Examples of Effective Techniques for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents Chapter 7. Figures Figures help to enhance readability by enabling a reader to visualize conditions that are described in the text. But a figure can detract from readability if the figure itself is not clear, or if the reader finds it difficult to correlate the description in the text to the features shown on the figure. The following good practices can help to maximize the effectiveness of figures in NEPA documents: Label key elements that are discussed in the text. In most cases, figures are intended to be read in combination with accompanying text. For the figure to be effective, features discussed in the text should be labeled on the figure. For example, if the text refers to a series of intersections or noise sensitive receptors, the reader expects those features to be labeled on the accompanying figure. Readers are likely to become frustrated if the figures do not identify features discussed in the text. Make important elements stand out against the background. The background of a figure e.g., the base map should provide enough information to orient the reader, but not so much that it distracts from the primary focus of the figure. In addition, it is helpful to use light colors for the background map and bold colors for the major elements. Ensure that the legend is clear and complete. Including a clear and complete legend should be a standard practice. To ensure that this is done, the review process for a NEPA document should include special attention to legends. In addition, if colors are used for different features, the review process should ensure that colors are clearly distinguishable from one another on both the figure and the legend. In addition to these practices, it is possible to use graphic designers with the expertise to develop figures that display complex information in compelling and creative ways. But effective use of figures does not require unusual steps. The key is to take the basic steps that enable the reader to understand what is shown on the figure and to make the connection between the figures and text.
(This page is intentionally left blank.)
Important Features Clearly Labeled (i.e., the figure labels features that are mentioned in the accompanying text and tables) NC: Mid-Currituck FEIS OR: OR 62 FEIS WA: Mukilteo FEIS www.environment.transportation.org
Barco Coinjock Bay 168 Coinjock Colored School (DOE) Church's Island Samuel McHorney House (DOE) Waterlily Intracoastal Waterway SR 1142 Waterlily Road Coinjock Christian Advocate Baptist Church (DOE) Maple SR 1140 Aydlett Road North River Daniel Saunders House (DOE) SR 1137 Swamp Ellie and Blanton Saunders Decoy Workshop (DOE) Currituck Sound Aydlett 136 136 Grandy Poplar Branch SR 1132 (Former) Grandy School (DOE) Techniques to note: - important features are clearly labeled, allowing reader to identify features discussed in the accompanying text Currituck Beach Light Station (NR) C1 Whalehead Club (NR) C2 Currituck Sound Rural Historic District (DOE) PA Dr. W.T. Griggs House (DOE) Corolla Historic District (DOE) Corolla ALBACORE STREET CURRITUCK CLUBHOUSE DRIVE VIRGINIA NORTH CAROLINA Atlantic Ocean N C.W. Wright Store (DOE) Jarvisburg DARE CURRITUCK Jarvisburg Colored School (DOE) Olds Powells Pt. Dexter W. Snow House (DOE) Currituck Sound Duck 0 1 2 Scale in Miles LEGEND DEIS Bridge Corridors Preferred Alternative Bridge Corridor County Boundaries Albemarle Sound Mamie Spot Hog Quarter Landing Harbinger Area of Potential Effect (APE) Resource listed (NR) on or eligible (DOE) for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places Point Harbor Southern Shores Kitty Hawk Historic Properties 3-4 Figure
