November 26, 2001 TO: Community Leaders/Residents FROM: Martin Robins, Director Transportation Policy Institute RE: Penns Neck Area Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Forum - December 4, 2001 In order to help you prepare for the Penns Neck Area Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping Forum, we are providing a document that summarizes the information that will be presented on December 4th. We hope that this material is helpful as you formulate your thoughts on the testimony you will provide. In addition, it may be helpful for you to consider the following questions: * What are the transportation problems in the Penns Neck area of Route 1? * What types of solutions should be considered in the EIS? * Is the proposed study area appropriate for analyzing the transportation problems in the Penns Neck area of Route 1? * What environmental, transportation and community issues should be addressed in the EIS? Are some more important than others? Are there any other issues to be considered? * Are there any exceptional conditions or circumstances in the Penns Neck area of Route 1 that dictate special consideration? * What type of public involvement efforts would be most useful to keep you informed as the EIS process continues? We thank you for your interest in this project and look forward to seeing you on December 4th. PENNS NECK AREA EIS Environmental Review Scoping Process Synopsis of Background Information DECEMBER 2001 THE VOORHEES TRANSPORTATION POLICY INSTITUTE OF RUTGERS UNIVERSITY On behalf of THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Rutgers Center for Negotiation Helen Neuhaus & Associates Inc. Radin Consulting, Inc. and Conflict Resolution A. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (NJDOT) PROPOSES TO UNDERTAKE AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY PROBLEMS ON U.S. ROUTE 1 AND EAST-WEST CROSS STREETS IN THE PENNS NECK AREA (WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, NJ) AND ITS ENVIRONS. PURSUANT TO THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969, AS AMENDED (NEPA), A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DEIS) WILL BE PREPARED. NEPA DESIGNATES THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR PROCESSING THE EIS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND ITS APPROVAL IS REQUIRED BEFORE ANY FURTHER ACTIONS CONSIDERED IN THE DEIS CAN BE TAKEN. NJDOT, IN CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO AFFECTED COUNTIES, THE FOUR MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE PRIMARILY AFFECTED, AND THE PUBLIC, WILL ALSO MAKE DECISIONS WITH REGARD TO PROPOSED MOBILITY ACTIONS IN THE PENNS NECK AREA AND ITS ENVIRONS. BEFORE A DECISION IS REACHED, ALL AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC MUST BE INFORMED OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED ACTIONS. THE TECHNICAL WORK FOR THE DEIS WILL INCLUDE DETAILED TRAVEL FORECASTING, ENGINEERING, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES AS A MEANS OF EVALUATING A RANGE OF POSSIBLE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS MOBILITY PROBLEMS IN THE PROJECT AREA. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT A 24-MONTH PERIOD, WHICH BEGAN IN APRIL 2001, WILL BE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE ANALYSES, WHICH WILL BE DOCUMENTED IN THE DEIS. The environmental review process includes: 1) the scoping process, to identify the purpose and need, the range of alternatives, and significant issues to be addressed in the DEIS; 2) the development of the EIS; and 3) the public involvement process. B. DEFINITION OF THE SCOPING PROCESS THE EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEIS IS CALLED SCOPING. THE SCOPING PROCESS IN THIS UNDERTAKING HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEPA AND ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (SEE ATTACHED). THE SCOPING PROCESS CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INTERESTED PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO ENTER THE EARLIEST PHASE OF DECISION-MAKING ON THE PROJECT, BY IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND OPTIONS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE EIS BEFORE THE WORK HAS PROGRESSED TO A POINT WHERE INCORPORATING NEW IDEAS IS DIFFICULT. IN IDENTIFYING KEY ISSUES, THE SCOPING PROCESS MAY ALSO SERVE TO FOCUS THE EIS AND MAKE IT A MORE EFFICIENT DOCUMENT. TODAY'S EIS SCOPING FORUM AND OPEN HOUSE (SEE ATTACHED DISPLAY AD) ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SCOPING PROCESS, WHICH IS SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT WITH REGARD TO FRAMING THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THESE STUDIES. A SEPARATE SCOPING SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF PUBLIC AGENCIES AT A LATER DATE, WHEN THE PROCESS HAS EVOLVED TO CONSIDERATION OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES. THE PENNS NECK AREA EIS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT SCOPING PROCESS BEGAN IN MAY 2001, WITH