ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT Basic sheets

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT Basic sheets What Where Why How

Objectives • Understand content and use of Basic Sheets • Understand documentation of NEPA process • Review NEPA factors to be considered • Consider public involvement (PI) processes and why PI is a critical piece of implementing NEPA • Share resources and best practices

Basic Sheets • Basic Sheets – use for every project (ERs and EAs) • Identifies project location and project type • Presents the project Purpose and Need (P&N) • Details the alternatives considered • Covers environmental factors • Documents coordination

Factor Sheets • Factor Sheets – used when you need to document an environmental factor in further detail • Avoidance • Minimization • Mitigation • Resources that require special consideration • Use for permanent adverse or positive resource impacts • Basic Sheet 4 will note when a Factor Sheet is attached

“Blue” guidance Language • Basic and factor sheets with guidance language • Guidance for questions • Clarifies, uses examples • Provides additional key information

NEPA Purpose & Need Proposed Work Alternative Selection Community Businesses Cultural Resources/Tribes Endangered Species Wetlands & Waterways Context Sensitive Design Parklands Farmlands Indirect Impacts……..

Decision-making/NEPA PROCESS • NEPA provides a framework for project decision-making for projects developed in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) • The NEPA process aids in making project decisions that balance engineering and transportation needs with social, economic, and natural environmental factors • The NEPA process guides the project development process

Basic sheet 1 – project information • Provides basic information to orient the reader • Project title, location, cost, project classification, functional classification, approval signatures • Documents federal action type • FHWA environmental action list: 23 CFR 771.115 • Action types are defined in FDM 21-5-5 • Action type determines if thedocument is an ER, EA, or if an EIS is required

Basic sheet 2 – project description • Question 1 – Purpose and Need (P&N) • Purpose: • A broad statement of the overall intended objective to be achieved by the proposed action • Need: • A more detailed explanation of specific transportation problems or deficiencies • P&N is not the project solution

Question 1 – p&n • The project development process starts with a solid and well-written P&N statement • Why is P&N important? • Establishes the basis for the development of the range of reasonable alternatives • Assists with identification and eventual selection of a preferred alternative • Establishes a base line to test all alternatives against • Allows the project team to develop a public involvement strategy that sells the problem and not the solution

Question 1 – P&N • Need components • Project Status • Capacity • System Linkage • Transportation Demand • Legislation • Social Demands or Economic Development • Modal Interrelationships • Safety • Roadway Deficiencies

Question 1 – P&N • Needs • Identification of transportation issues with supporting data • Safety, level of service (LOS), physical deficiencies, etc.. • Address community needs identified through public involvement or comprehensive plans • Tie in previous planning studies • Provide status of any legislatively mandated actions • Identify multi-modal needs • Outline how the route links to the highway system (truck routes, commuter routes, OSOW) and other modes of transportation

Question 1 – P&N Purpose and need should NOT: • Provide solutions • Compare alternatives • Discuss consequences of any action

Question 2 – alternatives • Presents range of alternatives considered • “No Build” alternative must be presented • How many build alternatives? • Prudent and feasible • May address why some alternatives were not considered • Documents alternatives screening/decision-making

Question 2 - alternatives • Feasible alternatives • Constructible with sound engineering • Prudent alternatives • Addresses safety or operational problems • Fulfills project purpose and need • Considers agency and public input • Protects resources and considers severity of social, economic, or environmental impacts • Protects resources and considers severity of impacts to resources protected under other Federal statutes (4(f), 6(f), other)

Question 2 - alternatives • Development and evaluation of alternatives • Evaluate all reasonable alternatives • Fulfill P&N components • Include ‘No Build’ (No Action) alternative • Serves as baseline for comparison of all other alternatives • Develop each alternative with enough detail to make good decisions • Follow a logical screening process and document it • Careful planning of alternative naming and alternative generation early will ensure clear documentation

Question 2 - alternatives • Alternatives screening • Consider quantity and quality of direct and indirect impacts • Describe public and agency input that affected alternative generation, screening, and selection process

Question 2 - alternatives • Alternatives screening • Explain rationale for why and how alternatives were eliminated from further consideration • Severity and nature of resource impacts • Agency and public input • How well does the alternative fulfill P&N components

Question 2 - alternatives • Screening is the decision-making process FHWA policy requires that decisions are to be “made in the best overall public interest based upon a balanced consideration of the need for safe and efficient transportation; of the social, economic and environmental impacts of the proposed transportation improvement; and of national, State and local environmental protection goals.”

