Outcomes of the Environmental Streamlining Pilot Projects (2005) / Chapter Skim
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Research Results Digest 300 November 2005 SUMMARY This digest describes the analysis of 10 environmental streamlining projects and suggests a "toolbox" of best practices for reducing the time associated with highway-project environmental reviews and approvals. The digest discusses the main points presented in the final report for NCHRP Project 25-24, "Monitoring, Analyzing, and Reporting on the Environmental Streamlining Pilot Projects" (published as NCHRP Web-Only Document 79 and available by clicking on "NCHRP Web Documents" at www4.trb.org/trb/ onlinepubs.nsf)
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lining. Ten projects in seven states (California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin)
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3EXHIBIT 1 Pilot Projects Monitored in the Research The Riverside County Integrated Project (RCIP) in California The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
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ment process requires substantial coordination and clear communication between project proponents and reviewing agencies. Project proponents and reviewing agencies must agree on which decisions will be made in a Tier 1 versus a Tier 2 document and agree on the level of detail necessary in each document.
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criteria within the three SAMP watersheds. The regional general Section 404 permit is expected to streamline regional Section 404 compliance by using a programmatic approach to permitting.
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For What Is Success Indeterminate? The Merced PIP could not be evaluated in terms of environmental streamlining as major projects from the Merced County 2030 Regional Transportation Plan have not yet completed the NEPA review process.
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What Was Not Successful? • Some agency staff reported that the ETDM process required the same or increased levels of staffing resources.
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guidelines require amendments to the local comprehensive plan and exceptions to statewide planning goals to be passed in the period between the completion of the location draft EIS and the publication of the location final EIS. Presently, only one project has progressed far enough through the Integrated Process to be evaluated.
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For more detailed information on the project, refer to the project narrative in Appendix B of NCHRP Web-Only Document 79. What Was Successful?
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10 EXHIBIT 2 Environmental Streamlining Toolbox Management Considerations Best Practices Partnerships and Collaboration • Implement early in the project or planning timeline • Involve high-level staff • Cast a wide net for stakeholders • Establish guidelines for roles and responsibilities • Involve all decision makers in all steps Communication • Employ facilitators and mediators • Develop a conflict resolution plan and procedures • Develop educational process • Consider use of electronic communications Leadership and Staffing • Engage elected officials and key agency leaders • Engage experienced and creative environmental professionals Logistics • Be realistic about scheduling • Factor issues such as travel into project and process budgets Technical Approaches Requirements Integrating Planning and Environmental Review • Clear communication and collaboration • Realistic schedule • Clear expectations on level of data needed • Education on the process • Clear understanding of agency roles and responsibilities • Dispute-resolution process Corridor Preservation • Sufficient funding • Realistic schedule • Public involvement Tiered NEPA Process • Clarify decisions to be made at each tier • Clarify level of data needed at each tier Agency Position Funding • Master agreement • Position- or agency-specific multiyear contracts • Clear minimum professional requirements • Performance measures • Progress tracking system and procedures • Flexible funding What Was Not Successful? WisDOT hoped to reduce the EIS length to approximately 150 to 300 pages (not including technical appendixes or comment letters)
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REPORT AVAILABILITY The complete report for NCHRP Project 25-24 is available on TRB's website as NCHRP Web-Only Document 79 (available by clicking on "NCHRP Web Documents" at www4.trb.org/trb/onlinepubs.nsf)
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Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 These digests are issued in order to increase awareness of research results emanating from projects in the Cooperative Research Programs (CRP)
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