A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY THE PROJECT TEAM STAFF. THESE INTERVIEWS WERE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE EARLY AND FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES TO BE POTENTIALLY ADDRESSED IN THE EIS. INTERVIEW PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED 92 INDIVIDUALS, REPRESENTING 45 CONSTITUENCIES, INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS; STATE, MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES; INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER BODIES; CIVIC AND PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS; TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, PLANNING, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS; RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS; AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS REFLECTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF VIEWS AND INTERESTS. IN ADDITION TO THE INTERVIEWS, AN ADVISORY BODY, KNOWN AS THE PARTNERS' ROUNDTABLE, WAS FORMED TO ASSIST IN SHAPING THE EIS PROCESS AND PROVIDING INPUT ON SCREENING AND EVALUATING THE ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES SELECTED FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS IN THE DEIS. THE ROUNDTABLE IS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS. ITS 32 MEMBERS REPRESENT CITIZENS GROUPS, BUSINESS GROUPS AND STAKEHOLDERS; THE GOVERNMENTS OF WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, PRINCETON TOWNSHIP, PRINCETON BOROUGH, PLAINSBORO TOWNSHIP, MERCER COUNTY AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY; TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY GROUPS; FHWA; THE DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION; NJDOT; AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES. THE ROUNDTABLE BEGAN MEETING IN JUNE 2001, ON AN AVERAGE OF TWICE PER MONTH, TO ASSIST IN ACHIEVING CONSENSUS ON THE FOLLOWING, AS DEFINED IN THE ROUNDTABLE OVERVIEW, RULES AND PROCEDURES (AUGUST 21, 2001): ? "RULES OF ENGAGEMENT" THAT WILL GOVERN THE PARTNERS' ROUNDTABLE FROM START TO COMPLETION, INCLUDING AN AGREED PROCESS SCHEDULE (NO MORE THAN 2 YEARS) WITH DEFINED DECISIONS POINTS; ? A STATEMENT REGARDING THE NATURE OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM(S) TO BE ADDRESSED; ? GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM(S) IDENTIFIED; ? THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY AREA; ? A PROCESS BY WHICH STRATEGIES/ALTERNATIVES TO SOLVE PROBLEM(S) WILL BE SCREENED, INCLUDING CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE DECISION CRITERIA; ? THE INFORMATION/ANALYSES NEEDED TO SUPPORT SCREENING DECISIONS; AND ? AN ANNOTATED LIST OF INTERIM AND LONG-TERM MOBILITY ACTIONS TO BE EVALUATED IN THE DEIS. IN ADDITION, THE ROUNDTABLE WILL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN REVIEWING THE TECHNICAL WORK OF THE EIS PROCESS AND IN FACILITATING THE ASSESSMENT OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS. THE PENNS NECK AREA EIS PROCESS WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A COMPREHENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT REQUIREMENTS. THE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE TWO-YEAR STUDY PERIOD, HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS AN OPEN AND ONGOING PROCESS AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND INVOLVED PUBLIC AGENCIES. THE PROGRAM'S SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE IS TO MAINTAIN OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT, AND MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE SCOPING, STRATEGY SCREENING, ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION, AND IMPACT ANALYSIS PHASES OF THE EIS PROCESS. BY INVOLVING THE PUBLIC IN ALL STAGES OF EIS DEVELOPMENT, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF A ROUTE 1/PENNS NECK AREA PROJECT THAT FULFILLS THE TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, RECREATIONAL, OPEN SPACE, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY NEEDS OF THE VARIED CONSTITUENCIES IT IS DESIGNED TO SERVE. In addition to the Roundtable, interviews, and Scoping Sessions, the public involvement program will include a continuing program of small group meetings and presentations; open houses and other large-group forums at appropriate times in the DEIS development process; issues groups and workshops, as needed; and dissemination of project information through direct mailings, a project website www.pennsneckareaeis.org., and availability of materials at selected project repositories (See attached list). Once a DEIS has been drafted, a formal Public Hearing will be held to elicit public comments on the document and its proposed alternatives. C. BACKGROUND The Penns Neck Area EIS study is the successor to the "Route U.S. 1/Penns Neck Area Improvements" project, which was one component of a larger 1991 NJDOT plan that emerged from the Department's Route 1 Corridor Transportation Study (Final Report, December 1986). This study was