Applying the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines in Transportation Project Decision-Making

This Handbook is intended to assist practitioners in applying the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines in the environmental review process for surface transportation projects. The Handbook focuses on highway and transit projects that require an individual Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines permit under the Clean Water Act and involve preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This Handbook outlines steps that can be taken at each stage of the environmental review process to lay the foundation for compliance with the guidelines. Issues covered in this Handbook include: (1) Linking the transportation planning process to project-level studies and decisions; (2) Initiating an environmental review process that includes NEPA and Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines requirements (as well as Rivers and Harbors Act requirements, where applicable); (3) Identifying and evaluating aquatic resources, including waters of the United States; (4) Defining “purpose and need” under NEPA and “overall project purposes” under Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines; (5) Developing, screening, and evaluating alternatives under both NEPA and Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines; (6) Selecting a preferred alternative that complies with the guidelines and with the requirement for a public-interest determination; (7) Developing mitigation measures that comply with the guidelines; and (8) Resolving inter-agency disputes involving the guidelines.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.environment.transportation.org/pdf/programs/ph14-2.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://www.environment.transportation.org/center/products_programs/practitioners_handbooks.aspx#13
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2016, Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO.
• Publication Date: 2016-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; References;
• Pagination: 26p
• Serial:
  • AASHTO Practitioner's Handbook
  • Issue Number: 14
  • Publisher: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
  • Serial URL: http://www.environment.transportation.org/center/products_programs/practitioners_handbooks.aspx

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Environmental impact statements; Ground transportation; Guidelines; Project management; Transportation planning; Water resources
• Identifier Terms: Clean Water Act; National Environmental Policy Act
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01613092
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-07-H-00019
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 11 2016 1:38PM