2. I Larry Heil, FHWA October 15, 2003

3. Environmental Streamlining

4. Why integrate planning into NEPA? Hoosier Heartland Corridor Study – 1995 Ohio River MIS (ORMIS) - 1997 US 231 & SR 641 FEIS/ROD – 2000 Indiana NEPA/404 Merger Agreement was a limited success

5. Desired Outcome ONE decision-making process that is efficient, inclusive, structured, that resolves issues as early as possible, and results in high-quality transportation decisions and NEPA documents

6. Why integrate planning into NEPA? Section 1308 of TEA-21 (June 9, 1997), entitled Major Investment Study (MIS) Integration – shall eliminate the MIS as a separate requirement, and – integrate the MIS requirement into NEPA

7. Why integrate planning into NEPA? Section 1309 of TEA-21 (June 9, 1997), entitled Environmental Streamlining – Develop/Implement coordinated environmental review process – Environmental reviews for all Federal permits & approvals conducted concurrently – Establish time frames for reviews – Dispute Resolution

8. How did Indiana integrate planning into NEPA? Environmental Streamlining Task Group – 1 st Draft and agency expectations/issues discussed at January 19, 2001 Meeting – 2 nd Draft and response to agency comments discussed at February26, 2001 Meeting – 3 rd Draft and 30-minute presentation on each active EISs and EA/Corridor Studies presented at March 28-29,2001 Interagency Meeting – Final EIS Procedures issued July 6, 2001

9. Basic Elements of EIS Procedures Establish “Project Coordination Team” to provide a structured mechanism for INDOT, FHWA-IN, and the MPO to guide consultant EIS development Eliminate the duplication of effort between planning and NEPA studies (eliminate MIS, per Section 1308 of TEA-21)

10. Basic Elements of EIS Procedures (cont.) Provide a structured interagency coordination process with deadlines and a dispute resolution process (per Section 1309 of TEA-21) Seek agency input at key decision points Result in timely decisions that avoid project delay

11. Key Coordination Points with Agencies Required: NOI (early coordination), DEIS, FEIS, ROD Three Interagency Review Meetings: – Purpose and Need/Preliminary Alternatives – Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening – Preferred Alternative and Mitigation

12. Interagency Review Meetings Face-to-face meetings with agencies held 30 days into 60-day review period Minutes documenting issues sent 7 days after meeting. Any remaining agency issues may be submitted in writing by the deadline

13. Purpose and Need and Preliminary Alternatives Purpose and Need Package: – 2-page summary – Core objectives & evaluation criteria – Map of conceptual alternatives – Discuss study area problems/issues – Supporting documentation/details

14. Purpose and Need and Preliminary Alternatives(cont.) Seeking agency feedback on: – Statement of core project objectives – Evaluation criteria for alternatives – Additional alternatives – Modification of existing alternatives – Specific resource issues – Response to FHWA invitation to be Cooperating Agency

15. Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening Package: – Revised 2-page P&N – Alternatives Screening Summary Table – Map of alternatives retained/discarded – Preliminary alternatives analysis (GIS) – Rationale for dropping/retaining alternatives – Scope of special studies

16. Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening (cont.) Seeking agency feedback on: – Clarity of preliminary alternatives analysis – Alternatives retained – Methodologies for evaluating impacts – Scope of study needed for critical impacts

17. Preferred Alternative and Mitigation Package: – 2-page summary with map – Summary of major public and agency issues and responses – Recommended Selected Action with rationale – Preliminary proposed mitigation

18. Preferred Alternative and Mitigation (cont.) Seek Agency Feedback on: – Response to agency issues – Rationale for selecting Preferred Alternative and not others

19. EA/Corridor Study vs. EIS INDOT/MPO Funding Commitment Clarity from INDOT and MPO 20-year Transportation Plans Congressionally Mandated Feasibility Study New Transit Start

20. Option 1 – Planning in Context of EIS NOI P&N Interagency Meeting Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening Interagency Meeting DEIS Preferred Alternative and Mitigation Interagency Meeting FEIS/ROD Final Design

21. Option 2 – Planning in Context of EA/Corridor Study Early Coordination Letter P&N Interagency Meeting Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening Interagency Meeting EA/Corridor Study NOI DEIS Preferred Alternative and Mitigation Interagency Meeting FEIS/ROD Final Design

22. Contacts Janice Osadczuk INDOT Josadczuk@indot.state.in.us 317-232-5468 Virginia Laszewski USEPA - Region 5 Laszewski.virginia@epa.gov 312-886-7501 Larry Heil FHWA-IN Larry.heil@fhwa.dot.gov 317-226-7491