Question 2 - alternatives • Recommended and preferred alternatives • Recommended alternative – recommendation made during project development process prior to final selection of preferred alternative in the document • Preferred alternative - alternative which WisDOT believes would fulfill its statutory mission and responsibilities, giving consideration to economic, environmental, technical, and other factors • Environmentally preferable alternative (EIS only) - causes least damage to resources and best protects, preserves, and enhances resources

Other considerations • Additional alternative development considerations • Alternatives may be "not prudent” • Significant impacts, cost-prohibitive, etc. • Does not meet purpose or need • Consider unique issues caused by not developing the action • Section 4(f) impacts – only if no other alternative • Resource impact considerations • First – attempt to avoid • Second – minimize impacts • Third – mitigate if there are no other practical options

Other considerations • Avoid “segmentation” and select “Logical Termini” that • Avoids commitment to future improvements unless evaluated • Provides sufficient length to address environmental matters on a broad scope • Does not restrict alternatives a for other reasonably foreseeable transportation improvements

Logical termini • Rational end points for a transportation improvement and rational end points for a review of impacts • Project termini • Has independent utility or independent significance • Be usable • Be a reasonable expenditure • Construction can be staged

Logical termini • Evaluate related and staged improvements within the project limitsor to one transportation facility as one action • Construction may be "staged" or programmed as funding permits • Describe staging in the document; short-range and long-range improvements

Question 3 – description of proposed action • Describe the Proposed Action in additional detail • Selected alternative for implementation • Pavement improvements • Typical section dimensions • Storm water management • Utility work • Staging, detours, TMP • Use graphics and maps to explain the Proposed Action

Question 4 – energy consumption • The energy requirements of various construction alternatives are similar and are generally greater than the energy requirements of the no build alternative • Conservation measures: • use of high occupancy vehicle incentives • measures to improve traffic flow • provision of pedestrian and bicycle facilities

Question 5 – existing land use • Adjoining - fronting ROW/project area • Surrounding - within proximity to project area • Rural • describe as agricultural, silvicultural (forested), residential, industrial, recreational, etc. • Urban • describe as industrial, commercial, residential, open space, parkland, etc.

Question 6 – local or regional plans • Identify draft or adopted local, regional, and state plans • Most plans are available online • Try identify all applicable plans • Some plans may support P&N and discussion may be more appropriate in Question 1 • Evaluate any effects of the Proposed Action on any plans • Identify if the plans address the Proposed Action directly or documentimportance of the facility

Question 7 – environmental justice • Documents compliance with Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice • Directs Federal agencies to take the appropriate and necessary steps to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse effects to protected populations • Looks at health or environment of minority and low-income populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law

Question 7 – environmental justice • Protected populations • Minority: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander • Low-income: Household income at or below the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines; the guidelines are updated annually and available online at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/ • Population: Any readily identifiable group of low-income or minority persons who live in geographic proximity

Question 7 – environmental justice • Identification of protected populations • Project field review (windshield survey) • Census data • Local comprehensive plans • Public involvement • Local official input • If populations are present in the project area • Complete Factor Sheet B-4 Environmental Justice Evaluation

Question 8 – additional population considerations • Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Age Discrimination Act • Federal agencies are required to ensure that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or religion

Question 9 – public involvement METHODS • FDM Chapter 6 outlines approach and methods • Develop public involvement plan at start of project • Use P&N to develop materials and PI plan • Sell the problem and not the solution • Public involvement methods available • Project notification letters • Public information meeting • Public hearing • Special interest groups • Additional methods, as required

Question 9 – public involvement METHODS • Level of public involvement will be determined by • Project type and complexity • Project resources and anticipated impacts • Level of controversy • Execution of successful public involvement plan is a key component of successful NEPA documentation and project delivery

Question 9 – public involvement METHODS • Summarize meetings conducted • Include supporting documentation in project file • Summarize other methods utilized • Special Interest Groups • Examples: elderly, handicapped, minority and low-income populations, hunting and fishing, environmental, business, union, local preservation groups, community service, local business committees, and other such groups

