• ♦Manual Notice2004-2
• ►1. Policy and Process Overview
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦TxDOT Environmental Policy
  • ►2. Authorities
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Comprehensive Environmental Laws, Regulations and Policies
    • ♦National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969
    • ♦Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations
    • ♦23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 771
    • ♦49 USC, Subtitle III, Chapter 53, Transportation, General and Intermodal Programs - Mass Transportation
    • ♦Federal Aviation Administration Order 5050.4B, Airport Environmental Handbook
    • ♦49 CFR Part 24 - Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 and Advisory Circular 150/5100-17
    • ♦43 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 2, Subchapter C
    • ♦FHWA Technical Advisory (T-6640.8A)
    • ♦Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
    • ♦Natural Resources
    • ♦Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 USC §§1531-1543)
    • ♦Executive Order 13112
    • ♦Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (16 USC §§661-667e)
    • ♦Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA)
    • ♦Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) (16 USC §3501, et seq.)
    • ♦Texas Coastal Management Program (TCMP)
    • ♦Border Issues: The 1944 Water Treaty
    • ♦Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 USC '403)
    • ♦Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972
    • ♦National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Control System (NPDES) 1990
    • ♦National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) of 1968
    • ♦Executive Order 11988
    • ♦Executive Memorandum of April 26, 1994
    • ♦Section 404 Regulatory Program
    • ♦Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
    • ♦Cultural/Socio-Economic Resources
    • ♦Texas Antiquities Code
    • ♦National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA)
    • ♦U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966
    • ♦Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
    • ♦Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
    • ♦Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Properties Acquisitions Act (URARPAA)
    • ♦Executive Order 12898
    • ♦Executive Order 13166
    • ♦Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
    • ♦Air Quality
    • ♦Clean Air Act (CAA) (42 USC 7401-7626)
    • ♦Hazardous Materials
    • ♦Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 USC §6901 et seq.)
    • ♦Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
    • ♦Texas Water Code
    • ♦Hazardous Waste Sites Affecting Highway Project Development
    • ♦Public Involvement
  • ►3. The Environmental Process
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Identifying Basic Information
    • ♦Using the Information
  • ►4. Roles and Responsibilities
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Two Different Areas of Roles and Responsibilities
    • ♦Task-related Roles and Responsibilities
    • ♦Preliminary Survey/Planning
    • ♦Environmental Documentation
    • ♦Public Involvement
    • ♦Interagency Coordination
    • ♦Permitting
    • ♦Commitments
    • ♦Training
    • ♦Issue-specific Roles and Responsibilities
    • ♦Natural Resources
    • ♦Cultural Resources
    • ♦Socio-Economic Resources
    • ♦Farmland
    • ♦Floodplains
    • ♦Air Quality, Noise and Hazardous Materials
    • ♦Air Quality
    • ♦Noise Analysis
    • ♦Hazardous Materials
  • ►5. Planning and the Environment
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Plans, Programs and Studies
    • ♦How Environmental Considerations Fit In
• ►2. Preliminary Survey
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Preliminary Survey Definition
    • ♦Survey Identification
    • ♦Survey Procedures
  • ►2. Natural Resource Surveys
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Natural Resource Survey Activities
    • ♦Scope of Impact
    • ♦Natural Resource Data
    • ♦Information Sources:
    • ♦Community Participation in National Flood Insurance Program
    • ♦Applicable NFIP Maps
    • ♦Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) Applicability
    • ♦Wetland Impacts
    • ♦Wetland Status and Needs
    • ♦Proposed Construction Methods
    • ♦Design Factors
  • ►3. Cultural Resources
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Early Identification
    • ♦Contact State Historic Preservation Officer (THC/SHPO)
    • ♦Preliminary Research
  • ►4. Social and Economic Impacts
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Assessing Social and Economic Impacts
    • ♦Define the Study Area
    • ♦Data Sources for Social and Economic Resources
    • ♦Developing Community Profiles
    • ♦Address Community Impact Questions
    • ♦Ensuring Nondiscrimination
    • ♦Public Comment and Involvement
    • ♦Assessing Visual and Aesthetic Resources
  • ►5. Air Quality
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Roles and Responsibilities
    • ♦Mobile Source Pollutants
    • ♦Ozone Concentrations
    • ♦Air Quality Analysis for Attainment Areas
    • ♦Elements
    • ♦Models
    • ♦Air Quality Analysis for Non-Attainment Areas
    • ♦Carbon Monoxide Modeling
    • ♦El Paso County
    • ♦Requirements for State-Funded Projects
    • ♦Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ)
    • ♦Requirements for Funds
    • ♦Typical Texas CMAQ Projects
    • ♦Air quality benefits of CMAQ projects
    • ♦CMAQ Analysis
  • ►6. Noise
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Responsibilities
    • ♦Planning
    • ♦Applicability
    • ♦Objectives
    • ♦Procedures
  • ►7. Hazardous Materials
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Project Design and Right of Way Requirements
    • ♦Existing and Previous Land Use Information
    • ♦Regulatory Agency Databases and Files
    • ♦Site Visits
    • ♦Interviews
    • ♦Determine Need for Further Investigation, Consideration, or Coordination
    • ♦Additional Environmental Investigations
• ►3. Environmental Documentation
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Authorities
    • ♦Determining Type of Documentation
    • ♦Environmental Documentation Process
    • ♦What is a Significant Impact?
