Water Quality Analyses for NEPA Documents: Selecting Appropriate Methodologies
The objective of this research is to identify appropriate water quality impact analysis methodologies that could be used for transportation projects undergoing agency and public review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The methodologies examined focus on issues of “water quality” and include methodologies used by practitioners to understand the functions and quality of the wetlands being studied. This research paper also includes methodologies that evaluate the health of surface water bodies based on how well they support fish, insects, plants, and other aquatic life. This research paper focuses on “real-life” methodologies, or those currently being used by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) division offices in preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs). It also focuses on methodologies required by environmental resource agencies. The research included taking a survey of all State DOTs and FHWA division offices, and performing follow-up interviews with respondents who identified their methodologies. The identified methodologies were then evaluated for their comparative advantages and disadvantages, based on situations or conditions where they would be appropriate or recommended. Water quality methodologies are organized into four main categories: Stormwater runoff; Stream quality; Wetlands quality; and Groundwater quality.
- Record URL:
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- Summary URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- This study was requested by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and conducted as part of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 25-25. Project 25-25 is intended to fund quick response studies on behalf of the AASHTO Standing Committee on the Environment.
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Corporate Authors:
PB Americas, Incorporated
Spring Park Technology Center, 465 Spring Park Place
Herndon, VA United States 20170 -
Authors:
- Lien, Chin
- Yazawa, Jason
- Williams, Regina
- Publication Date: 2008-7
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 111p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Environmental impact analysis; Environmental impact statements; Groundwater; Methodology; Runoff; State departments of transportation; Streams; Surveys; Water quality; Wetlands
- Identifier Terms: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; U.S. Federal Highway Administration
- Uncontrolled Terms: Environmental assessments
- Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I15: Environment; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01497512
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: NCHRP 25-25 Task 35
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Nov 5 2013 8:15PM