Environmental Programs

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Environmental Program Coordinator | The Environment | Environmental Documents
Enhancements | Recreational Trails | Scenic Byways

Environmental Program Coordinator

As the Federal Highway Administration's contact point for the state of North Carolina, the Division Office supports the agency commitment to environmental stewardship-one of the agency's three Vital Few goals. This commitment is carried out in many ways: ensuring the compliance with environmental laws and regulations in the development and maintenance of North Carolina's federally-funded transportation network; proactive leadership in public involvement; training and technology transfer; information dissemination; and, through our constant presence and vigilance. The Environmental Program Coordinator is responsible for policy, procedural, and technical coordination and interpretation within the Division and with State and local personnel on environmental laws, regulations, and Executive Orders for the Federal-aid highway program in the State. In addition, the following programs are managed from this position:

Transportation Enhancements
Recreational Trails
Scenic Byways

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The Environment

The 1960's in America brought about an increased public awareness of the environment and concern for the pressure that human activity was placing on the condition of the sensitive ecological system. In response to this, Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)--considered to be the basic "National Charter" for protection of the environment. It included three major goals:

Set national environmental policy;
Established a basis for environmental impact statements (EISs); and
Created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

NEPA requires that, to the extent possible, the policies, regulations, and laws of the Federal Government be interpreted and administered in accordance with the protection goals of the law. It also requires Federal agencies to use an interdisciplinary approach in planning and decision-making for actions that impact the environment. Finally, NEPA requires the preparation of an EIS on all major Federal actions significantly affecting the human environment.

The Federal Highway Administration uses the "umbrella" approach to compliance with the related federal laws in which all the laws, regulations, and executive orders are addressed as part of the NEPA documentation.

NEPA has influenced all Federal agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). NEPA requires and FHWA is committed to the examination and consideration of potential impacts on sensitive social and environmental resources when considering the approval of a proposed transportation facility. In addition to our responsibilities for examining and considering environmental effects, we must also address the transportation needs of the public. The FHWA NEPA project development process is a balanced approach to transportation decisionmaking that takes into account the potential impacts on the human and natural resources and the public's need for safe and efficient transportation improvements.

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Environmental Documents

All federal actions (including Federal-aid highway projects) potentially affecting the natural and human environments must comply with the provisions of NEPA. These and several other related statutes require Federal agencies to take a hard look at the potential consequences of their decisions, and to incorporate into their actions measures to, as appropriate and to the maximum extent possible or practicable, avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse environmental impacts resulting from such actions.

The environmental document explains the purpose and need for a project, presents project alternatives, analyzes reasonably foreseeable impacts of each alternative, explains the choice of a preferred alternative, and discusses measures to be taken in order to mitigate adverse impacts of the project. The following gives a general description and outline of they types of environmental documents and approvals.

Categorical Exclusion (CE) - Designation for projects that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the natural or human environment may be classified as CEs without additional documentation provided that:

The project meets CE classification identified by the FHWA; and
The project file includes appropriate documentation to reflect that a proposed action is properly classified as a CE.

Environmental Assessment (EA) - Required for projects that cannot immediately be classified as requiring a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) or a CE. The document should:

Discuss the purpose and need for the proposed action; and
Discuss reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, including the no-action alternative.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) - The documentation required if the EA concludes that the project will not have significant impact on the natural or human environment. The FONSI will:

Document the basis for the determination that the project will not have significant impact on the natural or human environment;
Recommend a preferred alternative;
Include the EA as an attachment and identify any other relevant environmental documents and studies.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Final Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and (FEIS) - Required document when a project significantly impacts the natural or human environment. These documents should:

Summarize major conclusions, controversial areas, issues to be resolved, and alternatives;
Describe the purpose and need for the proposed action;
Rigorously explore all reasonable alternatives, including alternatives outside the jurisdiction of the lead agency;
Describe the affected environment;
Discuss the environmental consequences of the proposed action and all alternatives. Identify the proposed mitigation measures; and
Discuss comments and coordination.

Record of Decision (ROD) - Upon completion of the Final EIS, the FHWA issues a ROD stating the chosen alternative, stating that all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have been adopted, and adopting a monitoring and enforcement program to mitigate impacts to the natural or human environment.

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Enhancements

The Enhancement program was established by Congress in 1991 through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) as a means of ensuring that a variety of projects-most not typically associated with the road-building mindset-were implemented. The widespread embracement of this program nationwide led Congress to reauthorize the Enhancement program in 1998 through the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21). TEA-21 not only provided record investment to continue building America's highways and transit systems but moved beyond concrete, asphalt and steel to build a better America by improving safety, protecting the environment and public health, and creating an opportunity for all Americans to improve their quality of life through Transportation Enhancements.

The following activities are eligible:

Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles
Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists
Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites
Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities)
Landscaping and other scenic beautification
Historic preservation
Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals)
Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use thereof for pedestrian or bicycle trails)
Control and removal of outdoor advertising
Archaeological planning and research
Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity
Establishment of transportation museums

The NCDOT administers the Enhancement Program with FHWA oversight. Projects are selected and administered internally to achieve department objectives. Funding is also provided for external customers to achieve local objectives.

The Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation receives Enhancement funds for implementation of greenways and other bicycle and pedestrian projects.

The Rail Division receives Enhancement funds for the restoration of historic rail stations for active passenger rail service.

Each of the NCDOT's fourteen Highway Divisions receives Enhancement funds for implementation of pedestrian and landscaping projects.

The Roadside Environmental Unit administers many activities including the Wildflower Program and the Scenic By-Ways Program. The Wildflower Program, an integral part of highway beautification, utilizes Enhancement funds to establish wildflower beds on state highways. The Scenic By-Ways Program receives Enhancement funds and has been established to identify and highlight scenic roads with unusual, exceptional, or unique intrinsic qualities for public viewing and enjoyment.

Statewide Call for Projects

Funding is awarded externally to communities throughout the state through a statewide Call for Projects. Communities implement these projects and receive funds on a reimbursement basis. Awards were distributed during the 1999 Call for Projects and the 2000 Call for Projects. The 2002 Call for Projects is currently underway with an expected $10 million available for funding awards.

Enhancement Links:

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Recreational Trails

Congress first authorized the Recreational Trails Program in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). It was reauthorized in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).

The Recreational Trails Program provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. Examples of trail uses include hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles.

The Recreational Trails Program is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). North Carolina administers its own program through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Recreational Trails Program funds may be used for:

maintenance and restoration of existing trails;
development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages;
purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment;
construction of new trails (with restrictions for new trails on Federal lands);
acquisition of easements or property for trails
State administrative costs related to this program (limited to 7 percent of a State's funds); and
operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection related to trails (limited to 5 percent of a State's funds).

Recreational Trails Links:

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Scenic Byways

The National Scenic Byways (NSB) Program was established under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and reauthorized in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. The Federal Highway Administration promotes the collection as America's Byways.

Scenic Byways Links:

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