Question 9 – public involvement METHODS • Additional Public Involvement • Anticipated to occur during final design or construction • Examples: small group meetings (neighborhood, business owners), newsletters, fact sheets, surveys, web pages, weekly meetings, etc. • Note any community involvement activities that relate directly to Community Sensitive Design (CSD)

Question 10 – public involvement summary • Describe issues identified • Summarize public support and opposition on issues • Do not use names of individuals and groups • Describe how issues were addressed • Respond to substantive comments identified • Include discussion of issues that were avoided, minimized, or mitigated • Discuss any proposed mitigation measures or outstanding issues to be worked through

Question 11 – local/regional government coordination • Identify governmental agencies contacted (MPO, RPC, City, County, Village, Town, etc.) • Describe issues identified by the units of government • Describe how issues were addressed • Indicate unresolved issues or ongoing discussion • Attach only relevant and limitedcorrespondence

Basic sheet 3 - coordination • Internal WisDOT – airports, railroads, R/E relocations • State Agencies • Federal Agencies • Native American Tribes • Minimum coordination required for ALL projects • Wisconsin DNR • State Historic Preservation Office (screening or Section 106) • Tribes

Basic sheet 3 - coordination • Additional coordination may be needed for • Agricultural Impacts • Bridges under Coast Guard jurisdiction • Wetland and waterway impacts • Endangered and protected species • Storm water management • Parklands • Others?

Tribal Lands Coordination • Additional permits/approvals may be required before the project can be constructed • The cooperative agreement with WDNR does not cover tribal lands/permits • Agreements with SHPO do not apply on tribal lands • Each tribe is unique • Consult with your REC & Tribal Liaison

Basic sheet 3 - coordination • Coordination with each agency should be summarized on Basic Sheet 3 to the extent necessary to document feedback received and next steps • Outline coordination timeline • Document comments received and approvals • Note any remaining coordination to be completed

coordination attachments • Include attachments documenting coordination • WDNR – initial review letter (minimum) • State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) • Section 106 form and results (i.e. DOE’s, DNAE, screening list) • Native American Indian Tribes • Tribal notification letter and mailing list • Tribal response letters (any received) • Others • Attach other response letters received from any other applicable agencies (BOA, USACE, USGC, USFWS, etc..)

Basic sheet 4 – environmental factors matrix • Addresses major environmental factors to be evaluated in the NEPA process • Effects • Adverse • Benefit • None identified • Each factor has a corresponding factor sheet • Complete factor sheet if additionalclarifying information is necessary

Basic sheet 5 – alternative comparison matrix • Alternatives/roadway sections • All alternatives carried forward for detailed study should be included in the matrix • Projects with extensive alternative analysis and screening may supplement this table to document factors used to screen alternatives

Basic sheet 6 – traffic summary matrix • Provide traffic factors for detailed study alternatives • Include No-Build alternative • Data may come from • Traffic forecast • Project level traffic and operations analysis

Basic sheet 6 – traffic summary matrix • Basic sheet requires ADT and factors based on ADT • 24-hour traffic volume for a specified time period • Traffic count data available online is AADT • Estimate of total vehicles for any 24-hour period of the year • Total vehicles per year divided by 365 adjusted with factors for season, day, and vehicle type • Short-term counts are collected over a three-year cycle at nearly 26,000 sites throughout the State • Published count data may be outdated and not appropriate for reporting in the environmental document

Basic Sheet 7 – EIS Significance Criteria • Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) developed guidance with DOT Office of General Council (OGC) • If there is a significant impact(s) prepare an EnvironmentalImpact Statement (EIS) • Significance is per NEPA: Context & Intensity • If the issue is a concern (either beneficial or adverse), explain how and where it is addressed in the environmental document

Indirect & Cumulative Effects • ICE pre-screening worksheet for ERs and EAs • When to do a detailed ICE analysis • How to conduct an ICE analysis • Detailed guidance documents available

Indirect & Cumulative EFFECTS • Indirect and cumulative effects analysis is an attachment to the environmental document (no basic sheet) • Indirect • Caused by the action • Later in time • Removed in distance • Reasonably foreseeable • Cumulative • Result of incremental or minor impacts • Added up all together • Reasonably foreseeable Conversely, direct impacts are caused by the project and occur at the same time and place as the project itself

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT Basic sheets