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What is NEPA?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA established a national environmental policy specifically focused on federal activities and the desire for restoring and maintaining environmental quality balanced with other needs. NEPA contains procedures for federal agencies to assess the potential environmental consequences of their proposed actions and take them into account. It also requires the federal agencies to document the assessment and make the findings available to the public for comment prior to implementation of the proposed action.
The NEPA process is designed to facilitate public involvement in the planning process. NEPA is intended to help officials make decisions that are based on a solid understanding of the potential environmental consequences and to take appropriate actions to mitigate those impacts. NEPA requires consideration of reasonable alternatives with the intent of diminishing adverse environmental effects. NEPA procedures are intended to insure that environmental information is available to the public before decisions are made and actions taken.
Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are required for all major federal actions (or those involving federal funding) that could have significant impacts on the environment. An EIS presents information regarding the proposed project, including reasonable alternatives, and how the project may affect the environment within the study area. Elements of the environment that are typically studied for urban projects include air quality, noise, water quality, floodplain encroachment, cultural resources, parks and recreation, business and residential relocations, environmental justice, land use, traffic and bicycle/pedestrian circulation, and aesthetics.
Project NEON will follow NEPA procedures as described below.
Click on a sign to learn about that phase of the project.
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Notice of Intent (NOI) The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), as the Lead Agency, published this document in the Federal Register on February 2005. The NOI serves as official notice that an EIS is being prepared. It provides a description of the proposed action, explains the goals and objectives of the proposed project, identifies a contact person, and initiates a scoping process. The NOI solicits comments on the proposed project to ensure that relevant issues are identified and evaluated. Return to NEPA Study Process Map Scoping Process Government agencies, other interested agencies, private organizations, and citizens will be invited to help identify the scope of the project and alternatives to be considered, potential impacts, measures to minimize or avoid impacts, and required environmental documents and permits. The scoping meeting for Project NEON was held on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at the Clark County Government Center. Return to NEPA Study Process Map |
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Draft EIS (DEIS) The draft EIS will consider all comments received during the scoping process. It will document the affected environment and evaluate the direct, secondary and cumulative environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives. A No Build alternative is always included in the analysis of impacts. Return to NEPA Study Process Map |
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Public Input It is the project team's goal to solicit and address comments from the public and interested parties through information meetings, the web site, the mail and at the project office. This will be an ongoing process as the project continues so that public input is considered when drafting the EIS and determining the final project alternatives. Return to NEPA Study Process Map |
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Final EIS (FEIS) After receiving comments from the public and other agencies and closure of the DEIS comment period, the FEIS will be developed and issued. The FEIS contains responses to all comments, identifies a preferred alternative, describes any modifications to the project, updates the affected environment and impacts analysis, and identifies appropriate mitigation measures. Return to NEPA Study Process Map |
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Record of Decision (ROD) Following distribution of the FEIS and a minimum 30-day review period, a ROD will be prepared to explain the reasons for the project decision. Any mitigation measures that will be incorporated into the project will be summarized. Return to NEPA Study Process Map |