Lowcountry Rapid Transit

Environmental Impact

A two-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the project began in late 2019. The purpose of this review is to minimize environmental impacts and ensure that the public is included in the decision-making process. The NEPA review is overseen by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). More information can be found by clicking the button below.

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Navigating NEPA

The NEPA process involves documenting a project’s impacts. The amount of documentation required is based on a project’s “class of action.” There are three classes of action:

• 1

  Categorical Exclusion (CE)

• 2

  Environmental Assessment (EA)

• 3

  Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

LCRT’s current class of action is a specific type of CE, known as a Documented Categorical Exclusion (DCE.) A DCE includes more detail than a typical CE and like a CE, documents an action that does not directly or cumulatively have a significant effect on the natural or human environment.

The use of Categorical Exclusions reduces paperwork, saves time and resources, and allows the project to stay on schedule — but also presents unique challenges.

Since the purpose of a DCE is to document minimal impacts of a project, it limits the area of effect the project can have and therefore confines the project predominantly to the existing roadway. This means that roadways cannot be widened to accommodate the project. Additionally, the project is limited in its ability to impact environmental resources in the corridor, including historic areas in the project area.

Read the final DCE.

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