb. 14, 2007, revisions)
• FHWA Presentation on Linking Planning and NEPA Guidance Overview [PDF 56kb]
• FHWA Presentation on Highlights of Procedural, Substantive, and Administrative Issues in Linking Planning and NEPA Guidance [PDF 23kb]
• Revised Tutorial of the NEPA and Transportation Project Development Process
• Estimated Time Required to Complete the NEPA Process-Updated to include FY03
• FHWA/FTA Interim Guidance on Purpose and Need
• FHWA NEPA Project Development Site
• FHWA Environmental Streamlining Site
• FHWA Environmental Guidebook
• FHWA Re:NEPA Discussion Group

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FHWA Links to Laws and Regulations

• FHWA/ FTA NEPA Rule Amendments to Implement SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 – final rule (3-24-09)
• Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, Environmental Review Provisions and Related Information (FHWA)
• Statewide Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning; Final Rule (effective 3/16/07), (includes updated version of FHWA Guidance on Linking Planning and NEPA as an appendix)
• CEQ Regulations 40 CFR 1500 - 1508
• 23 USC 109 (h)
• 23 CFR 771 - Subchapter H Environmental Impact and Related Procedures
• 23 CFR 771 - Preamble to the Regulation
• Project Development and Documentation Overview
• Purpose and Need Paper
• The Development of Logical Project Termini
• FHWA Technical Advisory
• CEQ Guidance
  

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FTA Links

• Keys to Efficient Development of Useful Environmental Documents (Sept. 2007)

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EPA Links

• Consideration Of Cumulative Impacts In EPA Review of NEPA Documents [PDF 101kb]
• Final Guidance For Incorporating Environmental Justice Concerns in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analyses [PDF 303kb]
• Final Guidance for Consideration of Environmental Justice in Clean Air Act 309 Reviews [PDF 133kb]
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Filing System Guidance
• Policy and Procedures for the Review of Federal Actions Impacting the Environment [PDF 168kb]
• Current EISs
• Submitting EISs
• Obtaining EISs
• EPA Comments on EISs
• EPA Compliance

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Other Federal Agency Links

• Federal Facilities Environmental Stewardship and Compliance Assistance Center (FedCenter.gov)  
  • NEPA Program Area – includes guidance, policies, and examples of federal regulations and agency policies for the implementation of NEPA.

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State DOT Policy and Guidance

• District of Columbia
  • District Department of Transportation Environmental Process & Policy Manual (July 2008) The first comprehensive document addressing environmental issues as they relate to DDOT projects, the manual provides information on the DDOT Project Development Process, NEPA, DCEPA, and other local and federal environmental laws and regulations.

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Other Resources

• APHA Online Toolkit, American Public Health Association (May 2011). – This online public health and transportation toolkit includes links to resources including transportation health impact assessments, fact sheets, case studies, and reports.

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