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RT, as the local agency sponsoring the environmental review processes for this project, is governed by federal and state laws and regulatory requirements. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) where there is substantial evidence that a project may have a significant effect on the environment. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for major federal actions, such as the funding of fixed guideway transit projects that significantly affect the environment. Under both NEPA and CEQA, opportunities exist for the public to provide input into the evaluation of alternatives and project-related environmental impacts.
For the Green Line project, the circulation of a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) occurred on December 28, 2007. The Program EIR covers the entire project from downtown to the airport. The Final Program EIR was certified by the RT Board of Directors on April 28, 2008.
As individual segments of the project are advanced toward implementation, project-level environmental documents will be prepared and circulated. These may be combined with NEPA where a major federal action is anticipated.
Currently, RT is working on the project-level EIR for the Green Line to the River District, the first segment of the Green Line which runs from downtown Sacramento at 13th street to Richards Boulevard along 7th Street.
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