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Categorical Exclusion (CE)
A category of actions that has been found, through procedures adopted
by a Federal agency, to have no significant impact, either individually
or cumulatively, on the environment. Neither an environmental assessment
nor an environmental impact statement is required when there is a CE.
Cooperating Agency
Any Federal agency other than a lead agency which has jurisdiction by
law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved
in a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the
human environment. A state or local agency of similar qualifications
(or, when the effects are on a reservation, an Indian Tribe) may, by
agreement with the lead agency, become a cooperating agency.
Council on Environmental Quality
Established by Congress within the Executive Office of the President
as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) coordinates federal environmental
efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices
in the development of environmental policies and initiatives. The Council's
Chair, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent
of the Senate, serves as the principal environmental policy adviser
to the President. The CEQ reports annually to the President on the state
of the environment, oversees federal agency implementation of the environmental
impact assessment process, and acts as a referee when agencies disagree
over the adequacy of such assessments.
Cumulative Impact
The impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact
of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable
future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or
person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result
from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking
place over a period of time.
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation (DOT) was established by an act
of Congress on October 15, 1966. The mission of the DOT is to serve
the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and
convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests
and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into
the future. The DOT's vision is to lead the way to transportation excellence
and innovation in the 21st Century.
Direct Impact
See effect (next item).
Effect
There are two types of effect, direct and indirect.
a) A direct effect (also known as a 'direct impact') is caused by
the action and occurs at the same time and place.
b) An indirect effect (also known as an 'indirect impact' or 'secondary
effect') is caused by the action and occurs later in time or farther
removed in distance, but is still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect
effects may include growth inducing effects and other effects related
to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density
or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other natural
systems, including ecosystems.
Environmental Assessment (EA)
A concise public document for which a Federal agency is responsible
that serves to:
a) Briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining
whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or a finding of
no significant impact.
b) Aid in an agency's compliance with NEPA when no Environmental Impact
Statement is necessary.
c) Facilitate preparation of a statement when one is necessary.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The detailed statement required by section 102(2)(C) of NEPA which an
agency prepares when its proposed action significantly affects the quality
of the human environment.
Environmental Quality Improvement Act (EQIA) of 1970,
as amended
The Environmental Quality Improvement Act ensures that each Federal
agency conducting or supporting public works activities affecting the
environment implements policies established under existing law. The
EQIA also created the Office of Environmental Quality to provide professional
and administrative staff for the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
The Director of the Office of Environmental Quality assists and advises
the President on Federal policies and programs affecting environmental
quality. The Office of Environmental Quality reviews the adequacy of
existing environmental monitoring and predicting systems, and assists
Federal agencies in appraising the effectiveness of existing and proposed
facilities that affect environmental quality.
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a part of the Department
of Transportation and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The mission
of the FHWA is to enhance mobility through innovation, leadership, and
public service. FHWA provides expertise, resources, and information
to continually improve the quality of our nation's highway system and
its intermodal connections. FHWA undertakes this mission in order to
enhance the country's economic vitality, quality of life, and the environment.
The services FHWA provides are designed to meet the present-day transportation
needs while laying the foundation to address the future transportation
needs of our Nation.
Finding of no Significant Impact (FONSI)
A document by a Federal agency briefly presenting the reasons why an
action, not otherwise excluded, will not have a significant effect on
the human environment and for which an Environmental Impact Statement
therefore will not be prepared. It shall include the environmental assessment
or a summary of it and shall note any other environmental documents
related to it.
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) , administers a program
of financial assistance for the providers of urban and rural public
mass transportation. The mission of FTA is to provide leadership, technical
assistance, and financial resources for safe, technologically advanced
public transportation which enhances all citizens' mobility and accessibility,
improves America's communities and natural environment, and strengthens
the national economy. The statutory authority for FTA's programs is
the Federal Transit Act, as amended.
Human Environment
Human environment shall be interpreted comprehensively to include the
natural and physical environment and the relationship of people with
that environment. This means that economic and social effects are not
intended by themselves to require preparation of an environmental impact
statement. When an environmental impact statement is prepared and economic
or social and natural or physical environmental effects are interrelated,
then the environmental impact statement will discuss all of these effects
on the human environment.
Impact
See item 'a' under effect.
Indirect Impact
See item 'b' under effect.
Lead Agency
The agency or agencies preparing, or taking primary responsibility for
preparing, the Environmental Impact Statement.
