Interagency Consultation: The Key Toward Collaborative State and Local DecisionMaking in the Conformity Process

摘要

Legal requirements of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act(ISTEA) and the 1990 Clear Air Act Amendments (CAA), have challenged transportation and air quality planners to better integrate their planning processes. This document summarizes a review of interagency consultation processes, exploring how well State and local agencies are implementing effective consultation procedures as part of the transportation planning and conformity process. Successful federal, State, and local interagency consultation processes have been shown to provide: (1) accurate and timely information to decision makers; (2) an ongoing forum for effective State and local decision making; (3) early incorporation of environmental objectives in the transporation planning process; (4) a better understanding of the implications and potential ramification of interagency decisions; (5) improved streamlining of decision making by building upon the '3-C' metropolitan planning process; (6) early identification of key isses; and (7) opportunities for continual improvements to the existing interagency consultation process. This report points out that time invested in early coordination and negotiation between all affected parties (including the public) may assist State and local official in later advancing transportation plans for final approval action.