Guidance issued by the Federal Highway Administration affirms that early acquisitions of real property by transportation agencies without simultaneous Federal-aid participation and prior to completion of environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act still are subject to requirements of NEPA and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act. The guidance, issued in a memorandum to FHWA division administrators, states that "when a State DOT proceeds with early acquisition using its own money and with no intention of seeking Federal-aid credit or reimbursement, the FHWA nonetheless must make certain that the State DOT’s acquisition actions do not affect the environmental analysis or review of the project, or bias the FHWA’s decisions on the project." For more information, link to the Guidance on Early Acquisitions and Compliance with NEPA and Uniform Act. (8-24-07)

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A report on the modification and amendment of environmental permits for design-build projects has been issued by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program under Project 25-25, Task 25. The project summarizes eight case studies where major environmental permits were required on design-build projects and describes lessons learned regarding the permitting process. For more information, link to Modification and Amendment of Environmental Permits on Design-Build Projects, NCHRP Report 25-25 (Task 25). (9/6/07)

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A final report on the results of a second Gallup study of transportation agencies and environmental resource agencies to measure perceptions regarding environmental streamlining has been issued by the Federal Highway Administration. The study is a follow-up to a similar effort first conducted in 2003. The latest study  provides comparative data for regions to gauge their own performance and provides separate data for five individual states: California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, and Texas. For more information, link to the May 2007 Final Report or to FHWA's Gallup Study website.

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The Federal Highway Administration is requesting applications from state departments of transportation for participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program established under Section 6005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The pilot program provides for up to five states to assume responsibility from the agency for environmental review, consultation, and other actions in connection with the review or approval of highway projects. The states of Alaska, California, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas were initially given priority for participation in the pilot program; of those states, Ohio and Texas have declined to participate. The agency currently requests applications from all other states for participation in the pilot program. The deadline for letters of interest is Sept. 7, 2007. For more information, link to the Federal Register notice. (7-9-07)

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A new Web page containing updated information on compliance with environmental review provisions and related sections of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was posted by the Federal Highway Administration on March 1, 2007. The site provides an environmental review process checklist as well as examples of implementation including: project initiation letters, participating and/or cooperating agency letters, coordination plans, public involvement plans, and statute of limitations notices. For more information, link to Environmental Review Process Toolkit Web Page.

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