# Presentation: 691233

## NEPA and EDDA Operational Training

**NEPA and EDDA Operational Training**

**Bernie Denno, REM, REPA**
**November 20, 2008**

## Environmental Compliance Issues

**Environmental Compliance Issues**

**National Environmental Policy Act - NEPA**
**Environmental Due Diligence Act - EDDA**
**CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) is the driver**
**What is the difference between NEPA and EDDA?**

## NEPA and EDDA

**NEPA and EDDA**

- So....What is the difference between NEPA and EDDA?

_**In simple terms**_**:**
**NEPA - **_***looks ahead***_** for potential environmental impacts that will likely to be caused by proposed actions; and **
**EDDA - **_***looks back***_** into the past for any potential environmental problems (e.g., soil/water contamination, landfill, USTs, spills, and etc.) that might represent a financial liability**

## So....What is NEPA?

**So....What is NEPA?**

- The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to consider environmental impacts for major actions in _**their decision making process **_(significant decisions).
- NOAA promulgated NAO 216-6 to comply with NEPA requirements.
- NEPA documents decision making and can be considered to be actually a _**PLANNING**_ tool!
- Reminder:  NEPA = PLANNING = DOCUMENTATION

## NEPA Continued

**NEPA Continued**

_**NAO identified key roles**__:_
**NEPA Coordinator (located in NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) **
**Review and approve all NEPA documents**
**Assistant Administrator, CAO, Responsible Program Manager, or Action Proponents**
**Project management **
**Describe environmental impacts and alternative**
**Responsible for EIS, EA, or CatEx**
**Project decisions**
**SECO (not identified in NAO 216-06)**
**Assist LO or RPFLO (PPMD & RPMD) in construction actions or real property transactions**

## NEPA Continued

**NEPA Continued**

- _OCAO __**Memo**__ dated 1/23/07 on roles and responsibilities:_
- RPFLO shall:
- Ensure _**early**_ partnering with SECO in the RPFLO facilities and real property _**planning**_ process, including both acquisition and disposal concerns;
- Share all relevant information with SECO;
- Invite SECO participation on the Integrated Project Team, particularly during _**early planning**__ _discussions
- Manage the overarching project schedule and budget
- SECO shall:
- Ensure appropriate NEPA documentation accompanies OCAO decisions while also coordinating the process with PPI and OGC;
- Provide expert advice to RPFLO project managers on all aspects of NEPA;
- Integrate NEPA as a continual aspect within appropriate OCAO processes; and
- Work closely with RPFLO PM to ensure timely delivery of NEPA products (e.g., SOW, IGE, ESI, EA, and etc.)

## NEPA Overview ...on the overall Integration

**Initial list of alternatives**

**Initial**
**Programmatic Requirement Analysis****	**

**Initial Resource Requirement Analysis**
- (EDD affects resources)

**Environmental Analysis **
**CATEX, EA, EIS**

**Final Decision**

**Viable alternatives**

**Final**
**Programmatic Requirement Analysis**

**Final**
**Resource Requirement Analysis**

## Types of NEPA Analysis

**Types of NEPA Analysis**

**Categorical **
**Exclusion**

**Environmental **
**Assessment**

-  **Environmental **
**Impact **
**Statement**

**Finding Of No **
**Significant Impact **
**(FONSI)**

**Record of Decision**
**(ROD)**

**And/or**

## NEPA Continued

**NEPA Continued**

- _Three levels:_
**Environmental Impact Statement – EIS **(~ 1 year or longer)
- EIS must be prepared for every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other _*"major Federal actions" significantly*__ affecting the quality of the human environment_
**Environmental Assessment – EA **(~ 6 months or more)
- In between CatEx and EIS
- Best outcome is a FONSI (“Finding Of No Significant Impact)
**Categorical Exclusion – CATEX **(~ a few days)
- Easiest to perform, fast
- Complete the memo (**see example** 1)
- Send a copy to the NEPA Coordinator
- And file a copy in the project folder

## The NEPA Process

## National Environmental Policy Act Overview 

**National Environmental Policy Act Overview**** **

## NEPA Decision Tree

- Yes

- No

- Yes

- No

- Yes

- Yes

- No

- No

- Or
- Unknown

## Project Management

- Time Requirements:
- CATEX – Two weeks (10 business days)
- EA – Three months (60 business days)
- EIS – One year (200 business days)
- Cost Requirements:
- CATEX – Staff Time Only
- EA – Contract Support - $30K – $50K
- EIS – Contract Support – Up to $1 million

## Categorical Exclusion

- "Categorical exclusion" means a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a Federal agency in implementation of these regulations (Sec. 1507.3) and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

- NOAA NEPA Handbook

## NEPA Continued

**NEPA Continued**

**CatEx Actions** (NAO216-6, Paragraph 6.03c3):
- “**Projects and other NOAA Actions**”
- Research programs of limited size
- Financial and planning grants
- Minor project activities (e.g., dune grass or small improvements)
- Admin or routine program functions
*Real estate actions*
*Construction activities of limited size*
*Facility improvement or addition (of limited size)*
- NEXRAD coverage
*Other Categories of Actions Not Having Significant Environmental Impacts*.

