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NEPA Process

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The NEPA Process topic describes a range of policies, programs, and resources related to the National Environmental Policy Act review process for transportation projects. NEPA requires transportation agencies to consider potential impacts to the social and natural environment. The NEPA statute and implementing regulations set forth a process to evaluate potential impacts as well as requirements for documentation of decisions resulting from that process.

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Recent Developments

• FHWA Issues Instructions on Travel and Land Use Forecasting
• GAO Report Finds Some Improvement, Data Gaps in NEPA Assignment
• Agencies Update Proposal on Environmental Review Procedures
• U.S. DOT Proposal Would Allow Use of State Laws Instead of NEPA
• TRB Webinar Addresses Ways to Expedite the NEPA Process

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Key Resources

• AASHTO Practitioner's Handbook Series, including practical tips on a range of NEPA implementation issues for DOTs.
• 15 Preparing High-Quality NEPA Documents for Transportation Projects (AASHTO Practitioner's Handbook)
• Examples of Effective Techniques for Preparing High-Quality NEPA Documents (AASHTO 2014)
• FHWA Environmental Review Toolkit: NEPA and Project Development Resources
• Re:NEPA - the Federal Highway Administration's online "community of practice"
• CEQ NEPA.gov home page
• EPA NEPA Website: including information on filing EISs, e-NEPA electronic filing, NEPAssist, NEPA and Environmental Justice, and the EIS database.
• Evaluation Guidance Needed for States with National Environmental Policy Act Authority (Government Accountability Office, Jan. 2018) - a review of provisions to expedite the NEPA process for transportation projects, including assignment of NEPA authority to states

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