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ACRONYMS

1. What is an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)?

An EIR is an informational document used in state, regional, and local planning and decision-making processes to meet the requirements of CEQA. In general, the EIR for a proposed project must disclose environmental effects that cannot be avoided; growth-inducing effects; effects found not to be significant; and significant cumulative impacts of all past, present, and reasonably anticipated future projects. In addition, an EIR must identify potential methods of avoiding or reducing effects (i.e., mitigation measures) and alternatives to the proposed project or program.

A program EIR can be prepared on a set of related projects. Program EIRs provide a framework for future, more detailed environmental analyses on individual projects. This is often called “tiering” of the environmental analysis and documentation. As described in the CEQA Guidelines (Section 15168), a program-level document can be incorporated into future project-level documents to:

CEQA Guidelines also state that a program EIR (PEIR) can be prepared on a series of related actions that can be characterized as one large project.

The DNA project is being advanced as a series of related actions – individual phases that will be implemented over time depending on available funding. The DNA Program EIR presents an assessment of the DNA project’s impacts as a whole and focuses on those impacts of the overall project that may be significant. Project-level impacts of individual phases of the DNA project are not included in the DNA Program EIR. More focused project-level environmental analysis of each phase will be undertaken by RT prior to being considered for approval.

As a programmatic document, this analysis addresses the general environmental impacts of the DNA project as a whole based upon the general alignment adopted by RT in 2003. Further analysis and final decisions on the exact alignment and design will be made in conjunction with future project-level environmental documents. In addition, this Program EIR highlights potential impacts that will need to be further evaluated as precise scopes, designs, and locations of project components are being more clearly defined.

Initially, RT expected to combine the EIR for this project with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An EIS is required when there is a major Federal action that would have a significant effect on the environment. At this time, no federal action is pending on the DNA project. The Program EIR is intended only to meet RT’s obligations under CEQA.

RT intends to seek federal funding for one or more future phases, and there may be federal permits for certain project elements. RT assumes that these phases will be subject to NEPA requirements. This program EIR provides the basis for further project-level CEQA and NEPA compliance for individual project phases.

The following topics are analyzed in the DNA Program EIR:

• Land Use
• Farmlands
• Community Impacts
• Socioeconomic Impacts
• Property Acquisition and Displacement
• Environmental Justice
• Cultural Resources
• Parklands
• Public Safety and Security
• Visual and Aesthetic Resources
• Air Quality
• Noise and Vibration
• Biological Resources
• Hazardous Materials
• Utilities
• Energy Resources and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Water Resources
• Wetland Resources
• Summary of Construction Impacts
• Regulatory and Institutional Requirements
• Cumulative and Growth-Inducing Impacts
• Irreversible Environmental Changes
  
  
  

Now that the program-level EIR has been completed and certified, project level analyses will be undertaken on individual phases of the overall project. Currently, RT is preparing a project-level EIR for the first phase of the DNA project, MOS-1, which runs from downtown Sacramento at 7th and H Streets to Richards Boulevard. The Draft EIR for MOS-1 is expected to be released for public review in early 2009.

MOS is a technical engineering term that stands for Minimum Operable Segment and is generally used to refer to a phase of project implementation (referred to as the Greenline to the River District on most of this site). MOS-1, for example, means the first phase that would be implemented for the DNA project. Each phase or MOS can be built independently – it connects logical termini, and its usefulness as a transportation investment does not depend upon the implementation of subsequent phases. You will find this terminology in many of the technical preparitory documentation.

RT hopes to complete engineering on the first phase of the project, from 7th and H to Richards, over the next year. The target date for starting construction is 2009, with service start-up possible as early as 2010.

Meanwhile, RT will be preparing a phasing plan for subsequent phases. The schedule will depend on the availability of local, state and federal funding.