Minimization
Minimization involves measures developed during the planning phase of
a project to reduce proposed impacts to a resource. Minimization measures
could include alignment shifts, a commitment to off season construction,
replacement of land or facilities, restoration or landscaping, or payment
of fair market value for impacted lands.
Mitigation
Mitigation includes the following:
a) Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action
or parts of an action.
b) Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the
action and its implementation.
c) Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring
the affected environment.
d) Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and
maintenance operations during the life of the action.
e) Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute
resources or environments.
National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is considered
to be the basic "National Charter" for protection of the environment.
NEPA requires that, to the extent possible, the policies, regulations,
and laws of the Federal Government be interpreted and administered in
accordance with the protection goals of the law. It also requires Federal
agencies to use an interdisciplinary approach in planning and decisionmaking
for actions that impact the environment. Finally, NEPA requires the
preparation of an EIS on all major Federal actions significantly affecting
the human environment.
Notice of Intent (NOI)
A notice that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared and
considered. The notice shall briefly:
a) Describe the proposed action and possible alternatives.
b ) Describe the agency's proposed scoping process including whether,
when, and where any scoping meeting will be held.
c) State the name and address of a person within the agency who can
answer questions about the proposed action and the Environmental Impact
Statement.
Protection and Enhancement of Environmental
Quality, Executive Order 11514 of 1977
(Amended by Executive Order 11991)
Executive Order 11514, as amended by E.O. 11991, directs Federal agencies
to initiate measures needed to direct their policies, plans, and programs
to meet national environmental goals. Federal agencies are responsible
for developing procedures (e.g., public hearings, information on alternative
courses of action) to ensure the public can review, understand, and
comment on Federal plans and programs with environmental impacts in
a timely manner. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) developed
regulations requiring Environmental Impact Statements to be more concise,
clear, and to the point, (and therefore more useful to the decision
makers) in response to this executive order.
Purpose and Need
Explanation of why the federal agency and project proponent are undertaking
the proposed action and what objectives they intend to achieve. Basis
may include: capacity and transportation demand, safety, legislative
directive, economic development/planned growth, modal interrelationships,
system linkage and roadway deficiencies. The statement of purpose and
need provides the basis for developing a range of reasonable alternatives
and, ultimately, the identification of the preferred alternative.
Record of Decision (ROD)
A public document signed by the decision maker at the time of a decision.
The ROD states the decision, alternatives considered, the environmentally
preferable alternative or alternatives, factors considered in the agencies
decision, mitigation measures that will be implemented, and a description
of any applicable enforcement and monitoring programs.
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, as amended
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act authorizes the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to review certain proposed actions of other federal agencies
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
to make those reviews public.
Scope
Consists of the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered
in an environmental impact statement.
Scoping Process
A process that allows for early identification of potentially significant
environmental issues. This process begins with an introduction to the
environmental review agencies and the public, the purpose of which is
to initiate coordination and involvement activities that will span the
life of the project. Agencies with specialized knowledge of these areas
may be asked to participate as cooperating agencies, while other agencies
are required by law to participate in project development.
Secondary Impact
See item 'b' under effect.
Significance
This term, as used in NEPA, requires considerations of both context
and intensity:
a) Context. The significance of an action must be analyzed in several
contexts such as society as a whole (human, national), the affected
region, the affected interests, and the locality. Significance varies
with the setting of the proposed action.
b) Intensity. This refers to the severity of the impact—that
is, the degree to which the action affects public health or safety,
or sensitive environmental resources.
Tiering
Tiering refers to the coverage of general matters in broader environmental
impact statements (such as national program or policy statements)
with subsequent narrower statements or environmental analyses (such
as regional or basinwide program statements or ultimately site-specific
statements) incorporating by reference the general discussions and
concentrating solely on the issues specific to the statement subsequently
prepared. Tiering is appropriate when the sequence of statements or
analyses is:
a) From a program, plan, or policy environmental impact statement
to a program, plan, or policy statement or analysis of lesser scope
or to a site- specific statement or analysis.
b) From an environmental impact statement on a specific action at
an early stage (such as need and site selection) to a supplement
(which is preferred) or a subsequent statement or analysis at a
later stage (such as environmental mitigation). Tiering in such
cases is appropriate when it helps the lead agency to focus on the
issues which are ripe for decision and exclude from consideration
issues already decided or not yet ripe
Urban Mass Transportation Administration
The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA), an agency of
the U.S. Department of Transportation, was established in 1968 when
the federal urban transit program was transferred to the DOT. Under
the federal transit program, the UMTA seeks to increase the mobility
of non-drivers, relieve traffic congestion, and improve the quality
of the urban environment.
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