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ENVIRONMENTAL

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted in 1970 to "ensure that information on the environmental impacts of any federal action is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and before actions are taken." The NEPA process is intended to "help public officials make decisions that are based on understanding of environmental consequences, and take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment."

In order to satisfy NEPA requirements for this project, an environmental document will be prepared as project development progresses. Projects are classified for environmetal review purposes based on project complexity and potential environmental impacts. For this project, it is assumed at this time that a Class I Environmental Impact Statement will be required.

Summarized below are the steps that will be taken during the course of the project to satisfy NEPA requirements.

Where can I get more information? The complete environmental process is documented well in ITD's Environmental Manual. Click this link to get more information about the process.

 

The environmental process is initiated by publishing a Notice of Intent (NOI) which advises federal agencies that an EIS will be prepared. Environmental scoping will begin in order to identify the the types of actions to be completed, the range of alternatives and impacts, and the significant impacts to be addressed in the environmental document.

A draft EIS (DEIS) will be prepared that identifies the alternative actions and presents an analysis of their relative impacts on the environment. It may identify a recommended course of action if one alternative is clearly preferred. The DEIS summarizes the early coordination and scoping process, identifies key issues, and presents pertinent information obtained through these efforts.

The DEIS will be published and a public hearing held. The DEIS will be circulated, as required under federal regulations, to environmental review agencies, cities and counties, local agencies, the media, public officials, private interest groups and others.

Based on DEIS review comments, additional environmental studies and documentaion may be required. The final EIS (FEIS) will be prepared to document such studies, and to respond to formal comment. The FEIS is then published (in the same way as the DEIS), and a Record of Decision (ROD) is prepared and approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

Right-of-Way acquisition, PS&E (Plans, Specifications & Estimates) preparation, and construction may then commence.

 

 

 

Idaho Transportation Department
Updated March 23, 2004 - Reviewed March 31, 2004