Practitioner’s Handbooks

You are here:

Home
Resources & Research
Practitioner’s Handbooks

Practitioner’s Handbooks

Practical advice on environmental issues that arise during the transportation project lifecycle.

Home » Resources & Research » Practitioner’s Handbooks

Maintaining a Project File and Preparing an Administrative Record for a NEPA Study

Preparing the administrative record for a complex project can be a major challenge. This handbook provides a starting point for undertaking this important task. It includes key issues for project managers to consider during NEPA and when litigation is imminent or under way.

Responding to Comments on an Environmental Impact Statement

This handbook provides information on responding to comments on an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Practitioner's Handbook 03

Managing the NEPA Process for Toll Lanes and Toll Roads

Conducting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies for projects involving toll lanes and toll roads involves many sensitive issues and complex considerations – this handbook provides an overview.

Tracking Compliance with Environmental Commitments/Use of Environmental Monitors

This handbook provides recommendations for tracking compliance with environmental commitments from the environmental review phase through design, construction, operations, and maintenance phases of a transportation project.

Utilizing Community Advisory Committees for NEPA Studies

A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is a public participation technique that can be employed to gain stakeholder feedback, identify and resolve local concerns, and build community support during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision-making process – this handbook provides an overview.

Consulting Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

The Handbook clarifies and provides information to project managers on the successful integration of Section 106 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with a specific focus on Section 106 as it applies to transportation projects for which the project applicant is a state department of transportation (DOT).

Defining the Purpose and Need and Determining the Range of Alternatives for Transportation Projects

This handbook provides recommendations on defining a project’s purpose and need in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and determining a range of alternatives.

Developing and Implementing an Environmental Management System in a State Department of Transportation (DOT)

This Handbook provides recommendations for developing and implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) to help meet these goals and expectations.

Using the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process (23 U.S.C. 139)

This Handbook provides assistance to practitioners in complying with the Section 6002 requirements from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), while also using this process to achieve better, faster, and more efficient environmental reviews.

Using the Transportation Planning Process to Support the NEPA Process

This Handbook is intended to help transportation planners and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) practitioners improve linkages between the planning and NEPA processes, while also complying with recent legislative changes that require increased consideration of environmental issues in the planning process.

Complying with Section 4(f) of the U.S. DOT Act

This handbook is intended to help practitioners take advantage of the flexibility afforded by the recent changes to Section 4(f) while ensuring that all requirements are met. It addresses the full range of Section 4(f) compliance options, including individual Section 4(f) evaluations, de minimis impact determinations, and programmatic Section 4(f) evaluations.

Assessing Indirect Effects and Cumulative Impacts under NEPA

This handbook is intended to assist practitioners in assessing indirect effects and cumulative impacts in the evaluation of transportation projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Developing and Implementing a Stormwater Management Program in a Transportation Agency

The purpose of this handbook is to assist transportation agencies in developing and/or implementing a storm water management program that satisfies the requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Applying the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines in Transportation Project Decision-Making

This handbook is intended to assist practitioners in applying the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines in the environmental review process for surface transportation projects.

Preparing High-Quality NEPA Documents for Transportation Projects

The purpose of the handbook on Preparing High-Quality NEPA Documents for Transportation Projects is to help practitioners bridge the gap between the theory and practice of producing high-quality NEPA documents.

Implementing Eco-Logical: Integrating Transportation Planning and Ecological Decision Making

This handbook is intended to introduce transportation practitioners to a method of integrating ecological interests into transportation planning to address natural resource conservation and restoration priorities at a regional scale, and to establish a more reliable and efficient delivery program for projects with partner agencies.

Complying with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act for Transportation Projects

This Handbook provides an overview of Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and provides advice on carrying out Section 7 consultation for transportation projects.

Addressing Air Quality Issues in the NEPA Process for Highway Projects

This handbook is intended to assist practitioners in addressing air quality issues, including transportation conformity requirements, as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for highway projects.

Want to learn more about the handbooks?

The Center for Environmental Excellence conducted several webinars for specific handbooks to educate practitioner’s on how best to use them.

↑