What is NEPA and how does it apply to the transportation project development process?
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) established a national policy to promote the protection of the environment in the actions and programs of federal agencies. The FHWA and FTA act as lead Federal agencies, and are responsible for implementing the NEPA process and working with state and local project sponsors during transportation project development. The FHWA and FTA NEPA process is designed to assist transportation officials in making project decisions that balance engineering and transportation needs with the consideration of social, economic and environmental factors. This process allows for involvement and input from the public, interest groups, resource agencies and local governments. The FHWA and FTA NEPA process is used as an “umbrella” for compliance with over 40 environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders and provides an integrated approach to addressing impacts to the human and natural environment from transportation projects.
