The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires that federally funded transportation projects follow a comprehensive planning process in which socioeconomic and environmental impacts are considered. As we develop preliminary alternatives for the Sumneytown Pike/PA 309 Connector, the impacts of the alternatives will be assessed on the following critical features:
- farmland acreage
- number of farms
- historic structures
- historic properties (acreage)
- other publicly-owned (Section 4(f)) lands
- wetland acreage
- number and types of wetlands
- floodplain acreage
- number of stream crossings
- relocations by type of use
Information on these features has been gathered from field investigations and business surveys of the properties in proximity to the relocation alternatives.
In accordance with the president’s Executive Order 12898 of February 1994, particular attention will be paid to special groups such as the elderly, handicapped, low income and minority groups so that they do not experience a disproportionate level of impact.
Direct and indirect impacts on land use has been determined based on the design of the proposed alternative. Direct impacts involve the land within the designated right-of-way that will be converted to transportation use. Indirect impacts to be evaluated include the modifications in access to and from certain areas that may induce or reduce residential and business growth.
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