The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) require that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be prepared for certain actions that affect the environment. The EIS provides a means to analyze environmental, social and economic factors and consider environmental impacts, alternatives and mitigation strategies in the planning and decision-making process.
Scoping summary
The Scoping Summary documents the first step in the NEPA/EIS process. Scoping is designed to engage the public, interest groups, affected tribes and government agencies (including opportunities for public involvement) and to present the purpose and need for the project, the proposed alternatives to address the needs identified, and potential benefits and impacts for public and agency review early in the NEPA/EIS process. More information on the Scoping Summary
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) is the initial statement prepared by the project sponsor and circulated for review and comment before a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is prepared. The Draft EIS describes and discusses the purpose and need for the project, the alternatives considered, the impacts of those alternatives and the agencies and persons consulted. More information on the Draft EIS
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The Supplemental Draft EIS is a supplement to the Draft EIS. It analyzes the potential impacts of changes made to the design of the Southwest LRT Project after the publication of the Draft EIS. The Supplemental Draft EIS looks at impacts in three areas: operation of light rail and freight rail in St. Louis Park and Minneapolis; the construction of an Operation and Maintenance Facility in Hopkins; and adjustment of the light rail route in Eden Prairie. More information on the Supplemental Draft EIS
Final Environmental Impact Statement
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) identifies impacts from the Southwest LRT Project, including measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate these impacts. The Final EIS also includes the Project’s Final Section 4(f) Evaluation and Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement, and responds to comments received on the Draft EIS and Supplemental Draft EIS. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Council published the Southwest LRT Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) on May 13, 2016. More information on the Final EIS
Record of Decision
The Record of Decision (ROD) provides the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) determination that the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) have been satisfied for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project. The ROD was signed by FTA on July 15, 2016, and includes the agency’s decision regarding compliance with relevant environmental requirements. The ROD also summarizes the alternatives considered, impacts identified in the Final EIS, and measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate adverse impacts. The ROD applies to the Project described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) published on May 13, 2016. More information on the Record of Decision
Supplemental Environmental Assessment/Amended Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation
A Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, which evaluates the significance and the potential impacts of proposed project changes made after the Record of Decision. The SEA/Amended Draft Section 4(F) Evaluation assesses changes in the Southwest LRT Project since the publication of the Southwest LRT Final Environmental Impact Statement. On May 15, 2018, the FTA issued an Amended Record of Decision for the Southwest LRT Project covering Project modifications described in the Supplemental Environmental Assessment. More about the SEA/Amended Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation and Amended Record of Decision