METRO is proposing a number of transit alternatives in various corridors to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Because federal funds are being sought from the FTA, the federal environmental impact statement (EIS) process is triggered under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and FTA rules.
The EIS process is divided into three important pieces. First, the Draft EIS (DEIS) is published. Next, there is a process for both the general public as well as local, state and federal agencies to comment on the DEIS. And third, the Final EIS (FEIS) that responds to these comments is published. That FEIS then becomes input to the METRO and FTA decision-making process.
Alternative courses of action and their impacts are evaluated in the DEIS. This DEIS is not entirely a "draft" document - it is fully considered and provides the best information available to the agency proposing the action. However, it is a "draft" because the public and governmental agencies (other than METRO and FTA) have not reviewed the analysis contained in the document.
The public and governmental agencies provide input by filing written or oral "comments" on the DEIS. This commenting process is extremely important. This is where the public lets METRO/FTA know what they want. This is the manner by which METRO/FTA receive input about their analysis of alternatives and impacts and whether further analysis is necessary. To the extent that additional alternatives are proposed, METRO/FTA must determine whether or not to undertake further development and study of alternatives.
Comments received by METRO/FTA are evaluated by the professional staff. In some cases, additional work may be required. In some cases, the issue might have been addressed in the DEIS but the commenter might not have been aware of the location of the analysis and/or information. Regardless, the agency must address each of the issues brought out in the commenting process.
After this study occurs, the Final EIS (FEIS) is prepared. This document includes a section where the comments submitted by the public and other agencies are set out and answered. This FEIS is then reviewed by decision-makers at METRO and FTA. The information from the FEIS will be considered as "input" to the decision-making process.
The EIS process does not require that a particular result be reached in the decision-making process. It simply requires that an honest and complete analysis of impacts and alternatives be completed and be available for use by the decision-makers in reaching a decision of going forward with the project, some alternative or even doing nothing.