  • ►2. Logical Termini and Independent Utility
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Logical Termini
    • ♦Independent Utility
  • ►3. Categorical Exclusion
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Requirements for a CE
    • ♦Exceptions
    • ♦Types of CEs
    • ♦Blanket CE
    • ♦CEs Typically Requiring Environmental Documentation
    • ♦CMAQ Projects
    • ♦Programmatic CE
    • ♦CE Documentation Content
    • ♦CE Approval Process
  • ►4. Environmental Assessments/Findings of No Significant Impact
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦EAs
    • ♦FONSIs
    • ♦EA/FONSI Approval Process
    • ♦EA Documentation Content
  • ►5. Section 4(f)/Section 6(f)
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Authorities
    • ♦Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (Section 6[f])
    • ♦Section 4(f) Applicability of Parks, Recreation Areas, etc. (Non-Cultural Resources)
    • ♦“Significant” Property Status
    • ♦Section 4(f) Applicability to Cultural Resources
    • ♦Exception to Section 4(f) Applicability
    • ♦Section 4(f) Evaluation Content
    • ♦Coordination of the Section 4(f) Evaluation
    • ♦Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluations
    • ♦Approval of Section 4(f) and Section 6(f)
  • ►6. Environmental Impact Statements
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Notice of Intent
    • ♦Scoping
    • ♦Elements of Scoping
    • ♦DEIS
    • ♦DEIS Process
    • ♦DEIS Format
    • ♦Reviewing/Commenting Agencies for DEIS
    • ♦Public Involvement in DEIS
    • ♦FEIS
    • ♦FEIS Coordination Process
    • ♦ROD
    • ♦ROD Review and Approval Process
    • ♦ROD Format and Content
    • ♦SEIS
    • ♦When a SEIS is Needed
    • ♦For Issues of Limited Scope
  • ►7. Content and Format
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦CE Document Format
    • ♦EA Document Format
    • ♦Section 4(f) Evaluation Format
  • ►8. Content Guidelines
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦Water Quality
    • ♦Storm Water (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] and Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System [TPDES])
    • ♦Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401
    • ♦Cultural Resources
    • ♦Archeological Resources
    • ♦Historic Buildings, Structures and Objects
    • ♦Document Contents
    • ♦Uncertainty of Age
    • ♦Data on Bridges and Culverts
    • ♦Anticipated Effects on Historic Properties
    • ♦Status of Coordination Efforts with THC/SHPO
    • ♦Historic Properties and Project Alternatives
    • ♦Section 4(f) Statement Content for Historical Properties
    • ♦Air Quality
    • ♦Air Quality Analysis in Attainment Areas
    • ♦Suggested Text in Environmental Documents
    • ♦Air Quality Analysis in Non-Attainment Areas
    • ♦Suggested Text in Environmental Documents
    • ♦Hazardous Materials
  • ►9. Example Language
    • ♦General Examples
    • ♦Minimal or Low Potential for Hazardous Material Involvement
    • ♦More Potential for Hazardous Material Involvement
    • ♦Involvement with Regulated Sites
    • ♦Storm Water Drainage Structures in Contamination
    • ♦Possible Asbestos-Containing Materials
    • ♦Well Plugging (Water Quality)
    • ♦Enhancement Projects (Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint)
    • ♦Re-evaluations
  • ►10. Social, Economic and Biological Impacts
    • ♦Social and Economic Impacts
    • ♦Biological Resources
    • ♦Example of Wording
  • ►11. EIS Content and Format
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦EIS Document Presentation
    • ♦EIS Documentation Content
    • ♦Section 1: Purpose of and Need for Action
    • ♦Section 2: Alternatives
    • ♦Reasonable Alternatives
    • ♦“No-action” Alternative
    • ♦Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternatives:
    • ♦Section 3: Affected Environment
    • ♦Section 4: Environmental Consequences
    • ♦Section 5: List of Preparers
    • ♦Section 7: Comments and Coordination
    • ♦Section 8: Index
    • ♦Section 9: Appendices
    • ♦FEIS Format
    • ♦Typical SEIS Content and Format
  • ►12. Continuous Activity/Re-evaluations
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦CE Re-evaluations
    • ♦FONSI Re-evaluation Requirements
