Florida Department of Transportation

Quality Control Review for an Environmental Assessment

Project Name:	______________________________________	FM #: __________________________

Limits:	_______________________________________

Consultant:	________________________________________	FAP#: __________________________

Review Date:	_______________________________________

This checklist provides guidance on reviewing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The consultant will comply with the requirements set forth in Part 1, Chapter 6 (Environmental Assessment) of the Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Manual and all other applicable chapters of the PD&E Manual.

Items to Review:	Yes	No	N/A
Cover Page: Cover page was completed using the appropriate SWEPT EA cover page.
Table of Contents: The table of contents contains sections that are described in Part 1, Chapter 6 of the PD&E Manual. All sections of an EA appear in the table of content.
Project Description: The project description contains a summary of the existing facility, limits of proposed improvements, city and county where the project is located, and proposed improvements. Project Map with project limits is attached.
PURPOSE AND NEED
The need(s) explains current or future transportation problems (and the causes of the problems) that are true drivers of the project. The need is defined in terms understandable to the public. The purpose identifies goals/objectives of the project. If the project was screened through the EST, the Purpose and Need was updated as appropriate to reflect current project conditions.
PLANNING CONSISTENCY
Planning consistency discussion completed with information required to verify that a project meets the planning requirements in 23 CFR § 450. This includes: A discussion of the scope and project’s funding consistency with the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Relevant pages from the LRTP, Cost Feasible Plan (CFP), TIP, and STIP were attached. Documentation of implementation of any future phases of the project not shown on these plans including planned fiscal year. A location map showing project segmentation, if applicable.
ALTERNATIVES
Feasible alternatives and the No Action/No Build alternative were discussed and Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) was referenced as necessary.
Alternatives that were eliminated from further consideration and the basis for elimination were discussed.
Environmental impacts and (operational) performance of each alternative evaluated in detail, were summarized and compared in a matrix format.
ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS
For each environmental resource/issue that is involved or impacted, verify the EA includes a discussion of existing conditions of the project area and potential impacts and/or enhancements of the project alternatives evaluated.
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC
Sociocultural Effects Evaluation (SCE) report was prepared and is available in the project file.
Social
Impacts to community cohesion, community characteristics, special community designation, safety/emergency response, demographics, and community goals, and quality of life are discussed.
Economic
Economic characteristics of the community and the project impacts to business and employment activity as well as property values are discussed.
Land use
Land use information has been identified and documented. Any properties that would require Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) coordination have been discussed.
Mobility
Impacts to mobility and accessibility have been evaluated and discussed.
Aesthetic
Aesthetic characteristics have been evaluated.
Relocation Potential
If relocations are anticipated, right of way impacts on each alternative have been described and a list of proposed takes provided.
If relocations are anticipated, a Conceptual Stage Relocation Plan (CSRP) has been prepared and is available in the project file.
Farmland
Impacts of each alternative on farmland is discussed; farmland conversion impact rating from form NRCS-CPA-106 or AD-1006 is included in the appendix.
Avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures are discussed.
CULTURAL
Historic & Archaeological Sites
Cultural Resources Assessment Survey (CRAS) been performed in accordance with Part 2, Chapters 7 and 8 of the PD&E Manual.
Methodology, area of potential effects (APE) and cultural resources (including tribal cultural resources) found within the APE were discussed.
If required, tribal coordination was appropriately summarized.
Significance (NRHP eligibility) of each evaluated cultural resource and coordination with SHPO, as applicable, is discussed.
Anticipated effect finding for each resource has been briefly discussed.
Section 4(f) and Recreational Areas
Data collected reflects information pertaining to public parks, recreation areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites.
If there are no Section 4(f) resources within the project area, a statement of that effect is included.
If potential Section 4(f) resources are identified within or adjacent to the proposed project, a determination of Applicability (DOA) has been completed using complete a Section 4(f) Determination of Applicability Form, Form No. 650-050-45.
If there is a Section 4(f) use, a de minimis impact determination, programmatic evaluation, or individual evaluation has been prepared, appropriately.
If there is a Section 4(f) use, avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures and coordination with SHPO, as applicable, have been discussed.
National Park Service (NPS) position relative to Section 6(f) (for applicable sites) has been documented.
NATURAL
Natural Resource Evaluation (NRE) has been prepared in accordance with the PD&E Manual.
Protected Species and Habitat
Summary of protected species and habitat impacts and agency coordination is included.
Avoidance, minimization and/or mitigation measures have been briefly discussed.
Appropriate correspondences with USFWS, NMFS, FWC, or other resource or regulatory agencies regarding protected species and habitat information have been summarized and are available in the project file. USFWS and/or NMFS concurrence letter is attached to the EA.
Status of the completion of consultation with the Services is stated and any FDOT commitments associated with the outcome of consultation are documented in the EA.
Wetlands and Other Surface Waters
Wetland areas within or adjacent to the project area have been identified using GIS analysis or similar desktop analysis and overlaid on the project base map.
Each wetland site has been classified using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the US and the FLUCFCS.
All comments received during the ETDM and/or Advanced Notification process been addressed or resolved.
Impacts on federal/state wetlands and waters by drainage and impact type are summarized in a tabular form.
All possible permit agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands and their requirements have been addressed.
The extent of wetland impacts have been identified for each alternative.
Description of wetland impacts include a discussion on secondary and cumulative impacts, if applicable.
Agency coordination is referenced and copies of correspondences are available in the project file.
Avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures are discussed. Possible wetland mitigation sites or mitigation banks credits have been identified, briefly described and evaluated with respect to availability to address the project’s impacts. Include standard wetland mitigation statement if mitigation is anticipated.
If there are no wetland impacts, appropriate finding is included.
If avoidance of wetland impacts is not possible, a formal wetland finding stating that no practical alternatives to the wetland impacts was determined. Reference to EO 11990 is included.
Essential Fish Habitat
A summary of agency coordination and compensation for impacts (as appropriate) is available in the project file. NMFS concurrence letter is attached to the EA.
EFH Assessment has been prepared and consultation has been completed in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA).
NMFS provides conservation recommendations and FDOT’s responses are included in the Appendix of the EA and attached to the EFH Assessment section of the NRE.
Aquatic Preserves / Outstanding Florida Waters
Project involvement with aquatic preserves and Outstanding Florida Waters is documented.
ETAT comments (from ETDM screening) about project impact n Outstanding Florida Waters or aquatic preserves were addressed.
Coordination with FDEP (for projects in aquatic preserves) has occurred and is documented in the project file.
Any aquatic preserves and Outstanding Florida Waters which may be within the project limits were identified and discussed.
Measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate harm to aquatic preserves and Outstanding Florida Waters are discussed.
Water Quality and Water Quality
Project’s potential involvement with surface water bodies and groundwater and their designations has been briefly discussed.
Water Quality Impact Evaluation has been prepared and documented in the checklist.
Measures to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate water quality/storm water impacts have been briefly discussed.
Appropriate coordination with EPA has occurred and documented if a project has a potential to impact to sole source aquifer.
Pond siting report or conceptual drainage design report is available in the project file.
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Project involvement with river segments identified in the NRI is documented.
Appropriate analysis has been performed for the Section 7 of the WSRA procedure finding.
If the project involves either a study river or a river designated as a Wild and Scenic River, required consultations with the managing entity of the river and the appropriate NPS, RAA, or other relevant agencies were conducted.
If the wild and scenic river is protected by Section 4(f), appropriate coordination was done to obtain concurrence on the Section 4(f) finding. Appropriate Section 4(f) form is prepared.
Floodplains
Floodplain analysis was conducted and the Location Hydraulic Report include (as appropriate) discussion of the risks associated with the project implementation, impacts to floodplains values, support of incompatible floodplain development. Floodplains finding according to EO 11988 is included.
Level of encroachment is discussed.
Measures to minimize, restore and preserved impacted flood plain values are discussed.
If the project would increase number of, or damage flood receptors, appropriate coordination with FEMA occurred and is documented in the project file.
Coastal Zone Consistency
The project has been determined to be consistent with the CZMP per ETDM Screening and any subsequent consistency review by a FCMP agent. Ensure
Letter from the State Clearing House is referenced and is available in the project file.
Coastal Barrier Resources
Consultation process and final determination is summarized. Correspondence and other related documents are available in the project file.
PHYSICAL
Noise
Land uses and sensitive receptors have been determined.
Considerations of noise abatement measures are summarized, this includes a discussion of whether noise abatement is reasonable and feasible
Statement of likelihood regarding re-evaluating noise abatement that are reasonable and feasible during design is included.
Noise Study Report was prepared and is available in the project file.
Air Quality
The results of a screening level analysis (if required) was summarized.
Air Quality Technical Memorandum (if required) has been prepared and is available in the project file.
Contamination
Findings of Level I investigation/Contamination Screening Evaluation have been summarized.
Avoidance, minimization and remediation measures (including any special provisions to handle hazardous materials during project construction) are discussed.
Contamination Screening Evaluation Report was prepared and is available in the project file.
Utilities and Railroads
Involvement with utilities and/or rail systems is discussed.
Utility Assessment Package was prepared and is available in the Project File.
Construction
Potential impacts from construction and measures to minimize and/or mitigate are discussed.
Bicycles and Pedestrians
Alternatives developed have considered strategies to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians.
Navigation
Potential impacts and measures to minimize and/or mitigate impacts to navigation are discussed.
Documentation of coordination with USCG is available in the project file.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS EVALUATION (Only when required)
Resources requiring indirect/cumulative effects evaluation were identified with coordination with the Department and resource agencies.
Project-related direct and indirect impacts on each resource were evaluated and are documented.
Minimization and/or mitigation measures for cumulative impacts are discussed or recommended measures for actions by others are documented.
PERMITS
All anticipated environmental permits are listed.
Names of the permitting agency, the name of the permit, and the permit status are provided.
The District Permit Coordinator was contacted when preparing the list of anticipated permits.
Documentation of regulatory agency coordination should be added to the project file.
COMMENTS AND COORDINATION
Public and agency comments (including ETDM Programming Screen and Advance Notification) and coordination/consultation involved in developing the project was summarized.
Public hearing documents, comments and coordination are included in the project file.
The Public Hearing Certification Form # 650-050-56 was completed and included with the transcript.
COMMITMENTS
Commitments identified during development of the Study, and coordination or consultation with resource agencies are stated in the environmental document.
Commitments do not include statements of Department’s procedures such as Standard Specifications, Design Standards, or Standard procedure of doing work.
Commitments have been confirmed by FDOT that the commitments identified are reasonable and feasible
Project Commitment Record (PCR) form includes all commitments transferred verbatim from the Environmental Document.
APPENDIX
Documents which are necessary to support analysis and determination of the finding were attached or available in the file: Memoranda of Understanding Letters of Agreement Resolutions Lists (species, meeting attendees, etc.) Special reports Correspondence from governmental agencies Correspondence from private interest groups Correspondence from citizens or citizen groups
TECHNICAL REPORTS
Technical Reports (Preliminary Engineering Report and environmental studies) incorporated by reference in the EA are available in the project file.