Coordinating and Managing the Environmental Impact Analysis Processes - Environmental Impact Analysis: Process and Methods - page 341

9
Coordinating and Managing the
Environmental Impact Analysis Processes
9.1 Introduction
Environmental impact analysis is not conducted in isolation but must
be coordinated with other activities in order to meet the stated purpose and
need. Following environmental analysis, including the selection of an alter-
native, the proposed action proceeds to detailed development that requires
engineering (or policy formulation) details and environmental approvals.
Acknowledging the need for these details and integrating them into the
environmental analysis at an early stage in the process expedites the pro-
cess and ensures successful implementation. The coordination with final
development, such as engineering design or policy and plan details can
often be simplified in the environmental analysis by specifying the commit-
ment to environmental impact mitigation and requiring that they be fully
included in project design and other implementing procedures, similar to
the Section 61 Finding process in Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
(MEPA) described in Section 8.6.1. However, the environmental approv-
als are a different matter and must be fully integrated and addressed in
the environmental analysis. The importance of this integration has been
stressed in Chapters 4 and 5 but is revisited in this chapter, building on the
approach and implementation of environmental impact analysis presented
in the previous eight chapters.
Another challenge that can derail the proposed action before it even
approaches the implementation phase is the management of the environ-
mental analysis process. One of the most common and often fatal impedi-
ments to successfully managing the process is taking too long and costing
too much. There are basic project management concepts and methods that
can be applied to environmental analysis, which greatly increase the effi-
ciency of the analysis, and support on schedule and on budget completion.
Some tools that have proved useful in making environmental analysis effi-
cient are summarized below under separate headings to give the environ-
mental practitioner an appreciation of effective project management.
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