Description:
The goal of this seminar is to support the efficient and effective management of environmental processes in the development and construction of transit and multi-modal transportation projects by providing current information on federal requirements, identifying best practices, and facilitating the sharing of information and insight among advanced practitioners.
Seminar topics include:
Streamlining and Stewardship for Success
Explore what streamlining really means for a successful environmental review process under NEPA. In addition to defining streamlining principles and initiatives, this section will lay the foundation for how good stewardship of the natural and human environment can expedite not only the environmental review processes, but the entire project development process. The importance of public involvement and agency coordination will also be addressed.
Determining the Correct Class of Action
Review how FTA assesses what Class of Action is right to support project decision-making, and the factors that influence the FTA determination. Special emphasis will be placed on deciding between a Documented Categorical Exclusion and an Environmental Assessment, and between an Environmental Assessment and an Environmental Impact Statement.
Implementing Successful Agency Coordination Programs
Base on real project examples, explore how different agency coordination approaches can support efficient and effective environmental review, and discuss how to tailor coordination needs based on the scale of the project, and the extent of the issues and concerns to be resolved.
Coordinating, But Not Confusing, Section 106 and Section 4(f)
Review the differences and similarities between Section 4(f) and Section 106, the relationships between the two processes and related content, and how to avoid duplication of effort while making sure all requirements are met. The different statutory bases for Section 4(f) and Section 106, the types of resources regulated, commonalities and differences in the analyses required to comply with both regulations, and public involvement and agency coordination requirements will be discussed.
Managing NEPA and New Starts Interface
Address the key interfaces between the processes, as well as procedural and technical areas that need to be coordinated including purpose and need, definition of alternatives, travel demand forecasting, cost estimation, and environmental benefits. Common misperceptions about the role of New Starts during the NEPA process, as well as how and when to coordinate requirements during project development will be covered.
Enhancing Environmental Documentation
Learn how to improve the quality of environmental documentation by considering the “dos” and “don’ts” of traditional documentation, the importance of capturing environmental benefits as part of the NEPA documentation, and innovations in documentation, including reader-friendly documents.
Managing Mitigation
Focus on improving the effectiveness of how mitigation is addressed during and after the environmental review process. A review of USDOT mitigation requirements and policies will set the foundation for developing effective mitigation plans; this is followed by the opportunity for participants to apply these principles to scenarios and explore how to develop a comprehensive approach to mitigation over the course of the NEPA process. The role of effective mitigation planning and implementation in stewardship and streamlining, as well as mitigation monitoring, will be explored.
Future Challenges
Assess how burgeoning initiatives such as green design, climate change, and liveable communities may be integrated into the environmental review process.
