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1. Environmental Impact
Analysis
CE 453 Lecture 9
Reading Assignment:
Environmental Assessments:
A How-To Manual
Prepared For:
Iowa Department of Transportation
Prepared By:
Earth Tech
http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/ce453/eis/_Start%20Here.pdf
(26 pages)

2. National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
•Sets national environmental policy
•Establishes basis for environmental
impact statement (EIS)
•Created Council on Environmental
Quality
Chief reference for this lecture:
http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/index.asp

3. CEQ
•NEPA created the
Council on
Environmental
Quality (CEQ), an
office within the
White House
•Functions:
–develop
environmental
policies
–monitor
environmental
quality
–prepare annual
environmental
quality report
–monitor Federal
actions.
http://www.epa.gov/indicators/roe/html/roeAir.htm

6. •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 --
–(i) The environmental impact of the proposed action
–(ii) Any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided
should the proposal be implemented,
–(iii) Alternatives to the proposed action,
–(iv) The relationship between local short-term uses of man's
environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term
productivity, and
–(v) Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources
which would be involved in the proposed action should it be
implemented.
NEPA requires …

7. http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
NEPA calls for an examination and
consideration of impacts of the proposed
action on sensitive resources:
–Floodplains,
–Historic and archeo-
logical sites
–Wetlands
–Endangered species
–Parklands
–Air quality
–Wildlife habitat
–etc.
Peregrine Falcon

8. NEPA potential outcomes
•CE - Categorical Exclusion
–From previous experience will not have env. impact
–Study not needed
•EA – Environmental Assessment
–Done if no significant impact is expected
–An investigative tool
–~15 pages
–Usually results in FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact)
•EIS - Environmental Impact Statement
–Requires more work than an EA
–Full disclosure (specified by code)
–Requires record of decision to proceed
–Can skip EA and do EIS

9. Significance
•Level of reporting depends on significance
of proposed project
•CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1508.27) require
consideration of context and intensity.
•Context:
–Society as a whole, the affected region, or
locality.
–Both short and long term effects are relevant.

10. Context
•Filling one acre of a one hundred-acre
wetland probably could be considered
not significant
•Filling one acre of a two-acre wetland
may be considered, under certain
circumstances, a significant impact
•Same intensity, different context

11. Intensity
(1) impacts that may be both
beneficial and adverse;
(2) the degree to which the
proposed action affects
public health or safety;
(3) unique characteristics of
the geographical area;
(4) the degree to which the
effects on the quality of the
human environment are likely
to be highly controversial
http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html

12. Intensity
(5) the degree to which the possible effects
on the human environment are highly
uncertain or involve unique or unknown risks;
(6) the degree to which the action may
establish a precedent for future actions
with significant effects;
(7) whether the action is related to other
actions with individually insignificant but
cumulatively significant impacts;

13. Intensity
(8) the degree to which the action may adversely
affect resources listed in or eligible for listing
in the National Register of Historic Places
(9) the degree to which the action may adversely
affect an endangered or threatened species or
its habitat;
(10) whether the action threatens a violation of
Federal, State, or local law or requirements
imposed for the protection of the environment.

14. Categorical Exclusions

15. Categorical Exclusions
Actions that do not
individually or
cumulatively have
significant social,
economic, or
environmental effect
http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html

16. CE Projects (per 23 CFR 771.117c)
Always:
•Studies, administration, etc.
•utility installations along or across a
transportation facility
•bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and
facilities.
•Activities included in the State's highway
safety plan
•noise barriers or alterations for noise
reduction
•Landscaping
•fencing, signs, pavement markings, small
passenger shelters, traffic signals, and
railroad warning devices
•Emergency repairs
•Acquisition of scenic easements
•Improvements to existing rest areas and
truck weigh stations.
•Alterations for accessibility
•Track and railbed maintenance
With approval:
•Resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation,
reconstruction, adding shoulders, or
adding auxiliary lanes (e.g., parking,
weaving, turning, climbing).
•Highway safety or traffic operations
improvement projects including the
installation of ramp metering control
devices and lighting.
•Bridge rehabilitation
•grade separation to replace existing at-
grade railroad crossings.
•Transportation corridor fringe parking
facilities.
•New truck weigh stations or rest areas.
•changes in access control.
•Rail and bus storage facilities if
consistent with zoning
•bus transfer facilities

17. E
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18. Environmental Assessment
•Prepared when there is uncertainty as to
significance of project
•Only discusses in detail areas where there is
potential for significant impact
•No specific format but should include:
–Project description
–Project need
–Alternatives considered
–Impacts
–Comments and coordination

19. Example EA Contents
•Cover Sheet
•Table of Contents
•Description of the Proposed
Action
•Project History
•Project Purpose and Need
•Alternatives
•Project Impacts
•Socioeconomic Impacts
•Air Quality and Noise Impacts
•Threatened and Endangered
Species
•Natural Areas and Wildlife
Habitat
•Wetlands
•Woodlands
•Water Quality
•Parks and Recreational
Facilities
•Cultural Resources
•Hazardous Waste
•River and Flood Plain
Crossings
•Other Potential Impacts
•Comparison of Alternatives
•Disposition
•Comments and Coordination
•Appendices

20. Environmental Assessment
•Must be made available for public
inspection and comment
•If it is determined that there is no
significant impact associated with the
project, a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) is prepared
•If a significant impact is identified,
an EIS must be prepared

21. Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS)
http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
Piping Plover
•Required when
proposed action has
significant impact on
environment
•< 5% of FHWA
projects involve EIS
•Reports require
several major
sections

22. Sections for EIS
•Project purpose and need
•Alternatives
•Affected Environment Section
•Environmental consequences
•Comments and Coordination section
•List of Preparers

