U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

F

Transmittal 259

90-4

September 21, 1972

To provide to Highway Agencies and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) field offices guidelines for the development of Action Plans to assure that adequate consideration is given to possible social, economic, and environmental effects of proposed highway projects and that the decisions on such projects are made in the best overall public interest. These guidelines identify issues to be considered in reviewing the present organization and processes of a Highway Agency as they relate to social, economic, and environmental considerations, and in developing desirable improvements. The guidelines recognize the unique situation of each State and do not prescribe specific organizations or procedures.

2. AUTHORITY

Section 109(h), Title 23, United States Code, directs the following: "(h) Not later than July 1, 1972, the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State officials, shall submit to Congress, and not later than 90 days after such submission, promulgate guidelines designed to assure that possible adverse economic, social, and environmental effects relating to any proposed project on any Federal-aid system have been

c.

Involvement of other Federal, State, and local agencies, including A-95 Clearinghouses, and, where appropriate, agencies responsible for transportation planning in accordance with PPM 50-9, officials, and interested groups should be sought throughout the development stages of the Action Plan. Comments on the proposed Action Plan should be solicited from these agencies, groups, and individuals, and the Plan forwarded to the FHWA should include a summary of comments on the Plan (including the sources of such comments) and the State's disposition of them.

d. The FHWA, through its division and regional offices, will consult with the State in the development of the Action Plan and, within the limits of its resources, will be prepared to assist or advise.

e. The Action Plan shall be submitted to the Governor of the State for review and approval as a means of obtaining a high degree of interagency and intergovernmental coordination. Approval by the Governor may occur prior to submittal of the Action Plan to the FHWA, or, if desired by the State, may occur concurrently with FHWA approval.

f. The Action Plan shall be submitted to the FHWA not later than June 15, 1973, for approval. The FHWA will not give location approval on projects after November 1, 1973, unless the Action Plan has been approved.

September 21, 1972

in the Action Plan. It is expected that all aspects of the Action Plan will be implemented by this date. If the Highway Agency believes that any provision in its Action Plan cannot be implemented prior to November 1, 1974, it shall present a schedule for the implementation of such provisions to the FHWA, which will consider the proposed schedule on a caseby-case basis.

C. If the schedule for implementation set forth in an approved Action Plan is not met, the FHWA may withhold location approvals or such other project approvals as it deems appropriate.

Par. 7b

a. Alternatives considered should include, where appropriate, alternative types and scales of highway improvements and other transportation modes. The option of no highway improvement should be considered and used as a reference point for determining the beneficial and adverse effects of other alternatives. Appropriate alternatives which might minimize or avoid adverse social, economic, or environmental effects should be studied and described, particularly in terms of impacts upon specific groups and in relationship to 42 U. S. C. 2000d2000d-4 (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 1964) and 42 U. S. C. 3601-3619 (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968). The key trade-offs among the alternatives should be presented.

b. The Action Plan should identify the assignment of responsibility and the procedures to be followed to ensure that:

a. The President has directed Federal agencies to "develop procedures to insure the fullest practicable provision of timely public information and understanding of Federal plans and programs with environmental impact in order to obtain the views of interested parties" (Executive Order 11514). Policy and Procedure Memorandum 20-8 contains similar provisions. Interested parties should have adequate opportunities to express their views early enough in the study process to influence the course of studies, as well as the actions taken. Information about the existence, status, and results of studies should be made available to the public throughout those studies. The required public hearings (PPM 20-8) should be only one component of the agency's program to obtain public involvement.

b. The Action Plan should indicate procedural arrangements or assignments of responsibilities which will be necessary to meet this requirement, including:

(1) The organization and staffing of interdisciplinary project groups which are systematic and interdisciplinary in approach, including the possible use of consultants and representatives of other State or local agencies.

(2) Recruitment and training of personnel with skills which are appropriate to add on a full-time basis, and the development of appropriate career patterns, including management opportunities.

(3) Additional training for present personnel to enhance their capabilities to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment.