Respondents were asked about perceptions of their timeliness with the agency with which they worked. The following questions comprised the timeliness questions for both 2003 and 2006:
1. Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process.
2. Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks.
3. The entire process took a reasonable amount of time.
4. The process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA.
Comparing data received in 2003 with data received this year, an evaluation of the overall perception of timeliness between agencies, by both Resource and Transportation Reviewers can be estimated. Resource Reviewers overall perceived timeliness of Transportation agencies to be better than Transportation Reviewers belief about the Resource agencies. Changes occurred between specific regions as follows.
· Among Resource Reviewers, Region 3, overall, rated the perception of timeliness between agencies higher than other regions of Resource Reviewers.
· Transportation Reviewers in Regions 5 and 8, overall, rated the perception of the timeliness between agencies higher than other regions of Transportation Reviewers.
· The largest change noted by Transportation Reviewers was in Region 7 dealing with adhering to schedules that were set throughout the process by the other agency (from 65% to 41% top two box, a 24-percentage-point decline).
· Among Resource Reviewers, the most drastic changes occurred with increases in the top two box responses in Region 1 (from 6% to 63% top two box, a 57-percentage-point increase) and Region 2 (from 18% to 75% top two box, a 57-percentage-point increase) whether or not the process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA.
Tables 5 and 5a show the percentages of Reviewers who agreed with the survey item listed for Resource and Transportation. Specifically, the tables show the percentages of respondents who &147;Somewhat Agreed&148; and who &147;Strongly Agreed.&148;
Table 5: Level of Agreement on Timeliness With Transportation Agencies as Rated by Resource Agencies for 2006
|
Resource Agencies Rating Timeliness With Transportation Agencies |
Somewhat Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|---|---|---|
|
Transportation Agency Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process |
34% |
29% |
|
Transportation Agency Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks. |
36% |
28% |
|
The entire process took a reasonable amount of time. |
35% |
23% |
|
The process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA |
30% |
26% |
Table 5A: Level of Agreement on Timeliness With Resource Agencies as Rated by Transportation Agencies for 2006
|
Transportation Agencies Rating Timeliness With Resource Agencies |
Somewhat Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|---|---|---|
|
Resource Agency Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process |
31% |
25% |
|
Resource Agency Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks. |
39% |
34% |
|
The entire process took a reasonable amount of time. |
28% |
24% |
|
The process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA |
20% |
24% |
Chart 42: Adhered to Schedules That Were Set Throughout the Process &151; Resource
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
29 |
21% |
21% |
17 |
53% |
|
Region 2 |
9 |
22% |
22% |
8 |
50% |
|
Region 3 |
42 |
38% |
41% |
29 |
76% |
|
Region 4 |
37 |
38% |
30% |
24 |
68% |
|
Region 5 |
28 |
39% |
31% |
27 |
63% |
|
Region 6 |
37 |
30% |
38% |
28 |
82% |
|
Region 7 |
22 |
36% |
32% |
19 |
79% |
|
Region 8 |
19 |
32% |
26% |
24 |
58% |
|
Region 9 |
30 |
27% |
23% |
28 |
46% |
|
Region 10 |
34 |
41% |
12% |
30 |
53% |
* NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question.
Chart 42a: Adhered to Schedules That Were Set Throughout the Process &151; Transportation
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
50 |
26% |
18% |
21 |
72% |
|
Region 2 |
33 |
27% |
21% |
21 |
57% |
|
Region 3 |
53 |
34% |
21% |
32 |
65% |
|
Region 4 |
62 |
29% |
27% |
40 |
68% |
|
Region 5 |
42 |
37% |
39% |
31 |
68% |
|
Region 6 |
56 |
45% |
21% |
49 |
64% |
|
Region 7 |
22 |
23% |
18% |
28 |
65% |
|
Region 8 |
49 |
33% |
41% |
39 |
67% |
|
Region 9 |
63 |
21% |
19% |
54 |
50% |
|
Region 10 |
53 |
30% |
19% |
36 |
63% |
Adhered to Schedules That Were Set Throughout the Process___________________
Resource: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Resource Reviewers in Regions 1, 6, 7, and 8. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 53% to 42% top two box, an 11-point decrease), Region 6 (from 82% to 68% top two box, a 14-point decrease), Region 7 (from 79% to 68% top two box, an 11-point decrease), and Region 8 (from 71% to 58% top two box, a 13-point decrease). Overall, Region 3, Resource Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 79% saying their sister agency: Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process.
Transportation: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Transportation Reviewers in Regions 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 72% to 44% top two box, a 28-point decline), Region 3 (from 65% to 55% top two box, a 10-point decline), Region 4 (from 68% to 56% top two box, a 12-point decline), Region 7 (from 65% to 41% top two box, a 24-point decline), Region 9 (from 50% to 40% top two box, a 10-point decline), and Region 10 (from 63% to 49% top two box, a 14-point decline). Overall, Region 5 Transportation Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 76% saying their sister agency: Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process.