23. F
ollow
ing slides are useful
for E
A
or E
IS
…

24. Project Purpose Section
•Clearly states need for project
•Supports need for project
•Why is agency proposing to spend large
amounts of taxpayer $ while also causing
significant environmental impacts
•Explains why project is necessary and
worthwhile
•Justifies why impacts are acceptable based
on project’s importance

25. Project Purpose Section
•Capacity - Is the capacity of the present facility inadequate
for the present traffic? Projected traffic? What capacity is
needed? What is(are) the level(s) of service for existing and
proposed facilities?
•System Linkage - Is the proposed project a "connecting
link?" How does it fit in the transportation system?
•Transportation Demand - Including relationship to any
statewide plan or adopted urban transportation plan together
with an explanation of the project's traffic forecasts that
are substantially different from those estimates from the
23 U.S.C. 134 (Section 134) planning process.
•Legislation - Is there a Federal, State, or local governmental
mandate for the action?

26. Project Purpose Section
•Social Demands or Economic Development - New employment, schools,
land use plans, recreation, etc. What projected economic development/land
use changes indicate the need to improve or add to the highway capacity?
•Modal Interrelationships - How will the proposed facility interface with
and serve to complement airports, rail and port facilities, mass transit
services, etc.?
•Safety - Is the proposed project necessary to correct an existing or
potential safety hazard? Is the existing accident rate excessively high?
Why? How will the proposed project improve it?
•Roadway Deficiencies - Is the proposed project necessary to correct
existing roadway deficiencies (e.g., substandard geometrics, load limits on
structures, inadequate cross-section, or high maintenance costs)? How will
the proposed project improve it?

27. Alternatives
•Describes reasonable alternatives
•Discusses how they were selected
•Proves clear basis for choosing among the options
•Should explain alternatives that were rejected early in
the process because they were found to be unreasonable
•Alternatives must comply with requirements of 23 CFR
771.11(f)
–Projects must connect logical termini
–Have independent utility
–Not restrict consideration of future transportation alternatives

28. Alternatives
•All reasonable alternatives should be discussed
at comparable level of detail
•No requirement for “preferred” alternative at
this stage
•But if one has been selected, this must be stated
•No-build must always be included
–May be a reasonable alternative
–Serves as a benchmark against which the impacts of
other projects can be compared
•Include appropriate mitigation measures

29. Alternatives
http://endangered.fws.gov/media/spotlight.html
•Transportation system
management (TSM)
must be included as an
alternative or design
option when applicable
–HOV lanes
–Ridesharing
–Signal coordination
–etc
•Graphics should be
included to show
project area
Meads Milkweed

30. Alternatives
Should give clear indication of WHY
particular range of alternatives was
developed, through what process, and
with what public and agency input

31. Affected Environment Section
•Enough description to understand the
area and impact of alternative
•Should discuss, commensurate with
importance of project, existing social,
economic, and environmental setting
•Should identify environmentally
sensitive features
•Effective with graphics or images

32. Environmental consequences
•Describes impact of of alternatives to the affected
environment
•Documents methodologies to evaluate
•Forms basis for comparison of alternatives
•Should provide enough information to quantify the
impact
–All alternatives cross streams but one may cross more than
others
–Is one stream more sensitive than another?
•Discuss both impacts and mitigation
•Mitigation must be considered for all impacts
regardless of significance
Mainly for EIS …

33. Section 4f -
Special Documentation
•Section 4f – acquisition of publicly owned or used
public parks
public recreational area
public wildlife refuge
historic site (not all are 4f, only NRHP)
•Most stringent law (except Endangered Species)
•Avoidance alternative must be selected even if not
preferred
•Only applies to agencies under DOT

34. Effects
•Assessment of impacts should include direct and
indirect effects, as well as evaluation of what
cumulative effects might occur due to other actions
•Direct effects: caused by action and occur at the
same time and place
•Indirect Effects: caused by action but occur later
in time or at a distance from the project but are
reasonably foreseeable
–Induce growth
–Changes in land use patterns
–Related effects on air, water or other natural systems,
including ecosystems

35. Mitigation
•Chief consideration in developing
transportation projects is to reduce adverse
impacts to the environment
•Mitigation must be considered for all impacts,
whether or not the impacts are significant
•All reasonable mitigation
measures that could improve
the project are to be identified
and included

36. Mitigation
•The CEQ regulations define mitigation
to include:
–Avoiding the impact altogether by not
taking a certain action or parts of an action.
–Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or
magnitude of the action and its
implementation.
–Rectifying the impact by repairing,
rehabilitating, or restoring the affected
environment.
More …

37. Mitigation
–Reducing or eliminating the impact over
time by preservation and maintenance
operations during the life of the action.
–Compensating for the impact by
replacing or providing substitute
resources or environments.

40. Comments and Coordination
•Scoping process
•Results of any meetings
•Comments received during preliminary
coordination

41. List of preparers
•Lists those primarily responsible for
preparing the EIS or background
papers
•Individual’s name and qualifications

42. Environmental Justice
•Neither minority nor low-income
populations may receive disproportionately
high and adverse impacts as a result of a
proposed project
•Representatives of any low-income or
minority populations that could be affected
shall be given the opportunity to be
included in the impact assessment and
public involvement process.

43. Instructions and sample report for class, located at
http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/ce453/eis/

44. Appendix C
N.W. 86TH STREET
CORRIDOR
IOWA 141 TO N.W.
BEAVER DRIVE
POLK COUNTY, IOWA
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT
Submitted Pursuant to
42 USC 4332(2)(c)

54. Iowa River Bridge/US 20
see http://www.dot.state.ia.us/iowariverbridge/
•Monkshood plant
•Mussels (lampsilis
higginsii)
•Special runoff and
construction process
•I-girder launching