Concurrent with the environmental analysis, the first phase of this project will include early public involvement and public agency coordination, which is crucial in determining sensitive community issues.

As part of the environmental analysis, the project team will be required to conduct several specialized field surveys to define the potentially impacted areas.  The following is a brief description of these surveys:

Air/Noise Quality Impact Analysis: Computer analysis for predicting ambient CO concentrations for proposed signalized intersections will be conducted.  In addition, a noise impact study will be completed once the traffic forecasting is complete and preferred alignment is chosen.  The noise impact study predicts expected noise levels resulting from the proposed roadway improvements.

Natural Resources: Based upon investigations of natural resources, water quality, and agricultural and farmland uses within the project corridor, it is anticipated that impacts will be minimal.

Ecological Resources
 

Wetlands: The entire corridor has been surveyed for Jurisdictional Waters of the United States.  The waters and wetlands have been delineated and surveyed onto project limitations maps.  We have also initiated coordination with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain their concurrence regarding the location of wetlands within the project's area of potential effect (APE).

Habitat: Surveys of the corridor have been completed to describe all habitats identified.  The aerial photographic maps of the site, which delineate the different habitats, are presently being prepared.

Threatened and Endangered Species: Staff ecologists will conduct intensive surveys of potential habitats for the presence of federally protected species.

Cultural Resources
 

History: The project team will conduct archival research and field surveys within the project APE.  Any properties within the APE that are listed in or nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) will be outlined in a Survey Report, which is a compilation of the field and archival research, and will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Natural Resource's Historic Preservation Division for review.   Following this review, an Assessment of Effects report will be prepared.  Based on the impacts to the area, a Memorandum of Agreement may also be required.

A 4(f) analysis would be required if there are adverse impacts to eligible historic resources.  The 4(f) document would be drafted after the submission of the Assessment of Effects report.

Archaeology: A Phase I Archaeological Survey will be conducted for the project.  Phase II studies will only be required if sites within the APE that are considered eligible for listing in the National Register are identified in the Phase I Survey.

Community Impacts: An investigation of each community and its facilities and services will be conducted.  In addition, there will be an analysis of relocation impacts once a preferred alignment has been chosen to assure compliance with applicable laws.  Impacts to land use, economic consequences, and construction impacts within the project limit will also be assessed.

Hazardous Materials Analysis: Phase I Hazardous Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) will be conducted to identify any sites which may affect the project.  Field investigations and database searches to identify potential hazardous waste sites including UST's will be conducted as well.

The goal of the detailed surveys is to gather and analyze social, economic, and environmental data to determine if modifications in the project location and scope are necessary to ensure project compliance with federal laws. The status and preliminary results of these surveys were discussed with the appropriate agencies at a coordination meeting held in Macon on March 28, 2000. The agencies invited to attend include the following: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Department of Natural Resource's Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resource's Historic Preservation Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, US Environmental Protection Agency, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Following the meeting, field visits with the agencies were conducted in order to familiarize the agencies with the project area.