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Environmental Impact Analysis

Environmental Impact Analysis. Background and Regulatory Concepts. Outline of Presentation. Overview of Environmental Impact Analyses Purpose History Implementation of NEPA, SEPA Regulations Agency Roles EA/EIS Process. What is EIA-Wikipedia.

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Environmental Impact Analysis

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  1. Environmental Impact Analysis Background and Regulatory Concepts

  2. Outline of Presentation • Overview of Environmental Impact Analyses • Purpose • History • Implementation of NEPA, SEPA • Regulations • Agency Roles • EA/EIS Process

  3. What is EIA-Wikipedia • Assessment of the likely positive and/or negative influence a project may have on the environment • Identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made. • Ensure that decision-makers (have the proper information and incentive to) consider environmental impacts before deciding whether to proceed with new projects. Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_assessment Accessed: June 2009

  4. Some History • Pioneered by US Laws • NHPA (1965), NEPA (1969) • Now an international process • Developing Countries – Central America • UNEP • World Bank • We will focus on NEPA and Washington’s SEPA law

  5. NEPA Background • Events of the 60’s • Cayuhoga River catches fire • Torrey Canyon Oil Spill • Concern with Federal Government actions • Proposal for dam that would flood Grand Canyon – Famous Greenpeace ads in NY times and Washington Post

  6. NEPA Goals • Promote federal efforts to prevent or eliminate damage to the environment • Ensure that federal decision makers take environmental actions into account when making decisions. • NEPA process includes full range of activities to evaluate the environmental impacts of a proposed action. • Does not dictate a decision or require elevation of environmental concerns over other pertinent considerations….procedural.

  7. Key Features • Created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) • Federal agencies must amend their own internal rules, policies to conform with NEPA goals and CEQ regulations • Established a framework for consideration of environmental consequences and possible mitigation options (EA-EIS process) • Focus on process, not substance, of decisions (unlike SEPA) • Model for 15+ state laws

  8. NEPA - Section 101 • Sets out environmental policies which directs the federal government to: • Act as trustee of the environment for succeeding generations • Assure a safe, healthy, productive & aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings • Attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health & safety, or other undesirable or unintended consequences

  9. Section 101 continued • Preserve important historic, cultural, & natural aspects of our national heritage & maintain an environment which supports diversity & individual choice • Enhance the quality of renewable resources & approach the maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources

  10. NEPA - Section 102 • NEPA applies to all federal policies, regulations & laws • Directs all federal agencies to: • Use a systematic interdisciplinary approach in planning and decision making • Ensure the integrated use of natural, & social sciences & environmental design arts • Take into consideration un-quantifiable environmental amenities & values as well as economic & technical factors in decision-making

  11. NEPA - Section 102 • Prepare an EIS for “major federal actions significantly affecting the human environment” • Study alternatives for any proposal • In 1978 US Supreme Court declared that NEPA’s mandate was “essentially procedural” & 1980 affirmed that once an agency has made a decision subject to NEPA’s requirements, the judicial role is limited to whether the agency has “considered” environmental consequences of it’s action.

  12. What’s Covered • Major Federal Actions significantly affecting the environment • Federal plans, rules, programs • Projects requiring a Federal permit • Projects receiving Federal funding • Required to look at connected actions as well

  13. Connected Actions • Idea is - can’t chop up a project into smaller bits to avoid NEPA requirements • Examples of connected actions • One automatically triggers another • One can’t proceed without the other • Independent parts of a larger action

  14. When Does NEPA Not Apply? • Categorical Exclusions • Express Statutory Exemption • Certain EPA Laws Clean Air, Clean Water • Alaska Pipeline • Defense Base Closure Act • Disaster Relief Act • Certain disaster restoration projects • Processes determined by Court to be “Functionally Equivalent” • Superfund Act - RI/FS process

  15. NEPA Process Categorical Exclusion? No YES Yes Significant Impact ? Unknown Significant impact Documented CE Listed CE Environmental Assessment Notice of Intent & Scoping Process Draft EIS Coordination and analysis as needed No significant impacts Public Comment Document appropriately Final EIS Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Record of Decision (ROD) Agency Action Agency Action Agency Action Source:http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/LGS/docs/SLAPDC_Conference_Notes/Environmental.ppt Accessed: January, 2007

  16. Key Issue - “Significantly Affecting the Human Environment” • Significantly • Context – i.e. sensitive areas • Intensity - criteria in NEPA book p 49 (also in FS EAs) • Some agencies offer guidance - NY DEC • Human Environment • Human health • Natural environment • Built environment

  17. NEPA “Documents” • Categorical Exclusion (CE) • Environmental Assessment (EA) • Case study for Thursday • Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) • Notice of Intent (NOI) • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) • Draft, Final • Record of Decision (ROD)

  18. Requirements for an EIS(some are also in EA) • Short, concise, stream-lined, integrated with other documents; • Rely on existing information where possible (incorporation and adoption); • Clearly and concisely discuss environmental issues • Consider reasonable range of alternatives including no impact • Consider cumulative impacts • Direct and indirect effects • Tiering

  19. Endangered Species Act – Section 7 Clean Air Act Safe Water Drinking Act Clean Water Act 404(b)(1) Farmland Protection Policy Act National Historic Preservation Act Floodplains Laws Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Archeological and Historic Preservation Act NEPA Process Brings in Other Laws • Oil Pollution Act • Wilderness Act • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act • Marine Mammal Protection Act • Farmland Protection Policy Act • Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice) • Public involvement, interagency coordination • Tribal consultation • Noise Standards • Public Hearing Requirements

  20. Final EIS Filings EAs now dominant form of documentation http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/EISs_by_Year_1970_2007.pdf Source: www.nepa.gov

  21. Filed EISs Calendar Year 2005 Source: www.nepa.gov

  22. Public Intervention in NEPA Process • Commenting on the EIS and related documents required for any subsequent involvement • No provisions for administrative appeal • Civil Suits • Still require standing, exhaustion of admin process • Injunctive relief - for example, project is prohibited from proceeding until adequate EIS is completed

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