Environmental Document Preparation

Since most Enhancement projects are smaller-scale projects without significant environmental impacts, the majority of them qualify for either a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (PCE) or Categorical Exclusion  (CE) level of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation.  Guidance on completing either form is available below.  Please do not begin working on a form until you have received approval from the VDOT District Environmental Manager on which form is appropriate for your project.

Agency Coordination

In order to complete the environmental document, the Sponsor will need to coordinate the Enhancement project and it’s potential impacts to the environment with a number of different state and federal agencies.  The actual agencies you’ll need to coordinate with will depend on the scope of your Enhancement project.  These agencies can include but are not limited to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR), the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC), US Army Corps of Engineers (COE), and other regulatory agencies.  In some instances, the Enhancement Sponsor may be directed by the regulatory agencies to conduct additional environmental studies, such as archaeological surveys, or wetland findings/delineations.  More detailed information is available on Cultural Resource coordination, Water Quality Permits and Natural Resource coordination, and Hazardous Materials coordination.

Letters from these agencies indicating that the project’s environmental or cultural resource issues have been completely addressed (sometimes referred to as “capstone letters”), or necessary permits issued, must be attached to the CE or PCE document for submittal to the VDOT Enhancement Project Coordinator. 

Once the environmental document has been prepared and responses received from all necessary regulatory agencies, forward that information to the VDOT Enhancement Project Coordinator, with a copy to the VDOT District Environmental Manager, for review and processing.  Once the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the document, VDOT will return a copy to the Sponsor for their records. 

Environmental Commitments

If any environmental commitments have been identified during agency coordination, the Sponsor is responsible for ensuring they are implemented at the appropriate time.  The implementation of environmental commitments is not optional, but required.  Environmental commitments for Enhancement projects can include, but is not limited to, conducting an archaeological survey, providing VDHR with copies of final plans before construction, or having a qualified archaeologist monitor during ground disturbing activities.  Once the Sponsor has implemented the environmental commitment(s), documentation to that effect must be forwarded to the VDOT Enhancement Project Coordinator, with a copy to the VDOT District Environmental Manager.

Environmental Certification

Prior to authorization for any land (Right-of-Way) acquisition and prior to project Construction, the VDOT District Environmental Manager must certify to FHWA that the environmental documentation is complete and valid.  The environmental documentation prepared by the Sponsor (environmental document and all supporting studies, capstone letters, forms, permits, etc.) must be forwarded to the VDOT Enhancement Project Coordinator, with a copy to the VDOT District Environmental Manager, to allow these verification activities to be completed.  See Right-of-Way Reevaluation, Plans, Specifications & Estimates Reevaluation, and Environmental Certification for clarification on exactly what VDOT certifies.  As long as the Sponsor provides copies of all environmental documentation to VDOT, these verification activities may be completed within 15 days.  Incomplete information will delay the verification process.

Construction Monitoring

VDOT may monitor Enhancement projects during construction, as per policy, to ensure any environmental commitments identified have been implemented (such as permit requirements, cultural resource commitments, etc.). 

Forms:

• Project Early Notification form (EQ-429) – must be completed to initiate State Environmental Review Process (SERP)
• NEPA Documentation Concurrence form – must be completed to initiate NEPA documentation
• Programmatic Categorical Exclusion – type of NEPA documentation
• Categorical Exclusion– type of NEPA documentation
• Water Quality Permits & Natural Resources Due Diligence Certification form – must be completed by Sponsor and submitted to VDOT
• Hazardous Materials Due Diligence Certification form– must be completed by Sponsor and submitted to VDOT

Guidance:

• VDOT District Environmental Manager Contacts
• Enhancement Sponsor Checklist
• Cultural Resource Coordination
• Water Quality Permits & Natural Resource Coordination
• Hazardous Materials Coordination
• State/Federal Agency links
• NEPA Documentation Concurrence form Guidance – guidance on completing NEPA form
• PCE form guidance – guidance on completing PCE form
• CE Form Guidance – guidance on completing CE form
• Right-of-Way Reevaluation – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to Enhancement project authorization for Right-of-Way purchase.  Agency coordination allows this to be completed.
• Plans, Specifications & Estimates Reevaluation – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to Enhancement project authorization for construction.  Agency coordination allows this to be completed.
• Environmental Certification – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to Enhancement project authorization for construction.  Agency coordination allows this to be completed.

Related links:

• FHWA Enhancement Website – guidance information
• American's with Disabilities Act – ADA
• FHWA's policy on ADA – directly related to Enhancement Projects
• National Transportation Enhancement Clearinghouse