Why does Caltrans perform environmental studies?
Caltrans, as a department of the State of California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, is required to comply with state and federal preservation legislation and regulations. Most Caltrans projects are federally funded and/or require federal licenses or permits, and therefore are subject to federal laws and regulations such as the National Environmental Policy Act (also known as NEPA) of 1969. For projects that are not federally funded, Caltrans must comply with state legislation such as the California Environmental Quality Act (also known as CEQA) of 1970.
Caltrans project development and maintenance activities must comply with a multitude of state, federal and local laws and regulations. Since the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in 1970, Caltrans has maintained staff to ensure compliance with these rules. Other environmental regulations require that specific activities be performed and detailed procedures be followed. This places a tremendous responsibility on Caltrans environmental staff to ensure that all laws and regulations are followed during the course of project development and system maintenance.
