BRIDGING ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT: THE ROLE OF MODELING IN NEPA-BASED TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

Abstract

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), enacted by Congress in 1969, revolutionized environmental protection in the United States by introducing an environmental review process into decision-making practices. This process involves the creation of detailed Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) to assess the environmental effects of various projects, including infrastructure developments. EIS enables multi-disciplinary collaboration and provides a framework for choosing the most environmentally friendly project implementation. Federal agencies like the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) play a crucial role in examining and mitigating potential impacts on both human and natural environments resulting from state highway construction. This paper explores the significance of NEPA and the EIS process in fostering harmony between humanity and nature while evaluating various project alternatives within the context of transportation planning.