US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

ENV-9: Approve Resource Agency Public Notice

Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting

Description:

This Key Decision is required to satisfy the regulatory requirement for Section 404 permitting that the public receive notice of a permit application. There is no integration with other phases of transportation decision making or other decision making processes.

Note that changes to the project could occur as part of design that would require a modified Section 404 (or other) permit application and the approval of a new resource agency public notice.

Basics:

The first table describes the purpose and anticipated outcome of a Key Decision. If the decision is federally mandated, the purpose and outcome will relate to the legal intent.

The second table describes roles for key partners with legal decision making authority in the transportation process. The roles indicate the influence a partner can have on a decision, and show each partner where their input is most needed. For a full understanding of roles see the Partner Portal.

Purpose

To inform the public that a Section 404 application has been received, describe planned activities and enlist public comment with regard to the project.

Outcome

Public comments, necessary to evaluate the probable impact of the project on the public's interest, are received.

Partner Role Type Description
MPO No Role No action required for permitting Public Notice.
FHWA/FTA No Role Action required only by federal permitting agency(s).
State DOT Observer Observes the public notice required for permitting.
Resource Agency Decision Maker USACE is a decision maker, approving a public notice that is consistent with 33 CFR Part 325.3.
Public Transportation Operator(s) Observer Observes the public notice required for permitting.

Questions to Consider

Questions are a way to gather input from partners and stakeholders that can be used to inform the decision. Decision makers can discuss the questions provided to ensure a broad array of interests are considered to support a collaborative process. Questions also allow staff to collect stakeholder interests, ensure these are included in the decision, and provide a response based on the decision outcome. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Category Questions to Consider
Long Range Planning
  • No specific questions
Programming
  • No specific questions
Corridor Planning
  • No specific questions
Environmental Review
  • Does the public notice meet federal requirements?
Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Capital Improvement
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Human Environment and Communities
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Land Use
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Linking Planning and Operations
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Private Partnerships
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Safety
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Transportation Conformity
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

Data

The following list of data may be needed to support the Key Decision. Practitioners collect this information for decision makers to consider. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Category Data to Consider
Long Range Planning
  • No specific data
Programming
  • No specific data
Corridor Planning
  • No specific data
Environmental Review
  • Federal requirements for the public notice
  • Section 404 permit application
Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Capital Improvement
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Human Environment and Communities
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Land Use
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Linking Planning and Operations
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Private Partnerships
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Safety
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Transportation Conformity
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

Examples

In - depth case studies of successful practices in collaborative decision making were used to develop the Decision Guide.Links in this table point to a specific paragraph or section of a case study that supports a Key Decision. It is not necessary to read through an entire case study to find the example; however, full versions are available in the Library.

PlanWorks Case Study Examples:
Regional TIP Policy Framework and Vision 2040 for Puget Sound Regional Council env-9

Other Examples:
None.