Cheng Yan, FHWA PEL Overview
- 2. 9/22/2023 Add a footer 2 • Disclaimer: Except for the statutes and regulations cited, the contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. The document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. General considerations are not necessarily required by the statute or regulations; however, FHWA encourages these for all PEL approaches.
- 3. Agenda • What is PEL? • PEL Benefits • Flexibility in PEL Approaches • Agency Coordination • PEL Best Practices • FHWA PEL Resources 9/22/2023 3
- 4. Planning Process 9/22/2023 Add a footer 4 Transportation Planning Process Briefing Book www.planning.dot.gov
- 5. What is PEL? • PEL is a collaborative transportation decision- making approach o considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process o uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process • Ultimately, the goal of PEL is early collaboration to facilitate better planning to inform National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews to accelerate project delivery 9/22/2023 5
- 6. PEL Benefits 9/22/2023 6 Accelerate project delivery Align with future requirements Stimulates development of new tools Helps build relationships for agencies & the public Early engagement in decision-making Helps identify stakeholders early on Creates better outcomes for the community Improves planning products
- 7. PELToday
- 9. PEL General Considerations 9 9/22/2023 Follow the transportation planning process Solicit participation by Federal and State resource agencies and Indian tribes Provide an opportunity for public review and comments Use reliable and reasonably current data and reasonable, scientifically acceptable methodologies Involve the FHWA Division and FTA RegionalOffice, as appropriate Prepare appropriate documentation
- 10. Flexibility in PEL Approaches 9/22/2023 Add a footer 10 Integration of planning and environmental review statute 23 U.S.C. 168 Efficient environmental reviews statute 23 U.S.C. 139(f)(4)(E)(ii) Planning Regulations 23 CFR 450.212(a)-(c) & 23 CFR 450.318 (a)-(d) CEQ NEPA Regulations 40 CFR 1500.4(l) and 40 CFR 1501.12 Programmatic Mitigation Planning statute 23 U.S.C. 169 Planning Regulations 23 CFR 450.214 and 23 CFR 450.320
- 11. Analysis and DecisionTools • Software or web-based systems designed to improve effectiveness of decision- making. • Leverage existing software tools, i.e. GIS • NatureServeVista • USGSWater Data • EPA EJ Screening and MappingTool • Others (HEPGIS/STEAP) 14
- 13. Resource Agency Coordination Interagency Coordination Early and continuous involvement of environmental, regulatory, and resource agencies in the planning process. Sample Actions: • Establish interagency work groups or committees • Develop MOUs/MOAs • Fund agency liaison position 18
- 14. Collaboration – Planning Terminology • Cooperation – Parties work together to achieve a common goal or objective. • Consultation – One or more parties confer with other identified parties in accordance with an established process and considers the views of the other parties prior to taking action. • Coordination – Cooperative development of plans, programs, and schedules among agencies and entities with legal standing and adjustment to achieve general consistency, as appropriate. 23 CFR 450.104 19
- 15. Collaboration – NEPA Terminology • Consultation – A type of interaction among a set of parties whose outcome is not yet determined • Examples: • Section 106 of the National Historic PreservationAct • Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act • Concurrence – A type of decision for which an outcome by the Federal agencies responsible for any permit or approval under any other Federal law • Example: • 404 Permit NEPA Merger Process 20
- 16. Coordination in NEPA 23 CFR 771.111 • Early coordination, public involvement, and project development. Coordination Plan • Defines the involvement of cooperating and participating agencies and the public 23 U.S.C. 139 (g) requires that the lead agencies establish a plan for coordinating for EISs (and other projects following 139). 21
- 17. PEL Best Practices 9/22/2023 22 Plan before initiating project Plan schedule & budget Planning informs future environmental study. Leverage tools such as GIS and other mapping tools to help inform planning. Agencies sharing resources to provide data. Comprehensive record of data, analysis and decision- making is important
- 19. FHWA PELWebsite • PEL Website: https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_initiatives/PEL.aspx • Federal-Aid Essentials PELVideo: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/catmod.cfm?id=122 Credit: © WSP 24
- 20. PEL Hypothetical Case Studies • https://www.en vironment.fhw a.dot.gov/env_i nitiatives/pel/p ublications.asp x 9/22/2023 Add a footer 25
- 21. Virtual Public Involvement and PELWebinar Recording 26 VPI and PEL Webinar Recording
- 23. NHI Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Course COURSE NUMBER: FHWA-NHI-142078, 142078 A and 142078V 9/22/2023 https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/course- search?tab=0&key=PEL&sf=0&course_no=142078V 28
- 24. Conclusion • PEL is flexible. • Consider the future use of the planning analysis and planning products in the environmental review process. • Consider environmental, social and economic early into the planning process to: • reduce duplication; • encourage relationship building and public engagement; • create better products, decisions, and outcomes; and • accelerate project delivery. 9/22/2023 29
- 25. Contact Information 30 9/22/2023 ChengYan FHWA Office of Planning [email protected]