designed to improve traffic flow and enhance safety by removing impediments on a 19-mile section of U.S. Route 1 extending from Trenton to New Brunswick. The study outlined a strategy to meet the transportation demands of intense development in the Route 1 corridor by widening the roadway to three lanes (with safety shoulders) in each direction and by removing and replacing signalized intersections with grade-separated interchanges. An Environmental Assessment (EA) for the larger plan was issued by NJDOT in March 1991. NJDOT'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR THE PENNS NECK AREA PROJECT BEGAN IN THE 1980S, THROUGH INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH CONCEPTUAL ALIGNMENT SCHEMES FOR THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WERE DEVELOPED AND DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC, DETAILED ALIGNMENT OPTIONS WERE NOT DEVELOPED AND PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY UNTIL 1994. OUTREACH EFFORTS BROADENED SIGNIFICANTLY IN 1996, WHEN SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC RAISED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS TO THE PROJECT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, NJDOT MODIFIED ITS PLANS AND CONTINUED TO MEET WITH CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, BY THIS TIME, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION IN SOME QUARTERS, AND A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS HAD BEEN FORMED TO OPPOSE THE PROJECT. NJDOT ISSUED A DRAFT EA FOR THE ROUTE U.S. 1/PENNS NECK AREA IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPTEMBER 2000. THE EA'S PREFERRED ALIGNMENT INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ACTIONS: A) WIDEN ROUTE 1 IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, FROM PLAINSBORO ROAD IN THE NORTH TO THE NJ TRANSIT DINKY TRAIN LINE BRIDGE IN THE SOUTH, TO PROVIDE AUXILIARY LANES AND/OR SHOULDERS IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC IN EACH DIRECTION. B) REMOVE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON ROUTE 1 AT WASHINGTON ROAD, FISHER PLACE AND HARRISON STREET. c) Construct a new "Relocated County Road 571 (C.R. 571)" connecting to the existing C.R. 571 near the Princeton Junction train station in West Windsor and traveling westward across the property of the Sarnoff Corporation, across a new overpass over Route 1 near Harrison Street, across Princeton University's West Windsor property, and connecting to Washington Road just east of the bridge that carries it across the Delaware & Raritan (D&R) Canal and Lake Carnegie into Princeton Township. d) Construct a new "Harrison Street Connector Road" spur from the Relocated C.R. 571 on the University property to connect to the existing Harrison Street in West Windsor just east of the bridge that carries it across the D&R Canal and Lake Carnegie into Princeton Township. e) Create a new interchange at the new C.R. 571 overpass over Route 1 near Harrison Street. f) Modify the intersection of Washington Road and Route 1, allowing "right-on/right-off" access only, and make Washington Road, west of Route 1, accessible to local traffic only; thus, Washington Road, between Princeton Junction Station and the bridge into Princeton, would no longer be C.R. 571. g) Replace the structurally deficient Route 1 bridge over the Millstone River, between Plainsboro and West Windsor. THE DRAFT EA WAS WIDELY CRITICIZED BY PROJECT OPPONENTS, INCLUDING ORGANIZED CITIZEN GROUPS, SOME LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS. THE PROJECT, WHICH HAD COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE "MILLSTONE BYPASS," WAS SHELVED IN NOVEMBER 2000, WHEN GOVERNOR CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN ORDERED THAT A FULL EIS BE PREPARED. IN MARCH 2001, NJ TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER JAMES WEINSTEIN ANNOUNCED THAT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, THROUGH ITS VOORHEES TRANSPORTATION POLICY INSTITUTE AND CENTER FOR NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO LEAD A TEAM THAT WOULD OVERSEE A NEW PROCESS TO RE-ASSESS AND REDEFINE THE PROBLEM OF MOBILITY IN THE PENNS NECK AREA AND ITS ENVIRONS, EXAMINE POSSIBLE ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES FROM A FRESH PERSPECTIVE, AND PREPARE THE EIS. D. RANGE OF ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES TO BE CONSIDERED AS NOTED ABOVE, NJDOT, WITH ADVICE FROM THE PENNS NECK AREA EIS PARTNERS' ROUNDTABLE AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC, WILL FORMULATE A PROBLEM STATEMENT AND A LIST OF GOALS & OBJECTIVES FOR THE PENNS NECK AREA EIS STUDY AND CONSIDER ALL REASONABLE ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES TO THE PENNS NECK AREA MOBILITY PROBLEM (AS DEFINED IN THE PROBLEM STATEMENT). THE ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES WILL BE EVALUATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREED UPON GOALS & OBJECTIVES. FOLLOWING THIS ASSESSMENT, A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES WILL BE SELECTED FOR FURTHER STUDY IN THE DEIS. WHILE THE PROBLEM STATEMENT AND GOALS & OBJECTIVES HAVE NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED AND EVALUATION OF ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES HAS NOT YET BEGUN, THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF MOBILITY IN THE PENNS NECK AREA AND ITS ENVIRONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED: 1) NO ACTION; 2) TRANSIT; 3) TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM); AND 4) ROAD-BASED. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE, IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT MANY, OR PERHAPS ALL, ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN THE DEIS WILL CONSIST OF A PACKAGE OF ACTIONS DRAWN FROM TWO OR MORE OF THE CATEGORIES DISCUSSED BELOW. No Action The no action alternative is included as a benchmark against which all "build" or other actions and alternatives will be compared. This alternative includes routine maintenance and any currently planned improvements in the project area. NEPA review procedures require that this alternative remain a viable option until another alternative is chosen and the FEIS is approved. Transit The following actions were suggested by interview and Roundtable participants: * Create a new light-rail transit (LRT) or bus rapid transit (BRT) system * Institute service changes to the Northeast Corridor rail line * Enhance/expand service on the NJ Transit Dinky line * Create a comprehensive jitney bus system * Enhance existing bus services Travel Demand Management (TDM) TDM IS AN APPROACH THAT SEEKS TO INFLUENCE TRAVEL BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRIPS MADE BY PEOPLE DRIVING ALONE TO AND FROM THEIR WORK SITES. IT CAN INVOLVE THE USE OF ANY NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: * Ride-sharing (carpool or vanpool) * Bicycling * Walking * Alternative Work Arrangements (telecommuting, flexible work hours, and compressed work week) * Financial Incentives (commuting subsidies, parking cashout, tax incentives, and value pricing) * Parking Management Programs (preferential high-occupancy vehicle parking, parking fees, reduction of parking supply) * Land Use Initiatives (transit-friendly design of facilities, trip reduction ordinances, negotiated demand management agreements) * Other Programs (guaranteed ride home, ride matching, shuttle services, park and ride facilities, bicycle and pedestrian amenities, advance traveler information systems) SINCE MOST OF THESE TDM PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES REQUIRE THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR (EITHER ALONE OR IN TANDEM WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR), IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF TDM MEASURES IS NOT COMPLETELY WITHIN THE POWER OF NJDOT. HOWEVER, IT IS STILL POSSIBLE THAT A PACKAGE OF TDM STRATEGIES COULD BECOME A PART OF ANY PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE IN THE PENNS NECK AREA EIS. Road-Based THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WERE SUGGESTED BY INTERVIEW AND ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS: * Depress Route 1 at Washington Road * Develop a frontage road alignment west of Route 1 * Create small interchanges at Harrison Street and Washington Road * Construct the former "preferred alignment" for the Millstone Bypass * Implement changes to the existing roadway network * Widen the Millstone River Bridge with no other improvements * Eliminate signals along Route 1 with no other improvements * Implement traffic calming measures E. TECHNICAL STUDIES The EIS will examine a full range of technical areas in order to identify and evaluate issues that are significant, eliminate issues that are not significant, and propose mitigation for significant impacts that may be identified in the analysis. Extensive data collection, travel forecasting, and transportation modeling will be performed in support of the EIS technical analyses. The transportation model to be created for the EIS will include a macro level component to incorporate regional travel patterns and influences. It will also include a detailed local area component to analyze the traffic impacts of the actions and alternatives examined in the EIS on study area intersections and roadways. The EIS will consider physical, socioeconomic and environmental conditions as they exist now; as they are projected to be at the estimated time of project completion (2008); and as they are estimated to be in 2028, twenty years after the estimated project completion date. The study area for the Penns Neck Area EIS has been structured into overlapping regions. The primary study area is composed of the municipalities of West Windsor Township, Plainsboro Township, Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. This area approximates a five-mile radius from the intersection of Route 1 and Washington Road in West Windsor Township. The secondary study area, which is composed of twenty municipalities in Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset Counties, provides a regional context regarding demographics and travel patterns. The municipalities included in the secondary study area include: East Windsor Township, Hightstown Borough, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Pennington Borough, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, Washington Township, and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Cranbury Township, Jamesburg Borough, Monroe Township, Plainsboro Township, and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County; and Franklin Township, Hillsborough Township, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill Borough in Somerset County. Issues to be evaluated in the EIS will include, but are not limited to, the following: * Traffic, specifically access, mobility and safety for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists * Air Quality * Water Quality, specifically with regard to the Millstone River Watershed, Millstone River, Little Bear Brook and D&R Canal * Noise, specifically changes in noise levels at sensitive locations * Visual impacts, including light, sight lines, and design and aesthetic issues * Historic, cultural, archeological and community resources * Open space and recreational resources, including the West Windsor Greenbelt, the D&R Canal State Park, the Millstone River, Lake Carnegie, and the D&R Canal * Natural resources, including wetlands and forests * Character and integrity of adjacent neighborhoods * Compatibility with land use policies, plans and regulations * Infrastructure, including bridges, drainage, and utilities * Alteration of access to community facilities or routing of essential municipal services * Economic and Fiscal * Energy usage * Disruption and other impacts during construction * Hazardous waste sites FINALLY IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE EIS ANALYSES WILL REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL ACTIONS AND/OR ALTERNATIVES TO ELIMINATE OR MITIGATE POSSIBLE IMPACTS. AS AN EXAMPLE, THIS COULD INCLUDE ADDITIONAL STUDIES/ALTERNATIVES FOR REDUCTION OF TRAFFIC OR AIR QUALITY IMPACTS, PRESERVATION OF PARKLAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, OR AVOIDANCE OF AREAS OF HISTORIC/ARCHEOLOGICAL CONCERN. F. SCHEDULE IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE DRAFT EIS WILL BE COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2002, AT WHICH TIME A FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING, AS REQUIRED BY NEPA, WILL BE SCHEDULED TO OBTAIN PUBLIC COMMENTS. FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING, ADDITIONAL ANALYSES, WILL BE PERFORMED, IF NEEDED, AND A FINAL EIS PREPARED. THE APPROVED FINAL EIS IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED IN APRIL 2003. ATTACHMENT A - References from Federal NEPA and Scoping Regulations FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION RULES AND REGULATIONS (23 CFR 771.111) FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING: * COORDINATION OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH THE ENTIRE NEPA PROCESS; * EARLY AND CONTINUING OPPORTUNITIES DURING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AS WELL AS IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH RELOCATION OF INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, OR INSTITUTIONS; * ONE OR MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS OR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HEARINGS TO BE HELD BY THE STATE HIGHWAY AGENCY AT A CONVENIENT TIME AND PLACE FOR ANY FEDERAL-AID PROJECT WHICH REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF RIGHT-OF-WAY, SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THE LAYOUT OR FUNCTION OF CONNECTING ROADWAYS OR OF THE FACILITY BEING IMPROVED, HAS A SUBSTANTIAL ADVERSE IMPACT ON ABUTTING PROPERTY, OTHERWISE HAS A SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL OR OTHER EFFECT, OR FOR WHICH THE FHWA DETERMINES THAT A PUBLIC HEARING IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. * REASONABLE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF EITHER A PUBLIC HEARING OR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.; * EXPLANATION AT THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, AS APPROPRIATE: 1. THE PROJECT'S PURPOSE, NEED AND CONSISTENCY WITH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF ANY LOCAL URBAN PLANNING; 2. THE PROJECT'S ALTERNATIVES AND MAJOR DESIGN FEATURES; 3. THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND OTHER IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT; 4. THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION PROCESS; AND 5. THE STATE HIGHWAY AGENCY'S PROCEDURES FOR RECEIVING BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLIC; * SUBMISSION TO THE FHWA OF A TRANSCRIPT OF EACH PUBLIC HEARING AND A CERTIFICATION THAT A REQUIRED HEARING OR HEARING OPPORTUNITY WAS OFFERED. THE TRANSCRIPT SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY COPIES