THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND VISUAL QUALITY

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW AS A STEP IN EVERY FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION UNDERTAKING (AND IN SEVERAL STATE AND LOCAL PROJECTS), IS DEFINED AS A DOCUMENTATION PROCESS BY WHICH A PLAN IS DEVISED. IT IS A DESIGN DIARY, NOT SIMPLY OF EVENTS BUT OF THE PHILOSOPHY AND ANALYSIS THAT SHAPED THE END PRODUCT. IT IS A CHECKLIST OR RECORD OF THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. ALTHOUGH THE STATEMENT ITSELF CARRIES NO ENFORCEABLE GUARANTEE, THE NEED TO MAKE IT SERVES TO UNVEIL THE INTENTIONS OF THE DESIGNERS AND THE IMPACT OF THOSE INTENTIONS ON THE COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF THE EIS PROCEDURE-THE POLICING AND PREVENTION OF THE OUTRAGEOUS-IS IMPORTANT. IN HIGHWAY DESIGN, THE VISUAL QUALITY DERIVES FROM THE INTEGRITY OF THE DESIGN. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IN THE FUTURE HIGHWAY RECONSTRUCTION OR RELOCATION WILL BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE IS AN OFFENSE TO THE AESTHETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IT TRAVERSES.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr138/138-018.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309021529
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Research Board

  2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC    20418
• Authors:
  • Vollmer, Arnold H
• Conference:
  • 5th Summer Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Madison Wisconsin, United States
  • Date: 1972-7-31 to 1972-8-2
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 98-100
• Monograph Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 138
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Documents; Environmental impact statements; Environmental impacts; Highway design; Highways; Laws; Relocation (Facilities); Road construction; Social impacts
• Uncontrolled Terms: Documentation
• Old TRIS Terms: Community consequences
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Environment; Highways; Law;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00203821
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309021529
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 3 1974 12:00AM