The Environmental Assessment Process

For federally-funded transportation projects, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that the environmental impacts of the proposed action be analyzed. This type of study is required before federal funds can be committed to the project. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the lead federal agency on the US 6 and Wadsworth Boulevard Interchange Environmental Assessment (EA).

Essential Elements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Public & Agency Scoping
Purpose & Need
Alternatives Development
Assess Impacts
Determine Mitigation
Prepare Environmental Assessment
Public & Agency Review
Decision Document

Public & Agency Scoping: This is a public process used to identify environmental issues that need to be studied and to help define the purpose and need for the project.

Purpose & Need: The project purpose and need identifies the transportation problems and other needs that the project is intended to address. It is defined through information gathered during scoping meetings and data collection activities.

Alternatives Development: A range of alternatives is developed for the design of the 6th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard interchange and Wadsworth Boulevard from approximately 4th Avenue to 14th Avenue. A “No Action” Alternative – which would not provide any transportation improvements – is also considered. The range of alternatives is then screened to eliminate alternatives that aren’t reasonable, feasible, or that don’t meet the project purpose and need.

Assess Impacts: Transportation, social, and environmental impacts of the remaining alternatives are studied and documented in the EA.

Determine Mitigation: Mitigation measures are developed to avoid or minimize adverse impacts.

Prepare Environmental Assessment: Once impacts are analyzed and mitigation measures are identified, the EA is written and published for review by the public and agencies.

Public & Agency Review: The project team takes comments from the public and agencies during the review period. A public hearing is held to present the information and take formal comments on the document.

Decision Document: After receiving public and agency comments on the EA, FHWA issues a decision document. This document records the decision made by FHWA on the project and, if a construction project is identified, commits to mitigation of impacts.