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NAEP Webinar: Environmental Planning under MAP-21 Transportation Projects

March 12, 2013

 

NWAEP Seattle and Portland

 You are invited to come tune into the NAEP Webinar “Environmental Planning Under MAP-21 Transportation Projects” on March 12, 2013 at 11 AM at either location in Seattle or Portland (see above for details). The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) contains many significant provisions for accelerating project delivery by targeting the environmental review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

 

These environmental streamlining provisions call for earlier coordination, greater linkage between the planning and environmental review processes, use of programmatic approaches where possible and consolidating environmental documents. MAP-21 also establishes a framework for setting deadlines for decision making in the environmental review process, with a process for issue resolution and referral, and penalties for agencies that fail to make a decision. The act also expands authority for use of categorical exclusions (CEs) to a variety of other types of projects, including multi-modal projects, projects to repair roads damaged in a declared disaster, projects within existing operational right-of-way, and projects receiving limited Federal assistance.

 

The Education, Research & Science Committee, with support from the NAEP NEPA and Transportation Practices groups, has developed an informative webinar to help transportation and environmental planning professionals understand the key environmental provisions of MAP-21, how MAP-21 will impact transportation project delivery, and bring us up to date on applicable Federal Highway Administration guidance on accelerated decision making in environmental reviews.

 

The webinar panel includes NAEP member Lamar Smith, Environment Technical Service Team Manager, Federal Highway Administration, and William Malley, partner with the law firm of Perkins Coie LLP in Washington, DC, with extensive experience as legal counsel to state Departments of Transportation in carrying out environmental studies and permits.

 

This webinar will focus on practical guidance for environmental practitioners on the implications of MAP-21’s environmental streamlining provisions on current and new transportation projects.