Techniques to note: - important features are clearly labeled, allowing reader to identify features discussed in the accompanying text Figure 3.17-2 Fig 3.17-11 to 3.17-16 NSA 15 Fig 3.17-5 to 3.17-10 NSA 13 NSA NSA 10 NSA 09 NSA 06 NSA 07 NSA 05 "J Ê 62 NSA 11 NSA 08 NSA 17 Ê 140 NSA 16 NSA 14 "J NSA 19 NSA 18 White City Noise Sensitive Areas and Noise Measurement Locations Overview September 20 N Map Features Noise Sensitive Area Noise Measurement "J Long Term Locations Short Term Locations Project Footprints Design Option A Design Option B Design Option C DI Alternative SD Alternative Medford International Airport Fig 3.17-3 & 4 NSA 04 5 NSA 01 "J NSA 02 NSA 03 Medford Source: Jackson County GIS, ODOT, URS Corp. Miles 0 0.5 1 3-408 CHAPTER 3: Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures
Techniques to note: - important features are clearly labeled; inset photos help readers to visualize the intersections shown. Figure 3-3. Study Area Intersections Mukilteo Multimodal Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Final EIS Chapter 3 Transportation 3-7 June 2013
Major Elements Stand Out Clearly Against Background NC: Mid-Currituck Bridge FEIS www.environment.transportation.org
Coinjock Bay 168 Church's Island VIRGINIA Barco Intracoastal Waterway Median Acceleration Lane at US / Waterlily Road Intersection Coinjock Toll Plaza Waterlily SR 1142 Waterlily Waterlily Road Road Maple SR 1140 Aydlett Road SR 1137 Swamp Currituck Sound Aydlett 136 136 Poplar Branch CURRITUCK CLUBHOUSE DRIVE Corolla ALBACORE STREET NORTH CAROLINA Techniques to note: - simple, clean background, so that key features stand out clearly - bold, easily identified colors are used to depict important elementsn - important features are labeled Atlantic Ocean SR 1132 North River Grandy Jarvisburg DARE CURRITUCK Olds Albemarle Sound Powells Pt. Currituck Sound Duck LEGEND Preferred Alternative Bridge Corridor Alignment New Roadway New Bridge Third Outbound Lane for Hurricane Evacuation (Cypress Knee Trail to 450 feet west of Duck Woods Drive) Four Lanes Reversal of Center Turn Lane for Hurricane Evacuation Interchange Roundabout County Boundaries 0 1 2 Scale in Miles Mamie Spot Hog Quarter Landing Harbinger Point Harbor CYPRESS KNEE TRAIL DUCK WOODS DRIVE Southern Shores Kitty Hawk Preferred Alternative Figure 2-2
Legend Is Clear and Complete (and includes north arrow) OR: OR 62 FEIS WA: I-90 FEIS www.environment.transportation.org
Techniques to note: - legend is clear and complete; each element shown on the figure is clearly labeled in the legend. Figure 3.11-3 Little Butte Creek Whetstone Creek North Swanson Creek South Whetst one C Jack Creek reek Project Area Wildlife Linkages and Wildlife/Vehicle Collisions September 20 N Map Features Area of Potential Impact Stream Project Footprint Up ton Creek Ê 62 Conservation Opportunity Areas (COA) Antelope Creek COA North Medford COA Bear Creek South Swanson C reek Wildlife Linkages Elk Northwestern Pond Turtle Wildlife/Vehicle Collision Frequency Highest Med-High Medium Med-Low Lowest 5 Source: Jackson County GIS, Oregon DFW, URS Corp. Miles 0 0.5 1 Lone Pine Creek Note: No wildlife/vehicle collision frequency shown on OR 62 between approximately Delta Waters Rd and Coker Butte Rd due to lack of data. 3-308 CHAPTER 3: Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures
Techniques to note: - legend is clear and complete; each element shown on the figure is clearly labeled in the legend. 5.7 Noise would approach or exceed the NAC, and provides a symbol indicating whether an average person would notice an increase, decrease, or no change in traffic noise. Changes in traffic noise are typically noticeable at 3 dba. Noise levels at locations shown as having no noticeable change would remain within 2 dba of current levels. As shown in Table 5.7-2 and Exhibit 5.7-2, Options A, K, and L would also decrease the number of residences where noise levels exceed the NAC, although the decrease would be less than with the Preferred Alternative. Under Option A, the number of residences exceeding the NAC would decrease to 249. Under Options K and L, the number of residences exceeding the NAC would decrease to 256 and 235, respectively. The SR 520, I-5 TO MEDINA: BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND HOV PROJECT FINAL EIS AND FINAL SECTION 4(F) AND 6(F) EVALUATIONS 5.7-3
(This page is intentionally left blank.)