Page 18 - Highway Engineering Handbook Building and Rehabilitating the Infrastructure

CHAPTER 1
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

James R. Brown
National Director
Transportation Environmental Programs
HDR Engineering, Inc.
New York, New York

Samuel Less, AICP
Planning Director
Transportation Environmental Programs
HDR Engineering, Inc.
New York, New York

Environmental concerns play a major role in the planning, design, construction, reha-
bilitation, and maintenance of highways. This chapter provides an overview of the major
environmental concerns affecting highway projects and includes a summary of the federal
environmental statutes, regulations, policies, and guidance material that must be addressed
in their development.
Included is a detailed discussion of the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 USC §4321 et seq., the key federal environmental
statute affecting the development of highway projects. Provided is a thorough descrip-
tion of the process and substance required to prepare environmental documents under
NEPA, including environmental assessments (EA) and environmental impact statements
(EIS).
This chapter also includes a summary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
requirements governing the planning and development of highway projects included in
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for
Users (Public Law 109-59, “SAFETEA-LU”), and Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966 (Title 49 USC §1653(f), “Section 4(f)”). Also provided is an
overview of the major federal resource-specific environmental legislation and regulations
not under the jurisdiction of DOT that highway planners and engineers must address during
project development.
The chapter concludes with a thorough discussion of alternative means to remove lead-
based paint from steel bridge structure, and the potential use of waste material in the con-
struction and maintenance of highways, including the recycling of hazardous wastes within
highway projects.

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