1、Examples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents www.environment.transportation.orgExamples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Introduction For more than a decade, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been engage
2、d in an effort to improve the quality of environmental documents prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This effort has included several initiatives undertaken in collaboration with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American
3、 Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). In 2006, this collaborative effort resulted in the publication of a joint report, Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents, which identified three core principles that should guide the preparation of high-quality NEPA documents: Tell the Story: Tell
4、the story of the project so that the reader can easily understand the purpose and need for the project, how each alternative would meet the project goals, and the strengths and weaknesses associated with each alternative. Keep it Brief: Keep the document as brief as possible, using clear, concise wr
5、iting; an easy-to-use format; effective graphics and visual elements; and discussion of issues and impacts in proportion to their significance. Meet Legal Requirements: Ensure that the document meets all legal requirements in a way that is easy to follow for regulators and technical reviewers. Since
6、 2006, many State departments of transportation have embraced reader-friendly approaches to NEPA documents. In addition, FHWA has actively encouraged efforts to improve NEPA document quality as part of the Every Day Counts initiative. This broad commitment has resulted in a growing body of examples
7、of completed NEPA documents that embody reader-friendly principles. But in practice, it can be difficult for practitioners to find relevant examples of the various techniques that have emerged across the country. The purpose of this report is to help practitioners bridge the gap between the theory a
8、nd practice of producing high-quality NEPA documents by providing examples that illustrate specific techniques. The examples are organized into two broad categories: Improving Overall Document Quality. This group includes techniques for improving the quality and readability of the NEPA document as a
9、 whole. These examples address such issues such as page layout, writing style, and graphics. Meeting NEPA and Related Requirements. This group includes techniques for strengthening portions of the document that address specific requirements under NEPA and other environmental laws. These examples add
10、ress issues such as purpose and need, alternatives analysis, methodologies, and mitigation. For a full list of the techniques covered in this report, refer to the Table of Contents below. 1 1 Examples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental DocumentsExamples of Effective T
11、echniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Background How is this report organized? This report consists of 17 chapters, each addressing a technique for improving the quality NEPA documents. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction, which provides context and describes the t
12、echnique. Following the introduction, the chapter includes a series of examples. Each example is an excerpt from a recent EIS. The examples are annotated to describe the techniques that they are intended to illustrate. How was this report was developed? The examples in this report were gathered base
13、d on input received from State departments of transportation and consultants, as well as independent research. The examples in this report were selected because they illustrate a range of potential methods for improving the quality and readability of NEPA documents. For a list of the NEPA documents
14、used in developing this report, refer to the Reference Documents section below. How is “document quality” defined? For purposes of this report, “quality” is defined broadly to include both readability and legal sufficiency. Therefore, this report does not focus solely on ways to make NEPA documents
15、more “reader-friendly.” Some of the techniques primarily enhance readability, while others primarily enhance legal sufficiency and defensibility. Does this report create any new requirements? Is it official guidance? No. The goal of this report is to serve as a source of ideas about ways to improve
16、NEPA documents. The report does not create requirements, nor does it provide official guidance. What other materials are available to assist in improving NEPA document quality? The 2006 report, Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents, provides an excellent overview of approaches to improvin
17、g NEPA document quality. In addition, several States have developed their own guidance documents, as listed in Resource Materials below. In addition, a Practitioners Handbook on Improving NEPA Document Quality is in development by the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO. The Practitioners
18、Handbook will synthesize and expand upon the techniques shown in this report. Where can copies of this report be obtained? Copies of this report are available for download, without charge, on the website of the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO at www.environment.transportation.org. 2 2
19、Examples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents A.Techniques for Improving Overall Document Quality Chapter 1. PageLayout Chapter 2. Writing Style Chapter 3. Document Structure Chapter 4. Navigation Chapter 5. Abstracts Chapter 6. Presentation of Data 3 Examples
20、 of Eective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Chapter 7. Figures Chapter 8. Visualization Chapter 9. Appendices Chapter 10.Referencesto Supporting Materials B. Techniques for Demonstrating Compliance with NEPA and Related Requirements Chapter 11.Purpose and Need Chapter
21、 12.Alternatives Analysis 4 Examples of Eective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Chapter 13.Methodologies Chapter 14.Mitigation/Commitments Chapter 15.Regulatory Compliance Chapter 16.Responses to Comments on DEIS Chapter 17. Changes During the NEPA Process 5 Examples
22、of Eective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental DocumentsExamples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Reference Documents Excerpts from the following NEPA documents are included in this report. Colorado US 36 Corridor, Final Environmental Imp
23、act Statement (Oct. 2009), prepared by FHWA and Colorado Department of Transportation I-70 Mountain Corridor, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (March 2011), prepared by FHWA and Colorado Department of Transportation Illinois Elgin-OHare Bypass, Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Stat
24、ement (May 2010), prepared by FHWA and Illinois Department of Transportation Indiana I-69, Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (Dec. 2003), prepared by FHWA and Indiana Department of Transportation Maryland Baltimore Red Line Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement (Nov. 2012), prepare
25、d by FTA and Maryland Transit Administration Purple Line Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement (Aug. 2013), prepared by FTA and Maryland Transit Administration Intercounty Connector, Final Environmental Impact Statement (Jan. 2006), prepared by FHWA and Maryland State Highway Administration
26、North Carolina Mid-Currituck Bridge, Final Environmental Impact Statement (Jan. 2012), prepared by FHWA and North Carolina Department of Transportation Ohio Cleveland Opportunity Corridor, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Aug. 2013), prepared by FHWA and Ohio Department of Transportation 7 7 Ex
27、amples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental DocumentsExamples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Oregon OR 62, I-5 to Dutton Road, Final Environmental Impact Statement (May 2013), prepared by FHWA and Oregon Department of Transp
28、ortation Utah West Davis Corridor, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (April 2013), prepared by FHWA and Utah Department of Transportation Washington State SR 520, I-5 to Medina, Final Environmental Impact Statement (June 2011), prepared by FHWA and Washington State Department of Transportation I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East, Final Environmental Impact S
