Nevada Department of Transportation
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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress in 1969. It is an umbrella act under which different types of environmental studies are conducted to determine the impacts a proposed federal-aid project may have on the human and natural environment.
The NEPA process is also used to ensure federal-aid projects are compliant with other federal, state, and local environmental laws intended to protect, preserve, or improve our environment.
Here are some NDOT projects that are governed by NEPA:
Environmental Assessments
I-15 South Corridor Improvement Project, Sloan Road to Tropicana Avenue
Henderson Interchange
I-80 East
Environmental Impact Statements
Interstate 80/I-580/U.S. 395 Reno Spaghetti Bowl Interchange Reconstruction Project
Pyramid Highway/U.S. 395 Connection
NEON Phase 2
Resources & Policy Documents
Programmatic Agreements and Policy Documents
- Categorical Exclusions Programmatic Agreement - Available upon request. Call 775-888-7772.
- NDOT Environmental NEPA Public Involvement Procedures - Available upon request. Call 775-888-7772.
- 2022 USFWS/FHWA/NDOT Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Mojave Desert Tortoise - Available upon request. Call 775-888-7772.
- NDOT Traffic and Construction Noise Analysis and Abatement Policy
NDOT NOA & Erionite Commercial Import Material Clearance Guidance July 2019
- NDOT NOA & Erionite Commercial Import Material Guidance - Available upon request. Call 775-888-7772.
Environmental Program Procedures Guide
Available upon request. Call 775-888-7772.
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous Material Project Support Documents
Available upon request. Call 775-888-7772 with bridge number and route (e.g., Bridge B-223, US 95 over the Humboldt River).
Wildlife Crossings & Transportation
2023 Assembly Bill 112
In June 2023, the Nevada State Legislature passed Assembly Bill No. 112 (AB112) with the goal of identifying, facilitating, and funding potential wildlife crossings to improve wildlife connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in the state. Specifically, AB112 established three primary objectives.
- It creates a Wildlife Crossings Account in the State General Fund that can be used for the “design, construction, identification, restoration and protection of wildlife crossings and other related highway features to improve wildlife permeability” in Nevada.
- It requires a review of the standards and specifications in use by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to “determine the standards and specifications necessary for incorporating wildlife crossings or other related highway features.”
- It requires the publication of an “inventory of connectivity needs” where the “implementation of wildlife crossings and other related highway features will improve permeability for wildlife, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions or enhance wildlife connectivity.”
Support documents:
- 2023 Assembly Bill 112 – Section 3 – An inventory of connectivity needs and existing infrastructure.
- NDOT Wildlife Crossings Prioritization Study - April 2025
'VOA-TEK Mountain Lions' feature NDOT Biologist Nova Simpson
NDOT Biologist Nova Simpson discussed how NDOT works to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in our travel corridors in Nevada on VOA-TEK's 'Mountain Lions' show, which aired November 2, 2021.
National Wildlife Foundation's Artemis Podcast featuring NDOT Biologist Nova Simpson
NDOT Biologist Nova Simpson discussed how NDOT works to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in our travel corridors in Nevada on the July 8, 2021, podcast episode of the National Wildlife Foundation's Artemis podcast.
"(Re)Connecting Wild" Documentary Film
This video highlights the wildlife crossing structures that cross over and under US 93 and I-80 to reduce deer-vehicle collisions. During spring and fall migrations, thousands of mule deer move across the landscape to reach their summer and winter grounds. These movements put them in the path of traveling motorists creating a safety risk to both humans and wildlife. Wildlife crossing structures have eliminated 80-90% of the deer-vehicle collisions in these areas and provided safe passage for wildlife to navigate Nevada roads. This video is filmed and produced by Jake Willers at NineCaribou Productions.
To watch the full video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK-mvhPMokY. Warning: This video has footage that may be disturbing to some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
This documentary would not have been possible without the help of our partners at ARC Solutions. ARC Solutions is an interdisciplinary network that promotes solutions to improve human safety, wildlife mobility and landscape connectivity by fostering innovation in the placement, design and construction of wildlife crossings. The film has also been translated and screened on national television in Romania.
Mule Deer Migration
Check out this video shot and produced by Tim Torell of mule deer migrating in Nevada.
Wildlife Crossing StoryMaps
ARC Solutions, whom NDOT partnered with on the "(Re)Connecting Wild" Documentary Film, has developed new crossing success stories featuring projects from across a broader range of geographies, structure types, and species served.
Here are a few where NDOT's work in the wildlife crossings space is highlighted:
- The Wonderful World of Wildlife Crossings
- Interstate 80 and Highway 93 Pequop Crossings Network
- Mojave Desert Tortoise Crossing
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
