SEDA COG National Environmental Policy Act Documentation

In June 2010, the Susquehanna Economic Development Authority Council of Governments Joint Rail Authority (SEDA COG JRA) selected Delta to prepare Preliminary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Documentation for 18 railroad improvement projects in conjunction with a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery II (TIGER II) grant application. Delta was also tasked with seeking preliminary approval for these projects, including establishment of contact with regulatory agencies and an estimated date of full NEPA compliance. Delta’s staff had approximately 45 days to create substantial reports for 18 projects.

The Delta team immediately scheduled site visits for each of the 18 projects and completed these visits in three days. Site information from the visits was compiled with research and agency coordination into a report for each individual site. Site analysis and research included the following information:

• Chapter 93 stream designations and restrictions based on their designations

• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission trout regulations and special regulation areas

• Federal and/or state Wild and Scenic Rivers Program

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigable waterways and recreationally navigable waterways

• Groundwater resources, public supply wells via field reconnaissance

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory maps and field reconnaissance for wetland presence

• Coastal zones

• Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplains

• Agricultural resources and impacts

• Geology and geologic resources

• Parks and recreational areas

• State forests and game lands

• Hazardous and/or residual waste sites

• Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory check for threatened and/or endangered species

• Cultural resources

• Section 4(f) investigation

Delta prepared the Preliminary NEPA Environmental Documentation for 18 railroad improvement projects within the allotted time frame.