should have a good degree of certainty that these agency consultations will not substantially change the project alignment or design. The one exception is that the PAR must be complete prior to FHWA approval of the Draft EA. From a practical perspective, most projects not included in specific Categorical Exclusion listings are processed as EAs. Typical examples in Georgia include highway widening, large-scale safety projects (those requiring additional right-of-way), and roadway projects on new location. Environmental Assessments require two approvals by FHWA. The first is the approval of the Draft EA that allows the project to advance to a PHOH. The second FHWA approval is of the Final EA that concludes with a FONSI or that an EIS should be prepared. Three components of the EA must be completed successfully to assure timely approval; The specific analyses required for the project, The documentation, and The steps to process the documentation. Following FHWA approval of the Draft EA, the public availability period, and receipt of comments on the Draft EA, the next step is a determination of significance of impacts: If, after completing the process, it is evident that there are no significant impacts associated with the project, a Final EA and a FONSI may be prepared; or If, at any point in the process of preparing or processing an EA, it is discovered that the project would result in any significant impacts to the environment, then an EIS must be prepared. 5.2 Analysis The level of analysis will vary by project and topic, depending on the particulars of each project. of this manual includes a wide range of environmental studies; some or all of which Chapter V may apply to a particular project. The analyses for an EA must include, at a minimum, the following: Purpose and Need Alternatives Considered Air Quality Noise Quality Conceptual Stage Study Economic Impacts Land Use State and Federal Waters Protected Species Threatened & Endangered Migratory birds Other, e.g., bats Floodplains
should have a good degree of certainty that these agency consultations will not substantially change the project alignment or design. The one exception is that the PAR must be complete prior to FHWA approval of the Draft EA. From a practical perspective, most projects not included in specific Categorical Exclusion listings are processed as EAs. Typical examples in Georgia include highway widening, large-scale safety projects (those requiring additional right-of-way), and roadway projects on new location. Environmental Assessments require two approvals by FHWA. The first is the approval of the Draft EA that allows the project to advance to a PHOH. The second FHWA approval is of the Final EA that concludes with a FONSI or that an EIS should be prepared. Three components of the EA must be completed successfully to assure timely approval; The specific analyses required for the project, The documentation, and The steps to process the documentation. Following FHWA approval of the Draft EA, the public availability period, and receipt of comments on the Draft EA, the next step is a determination of significance of impacts: If, after completing the process, it is evident that there are no significant impacts associated with the project, a Final EA and a FONSI may be prepared; or If, at any point in the process of preparing or processing an EA, it is discovered that the project would result in any significant impacts to the environment, then an EIS must be prepared. 5.2 Analysis The level of analysis will vary by project and topic, depending on the particulars of each project. Chapter V of this manual includes a wide range of environmental studies; some or all of which may apply to a particular project. The analyses for an EA must include, at a minimum, the following: Purpose and Need Alternatives Considered Air Quality Noise Quality Conceptual Stage Study Economic Impacts Land Use State and Federal Waters Protected Species Threatened & Endangered Migratory birds Other, e.g., bats Floodplains
GDOT-EPM.docx