Impacts of SAFTEA-LU on Environmental Impact Analysis Practice

Focus Area

FAST Act/MAP-21

Subcommittee

Air Quality, Environmental Process

Status

Archived

Cost

Unknown

Timeframe

1-2 years

Research Idea Scope

TERI Database Administrator Notes:  Related research – AASHTO Practitioner’s Handbook 09: Using the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process (23 U.S.C. Section 139) (2008). 

SAFETEA-LU places an expanded emphasis on public and agency involvement in environmental impact analysis processes.  However, state departments of transportation have varying capacities and experience in identifying and engaging these participants in a meaningful way.  Research could be conducted to assess the efforts used by states to implement the new SAFETEA-LU requirements.  This research could also examine the impacts of expanded public and agency involvement on key aspects of the NEPA process including defining purpose and need, data collection, alternatives analysis, and mitigation.

Urgency and Payoff

The proposed research would provide an evaluation of the implementation of SAFETLU and also provide insights about the most effective practices used by state DOTs in implementation.  Further, the research could provide insights into the effects of great public and agency involvement on the outcomes of NEPA processes.

 

Suggested By

Carissa Schively, University of Minnesota

[email protected]

Submitted

06/15/2007