How the NEPA Process Served as Valuable Planing Tool: A Case Study of the Folly Road/Camp Road Intersection Improvement Project in Charleston, SC

Abstract

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was established to make agencies think about the environmental effects that their proposed actions will have prior to making decisions. Requirements of NEPA are generally met through the production of an environmental document that analyzes the proposed action. However, NEPA is about more than just producing a document; it is about examining your choices and making a good decision. This case study will examine a voluntary environmental document (Categorical Exclusion Level C) for an intersection improvement (including new sidewalks and bike lanes) at one of the most congested areas in Charleston County, where no environmental impacts were anticipated from the proposed project.