## NEPA Continued

**NEPA Continued**

- Required documents:
- CatEx Memo (see example 2)
- Checklist (see example).  Use this checklist if your project does not meet the requirements of the existing list of CATEXs as outlined in the NAO.
- Any correspondences with regulatory agencies:
- State Historic Preservation Office
- Tribal Historic Preservation Office
- Historic Advisory Council
- State Coastal Commission
- US Fish and Wildlife
- ACOE wetland permit
- And etc....

## CE or Not CE, that is the ?

- Lease new NOAA space of 4500 square feet?
- Replacement of a pier of 100’ in length?
- Interior renovations on non-historic NOAA facility (leased of owned)?
- Lease extension/exercise an option?

## NEPA – EA 

**NEPA – EA **

## NEPA - EA

- Environmental Considerations/Resources:
**Land Use**
**Geological Resources**
**Air Quality**
**Cultural Resources**
**Flora and Fauna**
**Wetlands and Floodplains**
**Noise**
**Transportation**
**Visual Impacts**
**Hazardous Materials**

## NEPA - EA

- Deliverables:
- Project is entered into PPI data base - web
- EA document, typically from consultant
- Signed **F**inding of **N**o **S**ignificant **I**mpacts (FONSI)
- PPI concurrence memo (From proponent to PPI)
- “To All Interested Parties” memo on PPI letterhead
- All final documents sent to PPI electronically

## NEPA – EIS

**NEPA – EIS**

## EA and EIS Requirements

**EA and EIS Requirements**

**Enter all new EAs or EISs into the NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integrations (PPI) website:**
**https://www.intranet.nepa.noaa.gov/**
**Use email log in name (without @noaa.gov)**
**Use email password**
**Provide PPI with a copy of all draft documents and final documents:**
**Environmental Impact Statement**
**Environmental Assessment**
**Send to:  **_**PPI.NEPA@noaa.gov**_

## NAO 216-6 Updates!!

**Process will begin soon to review and update the NAO – Last revision was in 1999**
**PPI has the lead**
**Steve Kokkinakis**
**Add/Change/Eliminate CATEXs**

## Environmental Due Diligence

**Environmental Due Diligence**

**Now...Let’s talk about EDD**
- (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) aka “Superfund”

- Federal law [CERCLA Section 120(h)]  prevents the transfer of contaminated federal property unless it's clean or a remedy is in place.
- It makes good business sense to make sure properties that NOAA is receiving is not contaminated.
- Ensure our lessee’s activities do not contaminate our properties....This requires specific legal language in leases.

## EDD Continued

**EDD Continued**

- NOAA must  receive the following for all real estate property transactions:
- An Environmental Site Assessment, or  Phase 1 ESA.
- A Phase 2 ESA, involving material testing (asbestos, soils, paints, etc.) may be required depending on what was found in the Phase 1
- Phase 3 involves, if required:
- Confirmation sampling
- Remedial activities
- Post-closure monitoring

## EDD Continued

**EDD Continued**

- _OCAO Memo dated 1/15/08 on roles and responsibilities:_
**RPFLO shall:**
- Partner and share relevant information with SECO in the RPFLO property transaction planning process;
- Manage the over-arching property transaction project schedule and budget requirements; and
- Ensure that the appropriate level of EDD is completed, as required, and considered as part of the total property transaction evaluation before the completion of the transaction process.
**SECO shall:**
- Determine the appropriate level of EDD documentation, working closely with RPFLO, for each property transaction and ensure required documentation accompanies property decisions;
- Distribute an OCAO approved procedure which is consistent with recognized standards for EDD;
- Produce an executive fact sheet which explains NOAA’s EDD requirements to senior officials; and
- Work closely with RPFLO managers to develop process tools which will ensure timely delivery of EDD products

**Notes:**
This memo is very similar to the NEPA memo

## NOAA Safety and Environmental Compliance Office

- Vancant

- Andy Poppen
- 816-426-7814

- Mark George
- 303-497-3064

- Minh Trinh
- 206-526-6647

- Team Lead, Env. & Energy Division
- Will Freeman
- 301-713-2870

- Chief, Safety & Occ. Health Division
-  Tom Altvater
- 301-713-2870

- Director
- CDR James Verlaque
- 301-713-2870

- Ben Bond
- 301-713-2870

- Joe Duran
- 206-526-66049

- Rhonda Carpenter
- 303-497-3912

- Ron Mattox
- 816-426-7810

- Craig Gillis
- 301-713-2870

- GIS Coordinator
- Tom Simon  **(C)**
- 206-526-6295

- Jim Malchow
- 206-526-4912

- Budget
- Jon Randle
- 301-713-2870

- Secretary
- Gail Gebert
- 301-713-2870

- Secretary
- Bonita Tyler **(C)**
- 301-713-2870

- Management Analyst
-  Janet Williams
- 301-713-2870

- Safety & Occ. Health Specialists

- Environmental & Energy Engineers

- Sr. Tech. Advisor, Env. & Energy Division
- Bernie Denno
- 301-713-2870

- Sr. Tech. Advisor, Safety & Occ. Health Division
- Bruce Zaczynski
- 301-713-2870

**Field**** **

**Headquarters**

**Detail**

**     ****April 13, 2008**** **

**QUESTIONS?**

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