Environmental
The Project is in the early phases of study. Since it’s located within Caltrans’ right of way, the environmental process will adhere to Caltrans’ project approval and environmental process guidelines. Project design alternatives will be analyzed as required by CEQA/NEPA and will look at a wide range of resource areas to identify potential impacts to these resources and establish clear mitigations prior to project approval. As part of CEQA/NEPA compliance, the Project will be preparing an Initial Study (IS) and Environmental Assessment (EA). Following conclusion of the public review process, Caltrans will provide its NEPA findings on the Project in a final decision document.
Resource Areas
As part of the CEQA/NEPA process, the following resource areas will be analyzed as part of the project’s draft environmental document.
CEQA & NEPA Process
Explore the 7 Steps
Click on the arrows to the right of each step below to learn more.
KEY
Step(s)
Currently Underway
- Advertisement placed within local/regional newspapers to alert public of Environmental Process kick-off and initiation of development of the Draft Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA).
- Mailer sent to project contact list promoting NOP/Public Scoping Period and Public Comment opportunities.
- Draft IS/EA document provides a thorough analysis of alternatives, environmental impacts, and identification of mitigation measures.
- Caltrans distributes Notice of Completion of the Draft IS/EA for state agency review.
- A Notice of Availability (NOA) of Draft IS/EA is placed within local/regional newspapers.
- Mailer sent to project contact list promoting NOA/Public Comment Period.
- Environmental document is circulated electronically through website, housed at key community repositories, and distributed to partner agencies for review and submission of comments within a formal public comment period.
- Public Meetings held to share Draft IS/EA and seek formal input through several mediums including but not limited to letters, emails, website submission, comment cards, and court reporter transcripts.
- Caltrans evaluates and prepares revisions to the Draft IS/EA only when substantive comments bring to light new information not covered or when it is necessary to correct the text. A log of the comments and the responses to them is also prepared.
- Preparation of the Final IS/EA.
- All comments received during the Draft IS/EA Public Comment Period are included and addressed within the Final IS/EA.
- Final IS/EA, with signed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), if appropriate, and Finding of No Significant Effect (FONSI) completes the process for an IS/EA.
- NOA of the FONSI sent to affected units of federal, state, and local government and document be made available to the public upon request.
- Recommended that agencies, organizations, and individuals that commented on Draft IS/EA supplied with copy of the MND/FONSI.
- Prepare and file Notice of Determination (NOD) and NOA of the FONSI to the State Clearinghouse.
Key Activities
Key activities during environmental planning include coordination with regulatory agencies including, but not limited to:
* Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, noise and vibration, biological resources, cultural resources, community impacts, transportation and circulation, hazardous materials, and others.
Local and regional community stakeholders, as well as the general public, play a key role in the environmental planning process through ongoing participation and providing timely and formal input at critical public comment periods. This valuable community engagement helps to identify and address key concerns, issues, and potential impacts to help develop and design a project that best meets the needs of the community.