2015 Red Book – Synchronizing Environmental Reviews for Transportation and Other Infrastructure Projects, September 2015 Publication No. FHWA-HEP-15-047 Publication No. FHWA-HEP-15-047.
“The purpose of the Red Book is to function as a “how to” for synchronizing NEPA and other regulatory reviews. This handbook will be useful to Federal agencies that review permit applications, and Federal, State, and local agencies that fund or develop major transportation and other infrastructure projects. This document discusses the requirements of many statutes and regulations to facilitate the reader’s understanding of how compliance with those requirements can be fulfilled while implementing the synchronization concept discussed in the Red Book. By increasing the use of review synchronization, more effective and efficient regulatory reviews are anticipated that could result in projects with reduced impacts to the environment as well as savings of time and money. This handbook will capture lessons learned from previous review synchronization efforts, and break down the concurrent review procedure into easy to understand components, affording agencies the opportunity to replicate the procedure or portions of the procedure more widely and without having to execute a formal agreement. The Red Book explores the appropriate considerations for conducting a synchronized review, including those topics and areas where challenges may occur. The handbook also includes best practices such as the use of transportation liaisons, innovative mitigation practices, and communication technology.”
“The purpose of the Red Book is to function as a “how to” for synchronizing NEPA and other regulatory reviews. This handbook will be useful to Federal agencies that review permit applications, and Federal, State, and local agencies that fund or develop major transportation and other infrastructure projects. This document discusses the requirements of many statutes and regulations to facilitate the reader’s understanding of how compliance with those requirements can be fulfilled while implementing the synchronization concept discussed in the Red Book. By increasing the use of review synchronization, more effective and efficient regulatory reviews are anticipated that could result in projects with reduced impacts to the environment as well as savings of time and money. This handbook will capture lessons learned from previous review synchronization efforts, and break down the concurrent review procedure into easy to understand components, affording agencies the opportunity to replicate the procedure or portions of the procedure more widely and without having to execute a formal agreement. The Red Book explores the appropriate considerations for conducting a synchronized review, including those topics and areas where challenges may occur. The handbook also includes best practices such as the use of transportation liaisons, innovative mitigation practices, and communication technology.”
