Procedural Manual for Preparing Environmental Studies

1 A Procedural Manual for Preparing Environmental Documents 2008 Version Prepared by: Environmental Policy SectionOffice of Environmental ServicesDivision of Production Management 100 North Senate Avenue Room N642 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2216 (317) 232-5348 FAX: (317) 233-4929 Indiana Procedural Manual Table of Contents Update History I. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process A. Introduction 1. Applicability 2. Purpose B. Funding Programs 1. State-Funded Projects 2. Locally-Funded Projects 3. Recreational Trail Program (RTP) C. Document Types 1. Categorical Exclusion (CE) 2. Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs) 3 Federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) a.

2 Preparation of Federal Environmental Impact Statements b. Format of Federal Environmental Impact Statements 4. Administrative Record D. Purpose and Need E. Red Flag Investigations F. Alternatives G. Public Involvement H. Early Coordination II. Environmental Considerations A. Introduction B. The Human Environment 1. Land Use Impacts 2. Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) i Indiana Procedural Manual 3. Social, Community, and Economic Impacts a. Community Impact Assessment (CIA) b. Relocation Impacts c. Economic Impacts d. Social Impacts e. Environmental Justice f. Context Sensitive Solutions g. Joint Development 4. Section 6(f) Public Outdoor Recreation Land 5. Indirect and Cumulative Impacts 6. Noise Impacts 7.

3 Air Quality Impacts a. Project Level Conformity b. Hotspot Analysis c. Mobile Source Air Toxics 8. Energy Impacts 9. Hazardous Materials and Regulated Substances 10. Visual Impacts 11. Construction Impacts 12. Traffic/Transportation Impacts 13. Cultural Resources a. Professional Qualification Standards b. Section 106 c. Programmatic Agreements d. Cemeteries 14. Section 4(f): Historic Sites, Publicly Owned Lands, Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges a. Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation b. Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation i. Programmatic Evaluation for Historic Sites ii. Programmatic Evaluation for Historic Bridges iii. Programmatic Evaluation for Public Parks, Recreation Lands and Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges iv. Programmatic Evaluation for Independent Bikeways or Walkways v.

4 Programmatic Evaluation for Net Benefit Projects ii Indiana Procedural Manual vi. Environmental Documentation for Programmatic Evaluations c. De Minimis Impact Findings 15. Short-Term Use vs. Long-Term Productivity 16. Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments C. The Natural Environment 1. Geologic Conditions a. Geology b. Karst Topography and Features c. Soils 2. Wildlife Habitat Impacts 3. Impacts upon Threatened and/or Endangered Species a. Federal Threatened and/or Endangered Species b. State Threatened and/or Endangered Species 4. Water Quality Impacts a. Surface Water and Ground Water b. Drinking Water c. Sole Source Aquifers d. Wellhead Protection Areas 5.

5 Wetlands Impacts 6. Water Body Modification 7. Floodplain Impacts 8. Impacts on Wild and Scenic Rivers a. Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers b. State Natural, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers 9. Waterway Permits D. Mitigation, Commitments and Recommendations iii Indiana Procedural Manual III. Appendices A. References B. List of Acronyms C. Web Links D. List of INDOT Districts E. Project Development Process Flowcharts F. CE-EA Document Form G. Commitments Summary Form H. Sample Commitments Summary Form I. State EA doc 329 IAC 5-1-5 J. EIS Distribution List K. List of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) L. Corps of Engineers Districts M. Coast Guard Districts N. Sample Early Coordination Letter O. Sample Notice of Survey Letter P.

6 Sample Section 106 Early Coordination Letter Q. INDOT Aeronautics Questionnaire R. Indiana Geological Survey Questionnaire S. US Forest Service Questionnaire T. US Coast Guard Questionnaire U. Flood Risk Assessment Questionnaire V. NRCS-CPA-106 Farmland Impacts Form W. Sample Business Information Survey X. Minor Projects Programmatic Agreement Y. Historic Bridges Programmatic Agreement Z. Section 106 Legal Notice Template AA. Section 106 MOA Template BB. Hazardous Materials Site Visit Form CC. Ecological Assessment Form DD. US Fish and Wildlife Service Coordination MOU EE. Wetlands Memorandum of Understanding FF. Karst Memorandum of Understanding (retyped) GG. Potential Karst Features Map HH. Sole Source Aquifer Memorandum of Understanding II. Sole Source Aquifer Map JJ. List of Navigable Waters KK. Federal Highway Administration MSAT Guidance LL. Mobile Source Air Toxics Standard Language MM. Criteria Pollutants Information NN. INDOT Traffic Noise Policy OO.

7 Indiana Outstanding Rivers List iv Indiana Procedural Manual v Update History Last updated December, 2008. All previous revisions included in new version. Indiana Procedural Manual I. The National Environmental Policy Act Process Introduction The foundation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process comes directly from NEPA in Section 102(2). It can be summarized as follows: Agencies of the federal Government shall -- Utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach in the planning and decision-making which may have an impact on the human environment. Include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, a detailed statement by the responsible official on -- o The Environmental impact of the proposed action. o Any adverse Environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented.

8 O Alternatives to the proposed action. o The relationship between local short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and o Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. Prior to making any detailed statement, consult with and obtain the comments of any federal agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise. Make them available to the public. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508) addresses the basic framework established in NEPA. The principles or essential elements of NEPA include: Assessment of the social, economic, and Environmental impacts of a proposed action or project. Analysis of a range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed project, based on the applicants defined purpose and need for the project. Consideration of appropriate impact mitigation: avoidance, minimization and compensation.

9 Interagency participation: coordination and consultation. Public involvement including opportunities to participate and comment. Documentation and disclosure. A NEPA document must include a discussion of information that is incomplete or unavailable for a project evaluation of impacts in compliance with CEQ regulations (40 CFR (b)). The following information should be included in the resource sections as appropriate: A statement that such information is incomplete or unavailable. A statement of the relevance of the incomplete or unavailable information to evaluating reasonably foreseeable significant adverse impacts on the human environment. A summary of existing credible scientific evidence which is relevant to evaluating the reasonable foreseeable significant adverse impacts on the human environment. The evaluation of such impacts based upon theoretical approaches or research methods generally accepted in the scientific community.

10 1 Indiana Procedural Manual The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adopted the policy of managing NEPA project development and decision-making process as an "umbrella," under which all applicable Environmental laws, executive orders, and regulations are considered and addressed prior to the final project decision and document approval. The conclusion of the NEPA process results in a decision that addresses multiple concerns and requirements. The FHWA s NEPA process allows transportation officials to make project decisions that balance engineering and transportation needs with social, economic, and natural Environmental factors. During the process, a wide range of stakeholders (including the public, businesses, interest groups, and agencies at all levels of government) provide input into project and Environmental decisions. References FHWA (1992) NEPA and Transportation Decisionmaking December 2008 TransTech Management, Inc.