OF ALL WRITTEN STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, BOTH SUBMITTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING OR DURING AN ANNOUNCED PERIOD AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING. IN ADDITION TO THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE FEDERAL COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAS OFFERED ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE REGARDING THE "SCOPING" PROCESS. CEQ SECTION 1501.7 REQUIRES "AN EARLY AND OPEN PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE SCOPE OF ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED (IN AN EIS) AND FOR IDENTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES RELATED TO A PROPOSED ACTION." THIS PROCESS IS REFERRED TO AS SCOPING. THE GUIDANCE PROVIDES THAT THE LEAD AGENCY PREPARING AN EIS SHALL DO THE FOLLOWING: 1. INVITE THE PARTICIPATION OF AFFECTED FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES, ANY AFFECTED INDIAN TRIBE, THE PROPONENT OF THE ACTION, AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE IN ACCORD WITH THE ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL GROUNDS; 2. DETERMINE THE SCOPE AND THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO BE ANALYZED IN DEPTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT; 3. IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE FROM DETAILED STUDY THE ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT OR WHICH HAVE BEEN COVERED BY PRIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, NARROWING THE DISCUSSION TO THESE ISSUES IN THE STATEMENT TO A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF WHY THEY WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT OR PROVIDING REFERENCE TO THEIR COVERAGE ELSEWHERE; 4. ALLOCATE ASSIGNMENTS FOR PREPARATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AMONG THE LEAD AND COOPERATING AGENCIES, WITH THE LEAD AGENCY RETAINING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STATEMENT; 5. INDICATE ANY PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS WHICH ARE BEING OR WILL BE PREPARED THAT ARE RELATED TO BUT ARE NOT PART OF THE SCOPE OF THE IMPACT STATEMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION; 6. IDENTIFY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS SO THE LEAD AGENCY AND COOPERATING AGENCIES MAY PREPARE OTHER REQUIRED ANALYSES AND STUDIES CONCURRENTLY WITH, AND INTEGRATED WITH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT; AND 7. INDICATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TIMING OF THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES AND THE AGENCY'S TENTATIVE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING SCHEDULE. FURTHERMORE, THE GUIDANCE PROVIDES THAT THE LEAD AGENCY MAY DO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL THINGS: 1. SET PAGE LIMITS ON ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS; 2. SET TIME LIMITS; 3. ADOPT PROCEDURES TO COMBINE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS WITH ITS SCOPING PROCESS; AND 4. HOLD AN EARLY SCOPING MEETING OR MEETINGS WHICH MAY BE INTEGRATED WITH ANY OTHER EARLY PLANNING MEETING THE AGENCY HAS. SUCH A SCOPING MEETING WILL OFTEN BE APPROPRIATE WHEN THE IMPACTS OF A PARTICULAR ACTION ARE CONFINED TO SPECIFIC SITES. [Copy of Newspaper Ad only in PDF file] PENNS NECK AREA EIS REPOSITORY LOCATIONS West Windsor Public Library 333 N. Post Road (609) 799-0462 Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:30 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. Friday 9:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M Saturday 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Sunday 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Plainsboro Public Library 641 Plainsboro Road (609) 275-2898 Hours: Monday 9:00 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. Tues/Wed/Thurs 9:00 A.M. - 8:30 P.M Friday 9:00 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. Sat/Sun 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Princeton Township Clerk's Office Municipal Building 369 Witherspoon Street (609) 924-5176 Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Princeton Borough Clerk's Office Borough Hall 1 Monument Drive (609) 497-7622 Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Rutgers University - Transportation Policy Institute Voorhees Transportation Center Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy 33 Livingston Avenue, Room 445 New Brunswick (732) 932-6812, Ext. 593 Hours: Call Andrea Lubin between 10:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. for appointment New Jersey Department of Transportation 1035 Parkway Avenue Ewing (609) 530-2824 Hours: Call Andy Fekete between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. for appointment 14 Transportation Policy Institute Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey 33 Livingston Avenue 5th Floor New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732/932-6812 x 700 732/932-3714 (fax) www.policy.rutgers.edu/tpi/index.htm