PROCEDURES MANUAL - Tennessee Tennessee Department of Transportation Environmental Planning and Permits Division Procedures Manual for Preparing Environmental Documentation under the

PROCEDURES MANUAL

FOR PREPARING ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION UNDER THE

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) OF 1969

August 2004

Tennessee Department of Transportation Environmental Planning and Permits Division

_______________________________ _______________________________

Tennessee Department of Transportation

Environmental Planning and Permits Division

Procedures Manual for

Preparing Environmental Documentation under the

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

August, 2004

Effective Date: _____________

Approved by:

Director, Environmental Planning and Permits Division Chief, Environment & Planning Tennessee Department of Transportation Tennessee Department of Transportation

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1.0 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEDURES .................................................................. 1-1

1.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................1-1

1.2 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) ....................................1-1

1.3 REGULATIONS RELATED TO NEPA ..............................................................1-2

1.3.1 Council of Environmental Quality............................................................1-2

1.3.2 Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact and Related

Procedures .............................................................................................1-3

1.3.3 Other Regulations Related to NEPA.......................................................1-3

1.4 NEPA PROCESS...............................................................................................1-4

1.4.1 Class of Action........................................................................................1-4

1.4.2 Significance ............................................................................................1-5

1.4.2.1 Context..................................................................................1-5

1.4.2.2 Intensity.................................................................................1-5

1.5 FITTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO TDOT’S PROJECT

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS..............................................................................1-6

1.5.1 TDOT’S PROGRAM, PROJECT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

(PPRM)...............................................................................................................1-8

1.5.2 ORGANIZATION OF THIS MANUAL................................................................1-9

2.0 PROJECT IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT........................................................... 2-1

2.1 DEFINING THE PROJECT ................................................................................2-2

2.1.1 Purpose and Need..................................................................................2-2

2.1.2 Logical Termini and Independent Utility..................................................2-4

2.1.2.1 Development of Logical Termini ...........................................2-4

2.1.2.2 Demonstrating Independent Utility ........................................2-5

2.1.3 Defining the Study Area..........................................................................2-6

2.2 DEVELOPMENT AND CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES......................2-6

2.2.1 Preliminary Alternatives Development....................................................2-6

2.2.2 Development of Study Area Inventory and Base Mapping .....................2-7

3.0 NEPA PROCESS OPTIONS .................................................................................................. 3-1

3.1 DETERMINATION OF CLASS OF ACTION......................................................3-1

3.2 ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD ............................................................................3-1

N E P A P R O C E D U R E S M A N U A L

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3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS....................................................3-3

3.4 CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS.........................................................................3-4

3.4.1 “C” List CEs ............................................................................................3-4

3.4.2 ”D” List CEs ............................................................................................3-5

3.4.3 Unusual Circumstances..........................................................................3-8

3.5 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS................................................................3-9

4.0 EARLY COORDINATION....................................................................................................... 4-1

4.1 NOTICE OF INTENT AND SCOPING................................................................4-1

4.1.1 Notice of Intent........................................................................................4-1

4.1.2 Scoping...................................................................................................4-1

4.2 INITIAL COORDINATION PACKAGES ............................................................4-2

4.2.1 Project Data Summary Sheet .................................................................4-2

4.2.2 Exhibits ...................................................................................................4-3

4.2.3 General Transmittal Letter ......................................................................4-4

4.2.4 Special Initial Coordination Letters .........................................................4-4

4.2.4.1 Farmland Initial Coordination With NRCS.............................4-4

4.2.4.2 Section 106 Initial Coordination ............................................4-5

4.2.4.3 Cooperating Agencies Invitation ...........................................4-6

4.2.5 Initial Coordination List ...........................................................................4-6

4.3 LEAD AND COOPERATING AGENCIES .........................................................4-8

4.3.1 Lead Agencies........................................................................................4-8

4.3.2 Cooperating Agencies ............................................................................4-8

5.0 REFINE ALTERNATIVES TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ...................................................... 5-1

6.0 IMPACT ANALYSIS................................................................................................................ 6-1

6.1 OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................6-1

6.1.1 Definition of Impact .................................................................................6-2

6.1.1.1 Direct Impacts .......................................................................6-2

6.1.1.2 Secondary and Cumulative Impacts .....................................6-2

6.1.1.3 Level of Impact......................................................................6-5

6.1.2 Chapter Organization..............................................................................6-5

6.2 RECORDS CHECK IN EARLY PROJECT PLANNING PHASE.......................6-5

6.2.1 Records Check for Environmental Screening.........................................6-6

6.2.1.1 Cultural Resources ...............................................................6-6

6.2.1.2 Natural Resources ................................................................6-7

6.2.1.3 Hazardous Materials .............................................................6-8

6.2.1.4 Environmental Justice...........................................................6-8

6.2.2 Map Review............................................................................................6-9

N E P A P R O C E D U R E S M A N U A L

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6.3 TECHNICAL STUDIES AND OTHER IMPACT ANALYSES ............................6-9

6.3.1 Overview.................................................................................................6-9

6.3.2 Technical Studies ...................................................................................6-9

6.3.2.1 Cultural Resources .............................................................6-10

6.3.2.2 Natural Resources ..............................................................6-16

6.3.2.3 Noise...................................................................................6-19

6.3.2.4 Air Quality ...........................................................................6-23

6.3.2.5 Hazardous Materials ...........................................................6-25

6.3.2.6 Conceptual Stage Relocation Plan .....................................6-28

6.3.2.7 Soils and Geology Analysis ................................................6-29

6.3.3 Sections 4(f) and 6(f) Analyses.............................................................6-29

6.3.3.1 Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act..........6-30

6.3.