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原文传递 Integrating Sustainability Planning and the Environmental Review Process.

题名：	Integrating Sustainability Planning and the Environmental Review Process.
作者：	Lurie, C.; Egge, M.; Thompson, R.; McGill, R.
关键词：	Land use, Airports
摘要：	Environmental regulations have long required airports to undertake review of many actions associated with planning and development. More recently, airports have embraced sustainability as a means for ensuring the long-term viability and community benefits of their facilities. ACRP Research Report 209: Integrating Sustainability Planning and the Environmental Review Process (the Guidebook) is designed for airport industry practitioners who are interested in gaining a better understanding of the benefits of integrating environmental review with sustainability planning, and who would like strategies and tools to help them implement this integration. Airports undertake capital development projects that often require National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. Airports also use sustainability initiatives to increase their economic and operational performance, reduce environmental effects, and enhance social benefits. To date, however, these efforts have often not been well integrated. The disconnect between environmental review and sustainability planning is often a result of incomplete guidance, limited funding, and regulatory requirements. Other challenges to integration include NEPA’s project-specific focus, in contrast to the broader, programmatic view of sustainability planning; a misalignment of impact categories; and the need for greater stakeholder coordination. Research was needed to identify opportunities for integrating the environmental analyses associated with airport development and airport sustainability efforts. The research to develop the Guidebook was led by a team from VHB, Inc. The research team began with a review of literature and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) sustainability program and efforts. Next, the team identified a set of airports that had exemplary sustainability plans and were also undergoing the NEPA process. This list of airports was used to conduct targeted interviews with key stakeholders including FAA officials, airport staff, and consultants to identify current practice, challenges, and opportunities. The team also evaluated nearly 80 tools (e.g., checklists, applications, spreadsheets, rating systems) for their potential utility in facilitating NEPA and sustainability integration, and recommended 14 of these tools. The research team members then developed a draft guidebook based on their research and experience and field tested it with airport industry practitioners. Finally, the team incorporated practitioner feedback and additional insights into the final version of the Guidebook. While the research confirmed the challenges to integrating environmental review and sustainability, the Guidebook focuses on the many opportunities for integration and alignment. These opportunities recognize that the NEPA process is flexible, sustainability plans can prepare projects for NEPA review, and both processes use similar data. The Guidebook helps practitioners build on these opportunities by allowing readers to approach this topic from the perspective of integrating sustainability into the environmental review process or by leveraging the environmental review process for sustainability planning. The Guidebook also features illustrative examples through the use of case studies; a one-page “quick start guide” listing actions focused on planning, communication, policy, procedures, and public and agency engagement; and checklists and lists of resources and tools.
报告类型：	科技报告