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National Environmental Policy Act and

Environmental Stewardship

The National Environmental Policy Act was not intended to only generate paperwork (even excellent paperwork) but to foster excellent action.  The NEPA process is intended to help public officials make decisions that are based on the understanding of environmental consequences, and take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment.

Recognizing the importance of protecting Colorado’s wonderful natural and built environment, and quality of life of the people who live in Colorado, CDOT officials produced the Colorado Department of Transportation Environmental Stewardship Guide in July 2003.

This document provides a unique insight into CDOT’s intention for the implementation of transportation improvement projects in the State of Colorado, which is in stark contrast to the I-70 PEIS process to date.

Introduction

Purpose of the Environmental

Stewardship Guide

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Environmental Stewardship Guide (Guide) documents CDOT's environmental ethic. It describes the process by which social, economic, environmental, and engineering considerations are integrated in all aspects of transportation decision-making, including policy development, systems and project development, and the design, construction, maintenance and operations of the system. This Guide has been developed to assist internal and external users who want an overview of the transportation decision-making process and a better understanding of the environmental considerations contained in that process.

At the policy level, environmental considerations are broad and goal oriented. Through the planning and development processes, specific environmental considerations are identified for further analysis.

The term “environment” as used in this Environmental Stewardship Guide includes the natural environment, the built environment, the cultural and social fabric of our communities, and the quality of life of the people who live in Colorado.

Environmental Stewardship is more than just managing environmental clearances and ensuring regulatory compliance for transportation projects. Environmental Stewardship means that CDOT employees are environmentally conscientious and ensure that the statewide transportation system is constructed and maintained in an environmentally responsible, sustainable and compliant manner.

CDOT considers environmental factors to be an important part of every plan and decision in the same way that engineering, economic, and other factors are considered. CDOT’s environmental ethic establishes a moral foundation of environmental responsibility that helps guide policy and systems planning decisions. As the planning and decision-making process becomes more project-oriented, this environmental ethic is incorporated into environmentally responsible engineering, construction and maintenance practices.

An overriding theme of this Guide is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) in that it advocates the use of an interdisciplinary approach to decision-making. NEPA applies to all major federal actions and decisions. CDOT recognizes that the development and evaluation of successful transportation concepts requires the involvement and collaboration of many people including the public, engineers, planners, local entities, resource agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, environmental specialists, cultural resource specialists and others with expertise in project planning.

This interdisciplinary approach has been adopted for all CDOT projects or projects involving CDOT approvals, reflecting CDOT's environmental ethic and commitment to meeting both the intent and requirements of NEPA the requirements and processes outlined in this Guide.

CDOT’s Environmental Ethics Statement applies fundamental NEPA policy and principles to guide procedures and the decision-making process.

- CDOT’s Environmental Ethics Statement

CDOT has adopted the following environmental ethics statement to guide its work and accomplish its mission:

"CDOT will support and enhance efforts to protect the environment and quality of life for all of Colorado’s citizens in the pursuit of providing the best transportation systems and services possible."

• CDOT goes beyond environmental compliance and strives

   for environmental excellence.

• CDOT promotes a sense of environmental responsibility

   for all employees in the course of all CDOT activities.

• CDOT ensures that measures are taken to avoid or

   minimize the environmental impacts of construction and

   maintenance of the transportation system and that

   mitigation commitments are implemented and

   maintained.

• CDOT designs, constructs, maintains, and operates the

   statewide transportation system in a manner which helps

   preserve and sustain Colorado’s historic and scenic

   heritage and fits harmoniously into communities and the

   natural environment.

The approach described in this Guide is designed to streamline the environmental process by:

• encouraging early consideration of environmental issues

• providing for early involvement and consultations with

   affected parties and resource agencies

• establishing a framework for cooperation and collaboration

   on an on-going basis

An overriding theme of this Guide is consistent with NEPA in the use of an interdisciplinary approach to decision-making. This is a key principle in NEPA. The successful application of this approach will lead to good transportation decisions that meet both the intent and requirements of NEPA.

- CDOT’s Mission Statement and Commission Policies

In November 1996, the Colorado Transportation Commission adopted as a matter of policy the Department Mission, Values, and Goals.

The mission of the Colorado Department of Transportation is:

"To provide the best multi-modal transportation system for Colorado that most effectively moves people, goods and information"

One important value recognized by the Commission for implementation of this mission is:

"Making decisions which are compatible with Colorado's quality of life, environmental, and economic goals"

The Commission has also adopted Statewide Transportation Policies. Among those policies, two directly address CDOT's commitment to the environment to support its environmental ethics statement. These CDOT policy statements incorporate many of the NEPA principles and are implemented throughout CDOT procedures and decision-making.

· ENVIRONMENT

CDOT will promote a transportation system that is environmentally responsible and encourages preservation of the natural and enhancement of the created environment for current and future generations. We will incorporate social, economic, and environmental concerns into the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operations of the state's existing and future transportation system. With the active participation of the general public, federal, state and local agencies, we will objectively consider all reasonable alternatives to avoid or minimize adverse impacts.

· BALANCE QUALITY OF LIFE FACTORS

CDOT recognizes the complex interrelationship of the environment, economic vitality and mobility, and is committed to balancing these factors in the development and implementation of the statewide transportation plan. By working with local, regional and state interests, CDOT will advocate the development of a coordinated decision-making process that balances the long-range transportation, land use and quality of life needs in Colorado. It is not the intent of the Commission or CDOT to prohibit or interfere with local land use decisions.

- Performance Based Transportation Investment

  Strategy

Environmental Objectives

To aid the Commission in making effective investment decisions, CDOT has developed a transportation investment strategy and performance measurement system. As part of that strategy, there are three environmentally related objectives that have been adopted by the Commission consistent with the overall CDOT mission:

(1) ensuring that investments in the transportation system

     sustain and/or improve quality of life;

(2) ensuring environmental stewardship of the

      transportation system; and

(3) implementing transportation improvements that

     enhance the quality of life and promote community

     values.

- Environmental Policy Guidance

Moreover, the Commission has adopted a policy supporting pro-active techniques to mitigate impacts of the transportation system on the environment by developing creative strategies that:

· Comprehensively address anticipated environmental

   impacts of the state transportation system,

· Consider project enhancements in affected communities

  in a cost-effective manner consistent with the mission of

  the Department; and

· Expedite project planning consistent with environmental

  goals and policies.