    • ♦FEIS Re-evaluations
    • ♦Re-evaluation Format
    • ♦Example Re-evaluation Conclusion
    • ♦CE/FONSI Re-evaluation Approval
• ►4. Public Involvement
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Definition
    • ♦Governing Authority
    • ♦Public Involvement is Necessary
    • ♦Responsibility for Public Involvement
    • ♦Public Involvement Considerations
  • ►2. Types of Public Involvement Procedures
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Meetings with Affected Property Owners (MAPOs)
    • ♦Format and Content
    • ♦Purpose of Public Meetings
    • ♦Advantages of Holding Public Meetings
    • ♦Situations Requiring Public Meeting
    • ♦Traditional Format Meetings
    • ♦Open Format Meetings
    • ♦Requirements of All Public Meetings
    • ♦Opportunity for Public Hearing
    • ♦Purpose
    • ♦When to Afford
    • ♦When Not to Afford
    • ♦Participants
    • ♦Publishing a Notice Affording an Opportunity for Public Hearing
    • ♦If No Requests are Received
    • ♦If Requests Are Received
    • ♦Public Hearing
    • ♦Public Hearings Notice Format
    • ♦Date and Time
    • ♦Participants
    • ♦Location
    • ♦Public Hearing Procedures
    • ♦Public Hearing Format
    • ♦Hearing Rules
    • ♦Post Public Hearing Events
    • ♦Public Involvement with Re-evaluation
  • ►3. Specialized Public Involvement—Cultural Resources
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Identify Interested Parties
    • ♦Correspond with Interested Parties
    • ♦Letter Content
    • ♦Letter Transmittal
    • ♦Respond to Interested Parties
    • ♦Inform the Public
  • ►4. Public Involvement Following Project Approvals
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Re-evaluation and Public Involvement
    • ♦Additional Public Hearing
    • ♦Notice of Construction
    • ♦Participants
    • ♦Press Releases
  • ►5. Notices and Media Releases
    • ♦Publishing Notices
    • ♦Notice Placement in the Newspaper
    • ♦Publication Requirements
    • ♦Other Forms of Publicity
    • ♦Format for the Opportunity for Public Hearing Notice
    • ♦Formatting the Public Hearing Notice
    • ♦Notice of Availability FEIS
    • ♦Media Releases
    • ♦Notice of Construction
  • ►6. Sample Forms
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Notice of Public Meeting
    • ♦Example Notice Affording Opportunity for Public Hearing
    • ♦Notice of Public Hearing
    • ♦Certification
    • ♦Press Release
    • ♦Notice of Construction
• ►5. Interagency Coordination
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Interagency Coordination in Project Development
    • ♦Authorities
    • ♦Memoranda of Understanding
    • ♦Coordination During Project Development
  • ►2. State Historic Preservation Officer (THC/SHPO)
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Coordination Responsibility
    • ♦Coordination Activities
    • ♦THC Coordination
    • ♦Monthly Reports
    • ♦Coordination on Archeological Surveys
    • ♦Historic Resources
    • ♦No Historic Resources 50 Years of Age or Older Found within the Project Area
    • ♦Historic Resources 50 Years of Age or Older Found within the Project Area
    • ♦National Register Eligible Resources (Archeological and Historic Resources):
    • ♦Determination of Effects
    • ♦No Effect
    • ♦No Adverse Effect
    • ♦Adverse Effect
    • ♦Special Coordination
    • ♦Historic Bridges
    • ♦Historic Depression-Era Roadway Properties
    • ♦Historic Roadside Parks
    • ♦Historic Markers
    • ♦Historic/Prehistoric Cemeteries
  • ►3. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Coordination Responsibility
    • ♦Natural Versus Regulated Habitats
    • ♦Environmental Documentation
    • ♦Review Period
  • ►4. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission/Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TNRCC/TCEQ)
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Coordination Responsibilities
    • ♦Coordination Activities
    • ♦Environmental Documentation
    • ♦Hazardous Materials
  • ►5. Coastal Coordination Council
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦TCMP Jurisdiction
    • ♦Consistency Review
    • ♦TxDOT Actions
    • ♦TxDOT Projects
  • ►6. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and Migratory Birds
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Compliance
    • ♦Projects Requiring USFWS Review
    • ♦Projects Requiring Coordination
    • ♦Exceptions
    • ♦USFWS/TPWD Report/Recommendation Guidelines
    • ♦Migratory Birds
  • ►7. Endangered Species Act Compliance
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Authority
    • ♦ESA Violation Penalties
    • ♦USFWS Review Actions
    • ♦Coordination Process
    • ♦Informal Consultation
    • ♦Formal Consultation
    • ♦ESA Coordination for Candidate Species
  • ►8. Natural Resource Conservation Service
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Coordination Responsibility
    • ♦Projects Requiring Coordination
    • ♦Projects not Requiring Coordination
    • ♦Coordination Procedure
    • ♦Environmental Documentation
  • ►9. International Boundary and Water Commission
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Coordination Responsibility
    • ♦Coordination Procedures
  • ►10. Federal Emergency Management Agency
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Coordination Responsibility
    • ♦Projects requiring coordination
  • ►11. Essential Fish Habitat
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Essential Fish Habitat Compliance
    • ♦Projects Requiring EFH Review
• ►6. Permits
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Permitting in the Project Development Process
    • ♦Responsibilities
    • ♦Authorities
    • ♦Types of Permits
  • ►2. Navigable Waterway Permits
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦General Bridge Act of 1946 (Rivers and Harbors Act)
    • ♦Navigability Determinations for USCG
    • ♦Navigability Determinations from USACE
    • ♦When and How to Obtain a Permit
    • ♦Section 9 Permits USCG
    • ♦Advanced Approval Category
    • ♦Lighting Exemption Requests
    • ♦Obtaining a Section 9 Navigable Waterway Permit
    • ♦Section 10 Permits USACE
  • ►3. Section 404 Permits
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Categories of Impacts
    • ♦Nationwide Permit Program
    • ♦Responsibilities
    • ♦Nationwide Permits Requiring Pre-Construction Notification
    • ♦Interagency Coordination in PCNs
    • ♦NWP 3 – Maintenance
    • ♦NWP 13 Bank Stabilization
    • ♦NWP 14 Linear Transportation Crossing
    • ♦NWP 23 Approved Categorical Exclusion
    • ♦NWP 25 Structural Discharge
    • ♦NWP 33 Temporary Construction, Access and De-watering
    • ♦NWP 41 Reshaping Existing Drainage Ditches
    • ♦Individual Permits
    • ♦Responsibilities
    • ♦Steps in the Individual Permit Process
    • ♦Section 404 Compliance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act
  • ►4. TPDES Storm Water Permits
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦TPDES General Permit for Construction
    • ♦TPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit
  • ►5. Section 10(a): Endangered Species Act Permits
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Phases of the Section 10(a) Permit Process
• ►7. Environmental Commitments
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Commitments in the Project Development Process
    • ♦Types of Impacts
    • ♦Types of Commitments
    • ♦Avoidance
    • ♦Minimization
    • ♦Compensation
    • ♦Enhancements
  • ►2. Natural Resources
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Habitat Mitigation
    • ♦Water Resource Mitigation
    • ♦Water Pollution Abatement Plans (WPAP)
    • ♦Section 404(b)(1) Wetland Mitigation of the CWA
    • ♦Storm Water Management Plan
  • ►3. Cultural Resources
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Ways to Avoid or Minimize Impacts to Cultural Resources
    • ♦Mitigation Plan
    • ♦Cultural Resource Commitments during Construction
    • ♦Commitments in the Final PS&E Package
    • ♦Emergency Discovery of Archeological Sites during Construction
  • ►4. Other Types of Mitigation
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Noise
    • ♦Noise Abatement Measures
    • ♦Abatement Proposals
    • ♦Construction Noise
    • ♦Information for Local Officials
    • ♦Project Reevaluation
    • ♦Hazardous Materials
    • ♦Visual and Aesthetic Elements with Transportation Projects

Environmental Manual

August 2004

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