A Consultation is a written document that evaluates whether an approved Environmental Document or Supporting Environmental Documentation remains valid or if additional analysis is required.
Consultations are required when:
- NCDOT plans to proceed with the authorization of an additional phase, such as Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition or Construction, and the approval signature on the Categorical Exclusion (CE) or Consultation is more than a year old.
- There have been substantial changes to the proposed design, evaluation of impacts, or environmental Commitments have occurred after approval of the Environmental Document or Supporting Environmental Documentation, but prior to ROW Acquisition or Construction – even if more than one year has not passed.
Procedure
NCDOT documents Consultations through the NCDOT National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Consultation Form. This form is used for both federally and state funded projects and helps NCDOT with consistency in environmental review during the ROW Acquisition, Utility Coordination and Construction approval processes.
Key things to consider when preparing a Consultation are:
- Has the study area changed?
- Has the project scope changed?
- Have the Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) database been checked for new Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species?
- Are the T&E surveys up-to-date?
- Have project special Commitments been fulfilled (i.e. Green Sheet Commitments)?
- Do any new special Commitments need to be added?
- Are there any new cultural resources (i.e. new National Register Properties)?
- Have any parks been added or did any existing parks receive new 6f or PARTf funds?
- Are there previously undocumented relocations?
- Was anything missed/overlooked when the CE was signed?
