More than ever, and especially following recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, federal funding is becoming available to fix failing infrastructure and create more resilient communities. Leveraging those funds against a local match might make the difference between completing a project next year or waiting five to 10 years. With federal programs and grants, however, come federal environmental-compliance requirements, which often are overwhelming to decipher. Each federal agency has its own directive or mission, and each is required to develop its own compliance procedures. Consequently, agencies’ environmental foci, documentation needs, and public notice requirements often differ.
Presenters explain the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and identify some of the major federal agencies that offer funding in compliance with it. They discuss which type of environmental assessment is appropriate for a given project and identify common pitfalls to avoid. This presentation helps planners decipher an esoteric and mystifying process. Discover and implement planning recommendations that will save time and money during the compliance process.
NPC Peer Reviewers assigned this presentation a learning level of Foundational. For more on learning-level descriptions, visit our General Information Page.
Learning Objectives:
Predict which projects require NEPA review.
Implement the correct environmental review by comparing various federal agencies’ NEPA compliance requirements.
Effectively conduct a cumulative impacts analysis that is compliant with Council on Environmental Quality regulations under Title 40, Chapter V.
