Appendix C – Selection and Evaluation Criteria (Distributed to project team)
Phase One Selection Criteria
To select projects for the development of case studies, we are using two phases of screening criteria. The first phase involves a set of minimum requirements that we are applying to projects for which we lack sufficient prior information to make a case study recommendation. These requirements are indicated below. The second phase will examine how a project contributes insight across matrix categories (see criteria below). For the projects selected as case studies, our interview questions are presented below.
Minimum Requirements:
Federal funding – or– federal permit – the project must have required one or the other.
Level of NEPA documentation – the project must have required an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under Federal laws.
Involvement of intermodal freight – the project must have a clear relationship to intermodal freight operations.
Project development status – the project must be far enough along that the project proponents and agencies are able to discuss specifically the potential or actual impacts, the level of public concern, and any issues associated with agency coordination/permitting. We want to avoid speculation on these issues because a project is in the early stages of project development.
Type and magnitude of impacts or public controversy – the project must have moderate to significant impacts (either negative or positive) across one or more subject areas under the natural and human environments. The project could be included if it lacked these impacts but had generated substantial public opposition.
Initial Screening Questions for Projects
We will use the following questions to collect basic information on projects that will allow us to apply the site selection criteria.
- Could you briefly describe the project, e.g., location, modes served. (Confirm a clear relationship to intermodal freight operations.)
- Is there federal funding or a federal permit involved?
- What is the project development status, e.g., feasibility stage, planning/NEPA stage, under construction, operational?
- What type and magnitude of impacts or public controversy has the project involved?
- Have there been any agency coordination or permitting problems?
Evaluation Criteria: For Placement of Projects in Matrix and Final Selection
Regional location:
- Northeast
- South
- Midwest/Plains
- West
Privately- and publicly-owned facilities:
- Privately-owned
- Publicly-owned
Mode and commodity type/shipment means:
- Different intermodal combinations of rail, truck, aviation, inland waterway, and maritime
- Commodity type (e.g., perishables, high value, container/freight-all-kinds, bulk, liquid bulk, etc.)
Type and magnitude of impacts:
- Noise and vibration
- Land use compatibility
- Local transportation impacts
- Socioeconomics
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Hazardous waste contamination
- Natural resources
- Historical and cultural resources
- Environmental justice
Urban and rural:
- Residential and non-residential areas
- Urban and rural
Successes and failures:
- Successes (e.g., generated positive impacts or took environmental considerations into account during conceptual design phase and avoided project delays in the face of permitting requirements or public opposition)
- Failures (e.g., Mismanaged agency coordination or public involvement process, or suffered avoidable costs or delays due to environmental issues)
