Navigating NEPA Documentation

NEPA Documentation: Protecting Project Timelines

 

Effective in October, MDOT Local Agency projects now require updated National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation to proceed with certain projects. Updated NEPA documentation will be required on any project using federal funds, requiring a federal permit or FHWA approval.

How might this affect projects in 2020? Continue reading below.

 

New Requirements

Updated requirements include reviewing and submitting proper documentation, reviews of any potential impacts to historic properties (shown), hazardous sites, rivers and streams, wetlands, parklands, coastal zones, floodplains, and project biology, including threatened and endangered species.

 

Protect Your Timeline

Although NEPA regulations are not new, documentation and procedures are. This could impact approvals and project timelines. Project biology and review of threatened and endangered species impacts would take anywhere from two months up to one year to complete. Historic property impacts could take from one to several months, and parkland impacts could require six months to more than a year. 

It is very important to start early and account for the time necessary to complete these additional requirements. By identifying and assessing potential project impacts related to NEPA regulations early on, timely project progress can be maintained.

 

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