Assignment No. 6: Alternatives

1. to develop and explain an adequate range of alternatives capable of fulfilling the project objectives, and
2. to offer a sound methodology for evaluation of these alternatives and selection of a Proposed Alternative.

Your memorandum must allow a reader to understand the possible solutions devised to answer the project need, and the differences between them, as well as the method you propose to use to choose between these options.  This memorandum constitutes a first draft of what will become a chapter of your semester project, the skeleton EIS/EIR.

As a starting point, you can use the description of alternatives from your Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (Assignment No. 4), adding material that was unavailable at the time, as well as any new alternatives.

Then establish and describe a methodology to evaluate these alternatives; explain at least:

• what criteria are going to be used for evaluation
• how the alternatives are going to rated or ranked for each criterion
• how the criteria are going to be compared in importance with one another (rated, ranked, scaled, weighted, etc.)

A summary of NEPA requirements (for a draft EIS) and CEQA requirements (for a draft EIR) regarding alternatives description and evaluation is offered below for guidance.  Keep in mind that these extensive requirements apply to an EIS/EIR document, and go somewhat beyond the scope of the current assignment.
 

NEPA Requirements

• Alternatives are the "heart of the EIS"
• The evaluation of alternatives is governed by "rule of reason"
• An explanation of why alternatives were eliminated should be included
• The range of alternatives to be considered should include:
• Alternative ways of meeting objective
• No-action alternative
• Alternatives outside the lead agency's jurisdiction
• Alternative locations
• Rigorous evaluation and comparison is required
• The preferred alternative must be identified, if one exists
• The environmentally preferable alternative must be identified
• Mitigation measures for alternatives must be described

CEQA Requirements

• Describe the project objectives
• Assess the proposed project's significant environmental effects (Initial Study)
• Develop screening criteria for feasibility of alternatives that:
• Meet some or all of the project objectives
• May be located on alternative sites
• Substantially avoid or lessen the proposed project's significant environmental effects
• Are feasible based on specific economic, social, legal, or technical considerations
• Explain why other alternatives have been rejected from evaluation
• Provide meaningful evaluation and analysis of environmental effects of the reasonable range of alternatives and the No-Project Alternative in comparison with environmental effects of the proposed project
• Identify the environmentally superior alternative

The EIR must include sufficient information about each alternative to allow meaningful evaluation, analysis and comparison with the proposed project.
 

Contents of the Memorandum

• brief project description
• location maps, indicating approximate boundaries of the project
• description and components of the various alternatives, clearly identifying differences between options
• proposed evaluation methodology: criteria, ranking or scaling method to assess alternatives versus each criterion, and method used to compare and rank criteria between themselves
• if you have enough information to do so, indicate which alternative(s) appear to constitute the best choice as identified through your evaluation methodology; if this is different from the "environmentally preferable alternative", indicate it.
• appropriate tables, graphs, figures, maps, and other visual support

This is not an exhaustive list but a minimum.  Give sufficient detail and information to provide a meaningful context for the discussion of environmental impacts and mitigation measures that will take place later.
 

Format and Style

Include at least:
 

• memorandum heading, including date, preparers, subject, and routing information
• introduction, including project description
• description of alternatives
• description of evaluation methodology
• brief conclusion summing up the major characteristics of the action
• identifying headers and footers, including page numbers
• list of references

This is a team assignment.  Turn in one copy for the entire team, making sure to list all team members.

Due date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 (by 5:00 PM).