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The Commission’s environmental process for this Project is consistent with the state and federal rules and regulations to ensure fair and open consideration of anticipated impacts to the environment. The 15 specific environmental topics to be studied are: Acquisitions and Displacements, Air Quality, Biology, Community Facilities, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Impacts, Executive Orders, Geologic/Seismic, Hazardous Materials, Land Use and Planning, Noise and Vibration, Socio-Economic, Traffic, Visual, and Water and Water Quality.
- Conduct Scoping Process — Invite agencies and the public to help identify the scope of the project and alternatives, potential impacts, and environmental documents to be prepared. Status: Completed February 2002
- Evaluate Effects — Evaluate social, economic, and environmental effects of proposed alternatives. Status: Completed June 2003
- Prepare Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) — This draft considered comments on the scope of the project, documents the affected environment, direct and cumulative impacts, and potential mitigation. Status: Completed June 2004
- NEPA Public/Agency Review and Comment — RCTC held public meetings during the circulation period of the DEA. Following the close of the comment period, RCTC and FTA reviewed and considered the comments submitted. Since formal public meetings were held, responses to comments submitted at the public meetings and during the DEA circulation period were developed and will be published in the Final EA. As provided in NEPA, responses can be limited to substantive comments. Status: July 16, 2004 – August 16, 2004
- Final EA/FONSI — Comments on the DEA were received and reviewed, the final document will contain responses to all comments received, specify mitigation, and discuss any opposing views on issues raised. Status: TBD
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration — RCTC is conducting a state environmental process that addresses the requirements of the CEQA. It should be noted that there are some issues that are addressed in slightly different ways by NEPA and CEQA. An example of this is air quality. Under NEPA, long-term impacts are temporary and need not be mitigated. Under CEQA, the construction-period impacts are of greater concern, and such impacts must be mitigated to less than significant levels. Status: TBD
- Initiate Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting — The measures to be adopted by RCTC to avoid, minimize, or compensate for the project's adverse impacts must be applied during the design and construction phase of the project. Status: TBD
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