Local and Primary Projects
Transportation projects vary in type, size, complexity, and potential to affect the human and natural environment. To account for the variability of project impacts, three basic "classes of action" are allowed and determine how compliance with NEPA is carried out and documented.
List items for NEPA Compliance Projects
An environmental impact statement (EIS) is prepared for projects where it is known that the action will have a significant effect on the environment. The following are examples of actions that normally require an EIS.
- A new controlled access freeway.
- A highway project of four or more lanes on a new alignment.
- New construction or extension of fixed-rail transit facilities.
- New construction or extension of a separate roadway for buses or high-occupancy vehicles not located within an existing highway facility.
| Coordination Packet | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Agency Coordination List | Local and Primary |
| Agency Coordination Address List | Local and Primary |
| Cooperating Participating Agency Letter | Primary |
| Cooperating Participating Agency Letter | Local |
| Participating Agency Letter | Local |
| EIS Participating Agency Letter | Primary |
| Railroad Insert | Local and Primary |
| Letter to NRI | Local and Primary |
| Scoping Packet | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Alternatives Discussion Example | Local and Primary |
| Coordination Plan Template | Local and Primary |
| Cover Letter | Local and Primary |
| Methodologies | Local and Primary |
| Project Description Example | Local and Primary |
| Purpose and Need Example | Local and Primary |
| Study Map Example | Local and Primary |
| Record of Decision Template | Local and Primary |
| Process Documents | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Determination of Effect for T and E Species Form | Local and Primary |
| Document Distribution | Local and Primary |
| Document Distribution Letter | Local |
| Document Distribution Letter | Primary |
| DOI Distribution | Local and Primary |
| EIS Process | Local and Primary |
| Farmland Protection Impact Form | Local and Primary |
| Letter of Initiation | Local |
| Letter of Initiation | Primary |
| Memorandum of Understanding | Local and Primary |
| NEPA Process and Administrative Record | Local and Primary |
| Notice of Intent | Local |
| Notice of Intent | Primary |
| Notice of Statute of Limitation | Local and Primary |
| Process Short List | Local and Primary |
An environmental assessment (EA) is prepared for actions in which the significance of the environmental impact is not clearly established. Should environmental analysis and interagency review during the EA process find a project to have no significant impacts on the quality of the environment, a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) is issued. If during processing of the EA it is determined that significant impacts will occur; an environmental impact statement will be prepared.
| Coordination Packet | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Agency Coordination Address List | Local and Primary |
| Agency Coordination List | Local and Primary |
| Agency Coordination Railroad Insert | Local and Primary |
| Early Coordination Letter | Local |
| Early Coordination Letter | Primary |
| Letter to NRI | Local and Primary |
| Project Description Example | Local and Primary |
| Study Map Example | Local and Primary |
| Process Documents | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Determination Of Effect for T and E Species Form | Local and Primary |
| EA Distribution | Primary |
| EA Distribution | Local |
| EA Template | Local and Primary |
| Farmland Protection Form Info | Local and Primary |
| FONSI Content | Local and Primary |
| FONSI External Availability Letter | Local and Primary |
| Guidance Document | Local and Primary |
| NEPA Process And Administrative Record | Local and Primary |
| Template | Local and Primary |
Categorical exclusions (CEs) are issued for actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the environment.
| Coordination Packet | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Agency Coordination List | Local and Primary |
| Agency Coordination Address List | Local and Primary |
| Agency Coordination Railroad Insert | Local and Primary |
| Letter to NRI | Local and Primary |
| Process Documents | Project Type |
|---|---|
| Categorical Exclusion Guidance Document | Local |
| Determination of Effect For T and E Species Form | Local and Primary |
| Farmland Protection Form Info | Local and Primary |
| Part C CE | Local and Primary |
The Department of Transportation Act (DOT Act) of 1966 included Section 4(f), a special provision which stipulated that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other DOT agencies cannot approve the use of land from significant publicly owned parks, recreational areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, or public and private historical sites unless the following conditions apply.
- There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of land.
- The action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property resulting from use.
When a Section 4(f) document is prepared, impacts to 4(f) resources are addressed with either a; Section 4(f) statement, a programmatic Section 4(f) statement or a de minimis impact finding depending on the severity of impacts to a 4(f) resource.
A de minimis impact is one that will not adversely affect the activities, features or attributes of the property. For historic sites, a de minimis impact means that FHWA has determined (in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800) that either no historic property is affect by the project or that the project will have "no adverse effect" on the historic property. A de minimis impact determination does not require analysis to determine if avoidance alternatives are feasible and prudent, but consideration of avoidance, minimization, and mitigation or enhancement measures should occur. There are certain minimum coordination steps that are also necessary.
Section 4(f) Documents Documents
- Programmatic Section 4(f) - Net Benefit
- Programmatic Section 4(f) - Minor Involvement - Park
- Programmatic Section 4(f) - Minor Involvement - Historic
- Programmatic Section 4(f) - Negative Declaration Statement for Independent Bikeway or Walkway Construction
- Section 4(f) - Historic Bridges - Programmatic
- Section 4(f) - OWJ Correspondence
- Section 4(f) - Document Distribution
- Section 4(f) - Temporary Impact Form - Recreation
- Section 4(f) - Temporary Impact Form - Refuge
- Section 4(f) - Systems Planning Form
- Section 4(f) - de minimis - Recreation
- Section 4(f) - de minimis - Refuge
- Section 4(f) - Decision Process
- Section 4(f) - Statement Guidance Document
- Section 4(f) Decision Process - Parks Plus