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Plans & Guidelines Review

The REF was developed using a host of federal and state environmental review guidelines, requirements, and planning approaches relevant to transportation.

Plans & Guidelines Review

This section contains an overview of federal and state environmental review guidelines and requirements relevant to transportation planning.

IDOT Environmental Surveys

An Environmental Survey Request (ESR) is the first step in cultural, biological, and special waste resource screening for a project. An ESR is essentially a checklist of conditions that determine whether IDOT needs to further review impacts of a transportation project. If any criteria on the form are met, then an ESR is submitted by the planning agency. Prior to any action on a project, planners should consult the ESR form to determine if any conditions are met, and to begin early considerations of alternatives that may not require an ESR or other environmental documentation.

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PESA

Prior to acquisition of a right-of-way (ROW) or improvements to existing state-owned property, IDOT must conduct a Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment (PESA). The purpose of a PESA is to identify and assess environmental risks and liabilities of a property to protect worker and public safety, reduce IDOT liability, and minimize delays through efficient and cost-effective operating procedures. Conducted by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) on behalf of IDOT, a PESA is triggered when an Environmental Survey Request (ESR) identifies the likelihood a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC), found in the BLRS Manual Ch.

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PEL

Planning & Environment Linkages (PEL) represent a holistic and cooperative approach to transportation decision-making that (1) considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process; and (2) uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process1. IDOT guidance on appropriate application of PEL can be found in the BDE Manual Ch. 11. PEL planning products help set the stage for future projects by improving the understanding of needs, logical termini, and/or improvement alternatives.

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NEPA

What is NEPA: The National environmental Policy Act (NEPA) establishes an environmental review process for integrating environmental considerations into federal planning and decision-making. The NEPA process for achieving such goals comes through a thoroughly documented analysis of impacts and alternatives, consultation with other resource and affected agencies, and a public comment period prior to any project implementation. The level of detail and documentation required for each project depends on the potential significance of environmental impact resulting from the project.

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Other Laws and Requirements

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) SAFETEA-LU addresses a wide range of issues including new funding options for highway and transit programs, streamlining of environmental reviews, environmental planning provisions, and transportation planning provisions. Sections 6002 and 6001 provide guidance on these issues. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) MAP-21 expands project qualifications for a Categorical Exclusions, where no full NEPA review is required, as well as removes requirements to analyze alternatives as long as the preferred solution was previously analyzed during the long-range transportation planning process.

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