TDOT's Environmental Procedures Manual: A First-Line Resource for Environmental Reviews

The Tennessee Environmental Procedures Manual (TEPM) provides useful start-to-finish information on the environmental review process for transportation projects. The Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge set a state precedent for context-sensitive solutions with its award-winning design. (Photo courtesy of FHWA)

Two of the numerous priorities that State Departments of Transportation must address are the need to perform in-depth environmental reviews and the need to prepare high-quality environmental documents through a streamlined project development process. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is making great strides in achieving both of these goals through the recently published Tennessee Environmental Procedures Manual (TEPM).

TEPM presents an approach that combines streamlining, interagency coordination, context-sensitive solutions, and public involvement with updated information on environmental review processes under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). TEPM is also an excellent reference for a variety of topics related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and it provides helpful links to additional resources.

Renewing the Commitment to Public Invovement and Environmental Stewardship

Within the last few years, TDOT has undergone significant change. In 2003, when State Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely took office, TDOT renewed its commitment to public involvement and environmental stewardship. In 2005, as part of an effort to establish a transportation vision for the state, the agency completed a new statewide long-range multimodal plan. Following the recent completion of a Statewide Storm Water Management Plan, TDOT's Environmental Division is currently implementing interagency streamlining agreements and developing a statewide environmental management system.

The development of TEPM began modestly in 2003 but soon grew into a major undertaking. After completing a comprehensive assessment of the agency's environmental review process in 2003, TDOT began assembling environmental review guidelines for state-funded transportation projects. This evolved into a combined effort to overhaul a 20-year-old NEPA manual and to create new state project guidelines. After SAFETEA-LU was enacted in August 2005, the new legislation's environmental review provisions were also incorporated into the draft TEPM.

After four years of interparty collaboration, TDOT completed the TEPM manual. An independent consultant performed most of the research and writing, with extensive input from TDOT environmental staff. The TDOT Environmental Advisory Council, a representative organization of environmental leaders in Tennessee (see sidebar), provided valuable feedback, as did FHWA's Tennessee Division Office, which reviewed a refined draft of the manual.

Taking a Step–by–Step Approach to Environmental Reviews

TDOT looked to other states for guidance in developing an outline for TEPM. The end result was a first-line resource for state transportation professionals in updating individual NEPA guidance materials. TEPM can assist with:

• Navigating the NEPA process for Federally funded transportation projects
• Performing environmental evaluations for state-funded projects under the new TDOT-developed guidelines
• Standardizing and Improving environmental analyses and documents
• Assessing technical impacts of proposed projects

TEPM devotes significant attention to mitigation and environmental commitments related to project design and construction activities. A new Statewide Storm Water Management Plan submitted by the TDOT's Department of Environment and Conservation in May 2007 provides a major basis for this section. This cooperatively developed plan describes actions to limit and mitigate the impacts of erosion, sediment, and storm water caused by the state's highways.

TEPM is also a resource for preparing high-quality, reader friendly environmental documents, drawing on guidelines developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and FHWA and published in a report entitled Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents, dated June 23, 2006. (To access the report, visit the AASHTO NEPA Process website. The September 2006 issue of Successes in Stewardship provides additional information on these guidelines.) Given the current focus on streamlined project analysis and review, TEPM is a major resource for transportation professionals, presenting the core principles of NEPA documents in an easy-to-understand format.

Applications for Other Stakeholders

Although TEPM was created by and for transportation professionals in Tennessee, it is also useful to individuals in other states who are interested in learning more about the environmental review process. TEPM's information on SAFETEA-LU revisions, public involvement, context-sensitive solutions, minimization and mitigation of impacts, and preparation of high-quality documentation can be applied to large and small projects in any state.

TEPM is updated regularly and is available online. To access the most recent version, go to http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/environment/tepm.htm. Sign up to receive updates by e-mailing your name and organizational affiliation to TEPM.Environmental@state.tn.us.

"Successes in Stewardship" is a Federal Highway Administration newsletter highlighting current environmental streamlining and stewardship practices from around the country. To subscribe, visit the Registration Site, or call 617-494-6352.