Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A simplified scoping fact sheet can be expanded to actually begin the envi-
ronmental analysis. Frequently, substantial work is conducted to investigate
critical aspects of the action before a decision is made to pursue approval of
the action or determine that an environmental impact analysis is warranted
or required under applicable regulations (see for example Preliminary
Assessment, Section 4.2.3). If such investigations have been conducted,
including a summary of the investigations and the conclusion reached in
the initial investigations as part of the material disseminated at the initiation
of scoping, it can be extremely productive and beneficial to the scoping pro-
cess. Inclusion of the information has multiple benefits: it gives stakeholders
more information to stimulate feedback; if there is a fatal flaw or extreme
opposition to the conclusions in the preliminary work, it can be addressed in
the draft environmental analysis rather than later in the process; sharing of
the early evaluations can promote a feeling of inclusion among stakeholders;
and withholding of conclusions and decisions violates the spirit of an open
scoping process and can generate distrust. Some of the information that is
frequently generated as part of early project planning that could be included
in the prescoping is discussed below.
A needs analysis is an example of work that is frequently done before ini-
tiation of the environmental analysis and associated scoping process. For
example prior to embarking on a water supply study, a detailed evaluation
must be done to determine the volume of water needed. Similarly, before ini-
tiating planning on a highway bypass project, the existing traffic problems
are typically documented through relatively detailed studies. A summary
and the results of these planning level investigations can be included in an
expanded scoping fact sheet or brochure to give stakeholders a better appre-
ciation of the purpose and need and the project proponent's vision.
Preliminary consideration of alternatives is another early activity that could
be included in publicly distributed scoping information. Before a project propo-
nent embarks on detailed planning or environmental analysis, they frequently
want to be sure there is at least one feasible way to achieve the purpose and
need for the action. Thus they engage in a feasibility study, which typically pro-
duces a list of possible alternatives. During the process, a number of possibili-
ties are identified and then evaluated conceptually, usually from an engineering
perspective (for projects), but sometimes obvious environmental constraints or
other issues are included in the conceptual evaluation. The feasibility study can
even include a screening of alternatives by comparison to preestablished criteria
(see Section 4.5 for discussion of alternative screening). The results of the feasi-
bility study and any alternative screening can also be very useful information to
stakeholders and generate constructive and well thought out input from stake-
holders at the very beginning of the environmental analysis.
NEPA regulations developed by many federal agencies have institution-
alized the early consideration of alternatives as a Description of Proposed
Actions and Alternatives (DOPAA). Such a process was followed for
the Washington Aqueduct Water Treatment Residuals Management EIS
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