Page 36 - Highway Engineering Handbook Building and Rehabilitating the Infrastructure

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 19

reasons for their having been eliminated” (40 CFR §1502.14). Reasonable alternatives
are those that substantially meet the purpose and need for the proposed action, and
include those that are practical or feasible from the technical and economic standpoint,
rather than simply desirable from the standpoint of the applicant or the public. Agencies
are obligated to evaluate all reasonable alternatives or a range of reasonable alternatives
in enough detail so that a reader can compare and contrast the environmental effects of
the various alternatives.
Both improvement of existing highways and facilities on new locations should be con-
sidered, as appropriate to the need for the action. A representative number of reasonable
alternatives must be presented and evaluated in detail in the DEIS. For most major projects,
there is a potential for a large number of reasonable action alternatives. Only a representa-
tive number of the most reasonable approaches, covering the full range of alternatives,
should be presented. The number of reasonable alternatives will depend on the project loca-
tion and pertinent project issues. Each alternative should be briefly described using maps
or other visual aids such as photographs, drawings, or sketches. A clear description should
be presented of the concept, major design features, termini, location, and costs for each
alternative. More detailed design of some aspects may be necessary for one or more alter-
natives to evaluate impacts or mitigation measures, or to address issues raised by other
agencies or the public. However, equal consideration must be given to all alternatives. All
reasonable alternatives considered should be developed to a comparable level of detail in
the draft EIS so that their comparative merits may be evaluated. Where a preferred alter-
native has been identified, it should be so indicated. The DEIS should include a statement
that the final selection of an alternative will not be made until the impacts of the alterna-
tives and public comments on the DEIS have been fully evaluated. Where a preferred alter-
native has not been identified, the DEIS should state that all reasonable alternatives are
under consideration and that a decision will be made only after the impacts of the alterna-
tives and comments on the DEIS have been fully evaluated.
Both CEQ and FHWA regulations implementing NEPA require consideration of a
“no-action” alternative. The no-action alternative is the condition that would occur if
FHWA did not implement the proposed action, but may be different from the existing con-
dition due to implementation of other actions separate from those of the proposed action if
the proposed action was not authorized. For highway projects, the no-action alternative
would at least include those reasonably foreseeable maintenance and safety actions
required to continue operation of the facility under consideration.
Affected Environment. This section of the DEIS describes in concise terms the social,
economic, and environmental setting for the alternatives under consideration. The limits of
the study area(s) should be based on an assessment of the extent of potential impact for each
impact category. Impact categories should include those listed in Table 1.5. Only aspects
of the setting relevant to assessing the environmental impacts of proposed alternatives
should be discussed in detail, with other descriptions limited to that necessary to provide
context.
Environmental Consequences. The major significant impacts of the project should be
discussed in detail in the environmental consequences section for each of the categories for
which a description of the affected environment is provided. The analysis of impacts should
consider all issues raised during the project’s public and agency-scoping process. The
analysis must include consideration of the full range of short- and long-term, and direct,
indirect, and cumulative effects of the preferred alternative, if any, and of the reasonable
alternatives identified in the alternatives section of the DEIS. Effects to be considered include
ecological, aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, and public health impacts,
whether adverse or beneficial (40 CFR §§1508.7, 1508.8).
Mitigation Measures. This section of the DEIS should specify measures to lessen the
adverse environmental impacts of alternatives identified in the environmental consequences