On this page, we have defined some of the terms that will be prevalent throughout this study.  On the right, you will find some Frequently Asked Questions.  If you still have unanswered questions, please Contact Us!

What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA established a national environmental policy focused on Federal activities and the desire for a sustainable environment balanced with other essential needs of present and future generations of Americans.

NEPA established a supplemental mandate for Federal agencies to consider the potential environmental consequences of their proposals, document the analysis, and make this information available to the public for comment prior to implementation.

While NEPA established the basic framework for integrating environmental considerations into Federal decision making, it did not provide the details of the process for which it would be accomplished. Federal implementation of NEPA was the charge of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which interpreted the law and addressed NEPA’s action forcing provisions in the form of regulations and guidance.

Source:  Federal Highway Administration (http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/index.asp)

What is the NEPA Process?

Each Federal agency has its own agency NEPA implementing procedures which adapt the framework established by the CEQ regulations to address agency specific missions and decision making authority.  The NEPA process begins when an agency proposes to take an action (this can include proposals to adopt: rules and regulations; formal plans that direct future actions; program; and specific projects, (see 40 C.F.R. § 1508.18).  Once the proposal is conceptualized and any reasonable alternatives have been developed, the agency must determine if the action has the potential to affect the quality of the human environment.  This process results in one of three levels of NEPA analysis.  Agencies may:

• apply a Categorical Exclusion;
• prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA); or,
• prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Source:  Council on Environmental Quality (http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/)

What is an EA?

The purpose of an EA is to determine if a proposed action or its alternatives have potentially significant environmental effects.  An EA:

• provides evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS;
• aids agency compliance with NEPA when no EIS is necessary; and,
• facilitates preparation of an EIS when one is necessary.

Often, the EA will also identify ways the agency can modify their proposed action to minimize environmental effects. The EA process concludes with either a Finding of No Significant Impact or a determination to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

Source:  Council on Environmental Quality (http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/)

What is CSS?

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) uses innovative and inclusive approaches that integrate and balance community, aesthetic, historic and environmental values with transportation safety and efficiency performance goals. It is simultaneously a philosophy and a set of practices in which transportation solutions are developed through the combined efforts of interdisciplinary teams working interactively with the stakeholders they serve.

CSS is reflective of sound traffic engineering judgment in meeting access and mobility needs for all users in a safe manner, while respecting and where possible, enhancing the characteristics of surrounding communities and the environment. The end product is a transportation solution stemming from a collaborative planning process.

The CSS process is a more inclusive and interactive process, which improves the likelihood of consensus between interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders.  Compared to traditional processes, CSS is more collaborative, more creative, and more flexible. The results of this process often save money, shorten project development times, and provide win-win outcomes that improve the community and environmental contexts as well as transportation.

CSS also means that project-focused interdisciplinary teams – planners, engineers, landscape architects, environmental analysts - whatever disciplines are needed to address the issues and opportunities at hand – are engaged not only in addressing the needs within their individual specialty areas, but work creatively among themselves and collaboratively with stakeholders to formulate initial ideas and to narrow them down toward preferred options.