Public Involvement Toolkit

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Public Involvement Toolkit

Public participation is an essential part of the development and implementation of a transportation project and is an ongoing aspect of the project planning process that encourages and solicits public input and provides the opportunity for the public to become fully informed about project development. Environmental practitioners use these tools (guidance, procedures and examples) to prepare for and execute public involvement-related tasks in compliance with federal and state regulations.

General Guidance	Date	Description	Format
Environmental Handbook for Public Involvement	08/15	Provides guidance on the TxDOT public involvement process and requirements of complying with federal and state public participation regulations.

Notices	Date	Description	Format
Template: Draft EA Notice of Availability and Opportunity for a Public Hearing	05/16	Used to prepare a notice advertising to the public that a draft environmental assessment (EA) is ready for review and that TxDOT is affording an opportunity for a public hearing
Template: Draft EA and Notice of Availability and Public Hearing	05/16	Used to prepare a notice advertising to the public that a draft environmental assessment (EA) is ready for review and that TxDOT will be conducting a public hearing
Template: Final EA and FONSI Notice of Availability	05/16	Used to prepare a notice advertising to the public that a final environmental assessment (EA) is ready for review and that TxDOT has issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the proposed project
Template: Draft EIS and Notice of Availability and Public Hearing	05/16	Used to prepare a notice advertising to the public that a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) is ready for review and that TxDOT will be conducting a public hearing
Template: FEIS-ROD Notice of Availability	05/16	Used to prepare a notice advertising to the public that a final environmental impact state and record of decision (FEIS-ROD) is ready for review

Public Meetings and Hearings	Date	Description	Format
Documentation Standard: Public Meeting Documentation	05/16	Standard and template used to prepare public meeting documentation and the cover page
Template: Public Meeting Documentation Cover Page	05/16	Used to prepare a cover page for public meeting documentation
Documentation Standard: Public Hearing Documentation	05/16	Standard and template used to prepare public hearing documentation and the cover page
Template: Public Hearing Documentation Cover Page	05/16	Used to prepare a cover page for public hearing documentation
Documentation Standard: Public Hearing Opportunity Documentation	05/16	Standard and template used to prepare a public hearing opportunity documentation and the cover page
Template: Public Hearing Opportunity Cover Page	05/16	Used to prepare a cover page for public hearing opportunity documentation
Template: Notice Affording an Opportunity for a Public Hearing	08/16	Used to prepare a notice affording an opportunity for a public hearing.
Template: Notice of a Public Hearing	08/16	Used to prepare a notice advertising to the public that TxDOT will be conducting a public hearing. The template can be used for state projects and for federal projects assigned to TxDOT by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Guidance: Public Meetings and Public Hearings Comment/Response Matrix	07/16	Outlines the TxDOT’s standards and provides the recommended process and tools for addressing and responding to public comments resulting from public meetings and public hearings
Standard Operating Procedure: Documenting the Number of Positive, Negative or Neutral Public Comments Report from an EIS Public Hearing	07/16	Describes the procedure to comply with Transportation Code §201.811(b) and 43 TAC §2.107(e)(2)
Template: Environmental Impact Statement Positive, Negative or Neutral Public Comments Report	07/16	To record the number of comments by type (positive, negative and neutral) received as a result of a public hearing for an EIS

Certifications	Date	Description	Format
Public Hearing Certification	09/16	Form used to certify that a public hearing was held
Public Hearing Opportunity Certification	09/16	Form used to certify that a public hearing opportunity was afforded to the public

Additional Resources	Date	Description	Format
Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equality Act–A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)		Provides details on incorporating information, analysis and products from transportation planning into National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents as codified at 23 CFR 450 Appendix A. This is regardless of when the notice of intent has been published. This also presents environmental review as a continuum of sequential study, refinement and expansion performed in transportation planning and during project development.
Executive Order 13166 "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency"		Requires that persons with limited English proficiency be provided improved access to federally conducted programs and activities.
23 USC, Sec. 128: Public Hearings		U.S. Code requirements for state departments of transportation to conduct a hearing when submitting plans for a federal-aid highway project involving the bypassing of or, going through any city, town, or village and when submitting plans for proposed interstate highway projects
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40 parts 1500 through 1508		Provides the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, applicable to all federal agencies for implementing the procedural provision of the NEPA
40 CFR 1506.6		Codifies the CEQ requirements for federal agencies to conduct public involvement