Environmental Streamlining Reports to Congress
- June 2004: Federal Highway Administration Environmental Streamlining Activities During 2003
  - Executive Summary
  - Report
- April 2003: Federal Highway Administration Environmental Streamlining Activities During 2002
  - Executive Summary
  - Report
- February 2002: Highway and Transit Environmental Streamlining Progress Summary
  - Executive Summary
  - Report

Timeliness of NEPA Data

Studies and collections of data that identify and explain the amount of time required to complete the NEPA Process
- Estimated Time Required to Complete the NEPA Process (includes Fiscal Year 2006)
  (compiled by FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
- NEPA Baseline Study for Evaluating the Performance of Environmental Streamlining (by the Berger Group for FHWA)
  Baseline studies have been completed to measure the length of time for routine and complex environmental reviews. The results provide a valid and reasonable baseline against which to evaluate future environmental streamlining efforts and to establish target timeframes for reducing delays.
- NEPA Baseline Study for Evaluating the Performance of Environmental Streamlining - Phase II (by the Berger Group for FHWA)
- Successful Efforts in Environmental Streamlining--Eight Case Studies in Project Development (by the Berger Group for FHWA)
- Reasons for EIS Project Delays
  (compiled by FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
- Information on Timeliness on Completing the NEPA Process Projects Completed in FY 02

FHWA Environmental Tracking System

Environmental Document Tracking System (EDTS)
In 2002, FHWA developed and implemented an internal environmental document tracking system (EDTS) for Environmental Assessments (EA), and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). The system was developed to support the Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship "Vital Few" objectives. The ability to accurately track the length of time required to complete the NEPA process is an essential component of the environmental streamlining performance measure. It will also help FHWA identify some of the factors that may affect the efficiency of NEPA project delivery. EDTS will aid FHWA's ability to monitor project progress between major milestones, and to accurately determine the total processing time from initiation of an EIS and EA to the approval of the final decision document. For more information, contact Bethaney Bacher-Gresock, Office of Project Development and Environmental Review, (202) 366-4196.

FHWA Project Information

FHWA Projects by Class of Action Graph and FHWA Projects by Funding Amounts Graph
EPA Ratings of DEIS and FEIS Documents
FHWA monitors EPA's ratings of environmental documents for highway projects. The ratings range from Lack of Objection (LO) to Environmental Concerns (EC) to Environmentally Objectionable (EO) to Environmentally Unacceptable (EU). FHWA's "grade point" average as reflected by EPA ratings has improved as a result of our environmental streamlining efforts that focus on early coordination.

FHWA/Gallup Study on Implementing Performance Measurement in Environmental Streamlining

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contracted with The Gallup Organization to conduct a study that would obtain insights into the environmental streamlining process. The study included a qualitative component involving focus group research, and two quantitative components, a pilot study of Region 5, and a comprehensive national study that was both regional and national in scope. Discussions from focus group participants revealed common themes concerning relationships among the counterpart transportation and resource permitting agencies.

For more information on the Study, click here.

For questions or feedback on this subject, please contact Ruth Rentch at 202-366-2034. For general questions or web problems, please send feedback to the web administrator.