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NCHRP Reports 403 (1998) and 466 (2002): Guidance for Estimating the Indirect Effects of Proposed Transportation Projectshttp://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_w43.pdf
Eight Step Process:Step 1 – Define the Study Area BoundariesStep 2 – Identify the Study Area Communities’ Trends and GoalsStep 3 – Inventory Notable Features Step 4 – Identify Impact Causing Activities of the Proposed Action and AlternativesStep 5 – Identify Potential Impacts For AnalysisStep 6 – Analyze ImpactsStep 7 – Evaluate Analysis ResultsStep 8 – Assess Consequences and Develop Mitigation
Injunction in 1999 lawsuit halted Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
Among issues: inadequate evaluation of indirect and cumulative impacts
NCDOT forms Task Force with Department of Environment and Natural Resources
2001 Guidance for Assessing Indirect and Cumulative Impacts in North Carolina http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/pe/ICI_Guidance.html
Over 250 multi-governmental and consultant staff trained and field-tested in Guidance
Forsyth County study area
In rapidly-growing Piedmont Triad
Issues
Community character
Habitat loss
Historic properties’ context
Water quality degradation
Air pollution
Consequence of interstate designation
Induced travel
Gravity allocation model to identify where indirect effects could occur – macro-scale
Interchange assessments – meso-scale
Available land
Allowable development
Relative change in accessibility
Intersecting road traffic
Induced travel potential estimated using FHWA’ s SMITE model
Qualitative assessment of cumulative impacts
Record of Decision issued in 2008
Plaintiffs sued again
U.S. District Court judge on May 19 ruled in favor of NCDOT and FHWA, and dismissed both the 1999 and 2008 cases
http://www.ncdot.org/projects/wsnb/
Program-wide
Overseen by Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
Continuously improved
Indirect and Cumulative Effects (ICE)
Screening Tool
Section 401 Water Quality Certificate Cumulative http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/pe/PD/Default.html
FHWA 2003 Interim Guidance: Questions and Answers Regarding Indirect and Cumulative Impact Considerations in the NEPA Process http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/guidebook/qaimpactmemo.asp
Other states’ guidance NCHRP 25-25/Task 43 Legal Sufficiency Criteria
for Adequate Indirect Effects and Cumulative Impact Analysis as Related to NEPA Documentshttp://environment.transportation.org/pdf/indirect_effects/NCHRP252543.pdf
NCHRP 25-25/Task 54 Evaluate Colorado’s Area-wide Cumulative Effects Methodology as a Mechanism for Cumulative Impacts Assessment in Regional Transportation Plans http://environment.transportation.org/pdf/indirect_effects/nchrp25-25-54.pdf
Upcoming Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO Practitioners’ Handbook
Mn/DOT St. Croix River Crossing SEIS http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/stcroix/docs/sfeis.html
NHDOT I-93 Widening SEIS http://www.rebuildingi93.com/content/environmental/seis/
VTrans Circ-Williston Transportation Project http://www.circeis.org/draft_eis.html
Variety of terminology and approaches in use
Commonalities – justify the study area, focus on resource issues, document No Build, apply analysis tool that fits, gather input from knowledgeable locals
FHWA March 2010 Interim Guidance on the Application of Travel & Land Use Forecasting in NEPA http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/travel_landUse/travel_landUse_rpt.pdf
Cumulative impacts need to be treated separately from direct and indirect effects