The EIS Process
The EIS process involves several steps that allow for public participation and input. Much of the process is interactive with numerous stakeholders. There are numerous engineering designs that are developed and evaluated for the project called design alternatives. These numerous alternatives are screened down to a select few called selected alternative and ultimately to one final Preferred Alternative. Concurrent with the alternative development and selection process is the environmental assessment. A comprehensive list of environmental factors (air, water, soil, wetlands, etc.) is reviewed and evaluated for each alternative and the environmental impact determined. The findings of these environmental impacts and the design alternatives are compiled into documents that are made available to the public. The public is expected to review and comment on these EIS documents.

Project Initiation
The most critical decision during this initial stage of the process is to assess if the project will have a significant adverse affect on the environment. An EIS must be performed if the project will cause a significant environmental impact. Other activities include assessing and defining the scope of work, identifying the project area, developing a public involvement plan and coordinating with federal, local and state agencies.

Purpose and Need
“The statement shall briefly specify the underlying purpose and need to which the agency is responding in proposing the alternatives including the proposed action.” 40CFR 1502.13

In other words...

The purpose and need of the project states briefly the reason that the FHWA is undertaking the action. This is the goal that will be used to test the viability of alternatives and the success of the action.

Read the "Purpose and Need": Project Description

Notice of Intent
A Notice of Intent is developed by the lead federal agency (FHWA) for the project and published in the Federal Register. It gives the public and government agencies notices that an EIS study will be commencing. The Notice of Intent contains a brief description of the project, the project location, agencies involved in the EIS, contact names, and the proposed scoping process and associated dates, if known. The Notice of Intent, advising the public that an EIS would be prepared for the Valley Highway Project, appeared in the Federal Register on July 23, 2002.

EIS Scoping
The EIS process is very interactive with the public and with various government agencies. The scoping meetings are used to discuss technical and management approaches and help identify both important and non-important environmental issues. It allows the lead agency to educate the public and government agencies on the scope of the work and the environmental impacts. This is a very important part of the project. The scoping initiates the dialog and develops working relationships between the lead agency and the public that is critical for the EIS to be successful.

Environmental Impact Assessment
An environmental impact assessment is done concurrently with the alternative development and screening process. As part of the screening process possible environmental impacts are determined and evaluated. Numerous environmental parameters are reviewed during this impact assessment stage such as air quality, water quality, parks and recreation, historical sites, wetlands, floodplains and ecological. Environmental impacts are identified for the alternatives and mitigation measures are developed in the alternative design to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact caused by the project.

Draft EIS
The Draft EIS is the first document that compiles all design and environmental information. The document discusses the approach and logic used during the Design Alternatives Development and the Environmental Impact Assessment stages. Normally at the Draft EIS stage only a few alternatives remain for final consideration. The Draft EIS document is submitted to the public for review and comment. Associated with the review period is a Public Hearing that allows the public to voice their approval and concerns. Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS appeared in the Federal Register on April 29, 2005.

Refer to the EIS page for information regarding the DEIS, and to the Public Involvement and Schedule pages for the dates of these events.

Final EIS
The Final EIS contains the final revisions made to the Draft EIS based upon the public and government agency comments. The Final EIS contains responses to all the public comments obtained during the document review period and the Public Hearing. This document will also present the Preferred Alternative that was selected for the project. The Final EIS document is submitted to the public for review and comment. Associated with the review period is a Public Hearing that allows the public to voice their final comments.

Refer to the EIS page for information regarding the FEIS, and to the Public Involvement and Schedule pages for the anticipated dates of these events.

Record of Decision (ROD)
The Record of Decision (ROD) records the decisions and commitments of FHWA and CDOT for this project. These documents include not only the components of the project but also the mitigation and monitoring requirements accepted by FHWA and CDOT. The findings and commitments stated in the EIS are enforceable under the NEPA. Mitigation and monitoring activities that are needed to ensure the environment is enhanced and protected must be followed by law. The public is encouraged to interact with CDOT, FHWA, and other agencies during the EIS process. They are encouraged to become involved and make an impact on the final decisions made during the development of the Final EIS and ROD. The ROD depends on funding status in DRCOG’s Transportation Improvement Program and the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan.

Refer to the Public Involvement and Schedule pages for more information and the anticipated date of these events.

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