Section 404 NEPA Merger Process Training

The Section 404 NEPA Merger Process has been applied to surface transportation projects in the State of North Carolina since the original agreement integrating Section 404 permit requirements with the NEPA process was signed in May 1997. The purpose of the Section 404/NEPA Merger 01 Process training is to generally familiarize practitioners with the Section 404 NEPA Merger 01 Process. Successful completion of the training will result in more timely, cost-effective and environmentally sound NCDOT project delivery. The training will also increase awareness that Merger Team meetings should be approached as "problem-solving sessions".

The training course will specifically provide the common language of Merger 01, the different stages of transportation planning and design, the integration of NEPA/404 requirements, the sequential steps in the concurrence point system, the information needs for the public and the review agencies, and the general methods to avoid and minimize impacts to the human and natural environment to the maximum extent practicable.

The training is intended for practitioners that participate in the Process from the following entities: 1) state and federal agencies that are listed as primary and partnering signatories to the Section 404/NEPA Merger Process as approved in May/June 2005; 2) Metropolitan Planning Organizations; 3) Rural Planning Organizations; and 4) consulting firms.