What s a NEPA? Modern Environmental Planning in the United States November 5, 2009 MIT Airport Planning Class Marla Engel, AICP Principal, Airports Planning Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Modern Environmental Planning Origins and Context National Environmental Policy Act Case Studies and Challenges Lofty Goals - Does it Work?
Origins of Environmental Planning Increasing environmental awareness, pollution & concern in 1960s National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) The supreme reality of our time is the vulnerability of our planet. President Kennedy, 1963
NEPA: Environ. Quality as a National Policy Protects the environment Procedural, not regulatory Short, simple and comprehensive Major change in how government operates on all federal actions The most copied legislation in the world
Goals of NEPA Balance environmental quality and economic activity Consider all reasonable alternatives Disclose environmental consequences Avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts Make informed, not correct decisions
What Triggers NEPA? Everything! Actions taken by Federal Agencies (FAA) Approval of Airport Layout Plans Federal funding of Airport Improvements - $$$$ Environmental Permits for Airport Improvements
Not Really - Levels of NEPA Categorical Exclusions Environmental Assessment Environmental Impact Statement
100s of Actions Categorically Excluded - No Significant Environmental Impact Repair and rehab of airport pavement Navigational aids, lighting, fencing and other equipment New on-airport roadways Grants for noise mitigation
Environmental Impact Categories Air Quality Coastal Resources Compatible Land Use Construction Impacts Cumulative Impacts Farmland Fish, Wildlife, Plants (Endangered Species) Floodplains Hazardous Materials Historic/Archaeological Resources Natural Resource and Energy Supply Noise Parks, Refuges & Recreation Areas Secondary (Induced) Impacts Socioeconomic /Community Disruption Water Quality Wetlands Wild & Scenic Rivers Light Emissions
Environmental Assessment (EA) New General Aviation Airport New Runway Not in a Metropolitan Area Land Acquisition Cat-Ex Involving Extraordinary Circumstances
Results of an EA Environmental Assessment (EA) Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Go, Build Approve, etc. Potentially significant impacts Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
EIS - A Public Process Public & Environmental Agency Scoping Draft EIS Public & Environmental Agency Comments Respond to Comments (Final EIS) Record of Decision (Mitigation Requirements) LITIGATION GO
EIS and Politics Priorities and projects change with the politicians Politicians say one thing in public and another in private Review agencies delay, revisit Public opposition and misunderstanding
Case Study: Streamlining EIS s in Philadelphia
Why Streamline at PHL? Executive Order 13274 Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Project Review Secretary designates priority projects of National or Regional Significance
What is Environmental Streamlining? Anticipating and avoiding surprises and delays through openness, collaboration, and planning. It is not rushing through the environmental review process.
Streamlining Agreement 16 Agencies: Federal and 3 States Respect Each Others Statutory Authority Attend Meetings Stick to Schedule for Document Review Document Concurrence and Don t Revisit Immediate Elevation to Resolve Issues
Invest in Success Additional time up front Incremental steps Leadership Communication Flexibility, creativity, responsiveness Make it easy!
PHL: Runway 17-35 Extension 1,000 Runway Extension Construction Cost $ 30M EIS Cost $ 3M Fast Track: 18 months No significant impacts Why an EIS?
NY-NJ-PHL Airspace Redesign Existing New - Additional
Capacity Enhancement: Alternative A Add Transportation Center & Automatic People Mover Extend runway 2,000 feet Relocate UPS Reconfigure terminals & add 25-30 gates Extend Runway 1,500 feet Construct new 9,100 runway
Capacity Enhancement: Alternative B Relocate terminals & add 32-35 gates Add Headhouse & Automatic People Mover Relocate UPS Extend runway 2,000 feet Extend Runway 1,500 feet Construct new 9,100
PHL: East Extension of RW 8-26
Results of Analysis Impact Alt A Alt B Noise (affected residences) 551 446 Jobs -420 +985 Air Quality More than B Less than A Habitat Loss (acres) 72 25 Wetlands Loss (acres) 105 84 B is more operationally efficient
Advantages of Alt A Crosswind runway 17-35 remains open Less disruptive construction Aircraft Delay Air Quality More flexible construction schedule River Runway Runway 8-28 Extension Midfield RW extension
Case Study: Another Airport for Las Vegas!
Pax Forecast for LV Metro Area 2006 2017 2025
Annual Ops Forecast for LV Metro Area Practical Capacity of LAS 206,700 Ops 2006 2017 2025
LAS in 1951
Why Not Expand LAS?
Why Not Expand LAS? Acquire land (yellow dashed) and additional air rights Relocate 4 miles Interstate (blue) and 2 major interchanges (red) Relocate 4 miles railroad (orange); 300 customers not served (pink) Relocate local streets (dark green) New/relocate 13 rail and highway overpasses/underpasses Displace 14,300 Residences and 6,000 Businesses and several designated parks (light green)
You Want to Build an Airport WHERE? 30 miles south of LAS 9 miles North of Mojave National Preserve Home to protected species Crisscrossed by major power lines
You Want to Build an Airport WHERE? Dry Lake bed drains 300 square miles Surrounded by steep terrain 9 Miles from Mojave National Preserve
You Want to Build an Airport WHERE?
Proposed Ivanpah Valley Airport Retention Basin Transportation /Utility Downstream of Basin Construction Materials Site 6,000 acre airport site + 17,000 acres noise compatibility + 10,000 acres transportation/utilities + 10,000 acres navaids, materials conveyors, etc.. = 43,000 acres Retention Basin Airport Site Noise Compatibility Area Construction Materials Site
Why Not Somewhere Else?? 2,600 Acres at < 5% Slope Safe 30-60 minutes Drive to LV Strip Mountainous Terrain (Obstructions) Military and Other Restricted Air Space Conflicts with Other Airports Bottom Line: 7 Existing Airports and 9 New Sites Rejected
Does LV Need a New Airport? 6,000 new hotel rooms in 2008 No new hotels rooms in 2009 Fastest growing county 1995-2006 Losing population in 2008 2003-2007 Housing Bubble 2008-9 : Highest Foreclosure Rate in U.S. Pax down 13% over 2008
The Politics of NEPA FAA, Airport Sponsors, NGOs, public NIMBYs, BANANAs and CAVE people CAAN, CAAP, CARE and the Internet Whose airspace is it anyway? Going Political
The Politics of NEPA SFO City defunds the EIS due to political pressure, change in City Council LAX EIS takes 10+ years due to public opposition and changing mayors TAOS 10+ years to address Cultural Concerns
40-Year Evolution of NEPA Federal Agencies resisted Implemented with caution Accepted / just another hoop Some embrace as planning tool For some, a legal exercise Never lose on analysis, only on process
Lofty goals, but does it work? Significantly modified agency behavior, Few opponents win in court Replicated in 23 states Emulated throughout the world It works only if everyone does their job Airports FAA Environmental review agencies Public
? Questions Mengel@vhb.com