The
Environmental Planning Group (EPG) oversees the preparation
of environmental documents for all highway improvement and
enhancement projects. These documents insure that all relevant
environmental factors are appropriately addressed and mitigated.
The primary documents include Environmental Determinations
(Categorical Exclusions) for projects that do not have significant
environmental impacts, Environmental Assessments (EAs)
for projects that may have significant impacts, and Environmental
Impact Statements (EISs) for projects having significant
impacts. Supplemental documents include Section 4(f) Evaluations
for projects that impact publicly owned recreation areas,
wildlife refuges, or historic sites.
As part of the planning process, EPG implements an effective
public involvement program to assist ADOT in making sound
project decisions.
The
primary public involvement activities include Public Meetings
and Public Hearings. They are conducted as an open-forum
format with an optional brief presentation. The Public Hearings
also feature a court reporter who prepares a verbatim transcript
of the hearing's proceedings.
The meetings are announced to the public through display advertisements
in local newspapers. Outreach may also include direct mailings,
posters, door-hangers, and public service ads. The Environmental Planning Group also translates meeting announcements
into Spanish for projects located within a large Hispanic
population.The
Guidelines in the right-hand column provide information to
help the consultant or local government representative organize
public meetings and hearings.
The Guidelines in the right-hand column provide information
to help the consultant or local government representative
prepare such documents and public meetings so they meet regulations
and policies of the Federal Highway Administration, and the
ADOT Action Plan.