Summary: Overall, Resource Reviewers indicated higher levels of agreement with adherence to schedules that were set throughout the process than their sister agency Transportation Reviewers. The most divergent regions were Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9. Region 3: 55% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 79% of Resource Reviewers. Region 4: 56% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 68% of Resource Reviewers. Region 7: 41% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 68% of Resource Reviewers. Region 9: 40% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 50% of Resource Reviewers.
Chart 43: [Transportation Agency] Gave Your Agency Enough Time To Accomplish Tasks &151; Resource
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
34 |
32% |
21% |
20 |
79% |
|
Region 2 |
16 |
25% |
38% |
11 |
27% |
|
Region 3 |
47 |
44% |
28% |
32 |
78% |
|
Region 4 |
40 |
35% |
33% |
34 |
73% |
|
Region 5 |
35 |
47% |
33% |
32 |
56% |
|
Region 6 |
40 |
38% |
25% |
33 |
77% |
|
Region 7 |
25 |
24% |
40% |
21 |
81% |
|
Region 8 |
26 |
39% |
35% |
30 |
64% |
|
Region 9 |
32 |
34% |
25% |
37 |
62% |
|
Region 10 |
40 |
30% |
18% |
32 |
62% |
* NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question.
Chart 43a: [Resource Agency] Gave Your Agency Enough Time To Accomplish Tasks &151; Transportation
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
50 |
46% |
26% |
20 |
75% |
|
Region 2 |
32 |
41% |
29% |
22 |
68% |
|
Region 3 |
50 |
40% |
34% |
25 |
80% |
|
Region 4 |
62 |
42% |
39% |
35 |
86% |
|
Region 5 |
37 |
40% |
40% |
27 |
78% |
|
Region 6 |
50 |
42% |
34% |
41 |
80% |
|
Region 7 |
17 |
24% |
29% |
21 |
77% |
|
Region 8 |
36 |
33% |
47% |
30 |
83% |
|
Region 9 |
45 |
44% |
20% |
44 |
82% |
|
Region 10 |
46 |
28% |
37% |
32 |
88% |
* NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question.
Gave Your Agency Enough Time to Accomplish Tasks_________________________
Resource: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Resource Reviewers in Regions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 79% to 53% top two box, a 26-point decrease), Region 6 (from 77% to 63% top two box, a 14-point decrease), Region 7 (from 81% to 64% top two box, a 17-point decrease), and Region 10 (from 62% to 48% top two box, a 14-point decrease). Increases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 2 (from 27% to 63% top two box, a 36-point increase), Region 5 (from 56% to 80% top two box, a 24-point increase), and Region 8 (from 64% to 74% top two box, a 10-point increase). Overall, Region 5, Resource Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 80% saying their sister agency: Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks.
Transportation: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Transportation Reviewers in Regions 7, 9, and 10. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 7 (from 77% to 53% top two box, a 24-point decline), Region 9 (from 82% to 64% top two box, an 18-point decline), and Region 10 (from 88% to 65% top two box, a 23-point decline). Overall, Region 4 Transportation Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 81% saying their sister agency: Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks.
Summary: Overall, Transportation Reviewers indicated higher levels of agreement with gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks than their sister agency Resource Reviewers. The most divergent regions were Regions 1, 4, 6, and 10. Region 1: 72% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 53% of Resource Reviewers. Region 4: 81% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 68% of Resource Reviewers. Region 6: 76% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 63% of Resource Reviewers. Region 10: 65% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 48% of Resource Reviewers.
Chart 44: [Transportation Agency] The Entire Process Took A Reasonable Amount Of Time &151; Resource
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
33 |
46% |
9% |
20 |
42% |
|
Region 2 |
15 |
27% |
47% |
11 |
27% |
|
Region 3 |
46 |
33% |
28% |
32 |
82% |
|
Region 4 |
40 |
35% |
25% |
34 |
65% |
|
Region 5 |
33 |
39% |
18% |
32 |
67% |
|
Region 6 |
42 |
33% |
29% |
33 |
62% |
|
Region 7 |
26 |
31% |
27% |
21 |
76% |
|
Region 8 |
26 |
31% |
31% |
30 |
62% |
|
Region 9 |
31 |
29% |
16% |
37 |
45% |
|
Region 10 |
39 |
36% |
15% |
32 |
38% |
* NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question.
Chart 44a: [Resource Agency] The Entire Process Took A Reasonable Amount Of Time &151; Transportation
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
54 |
20% |
19% |
23 |
61% |
|
Region 2 |
37 |
32% |
19% |
23 |
52% |
|
Region 3 |
55 |
27% |
22% |
38 |
45% |
|
Region 4 |
68 |
31% |
21% |
41 |
71% |
|
Region 5 |
43 |
38% |
38% |
36 |
58% |
|
Region 6 |
61 |
31% |
33% |
51 |
66% |
|
Region 7 |
23 |
26% |
26% |
28 |
61% |
|
Region 8 |
49 |
31% |
31% |
43 |
61% |
|
Region 9 |
63 |
22% |
18% |
58 |
55% |
|
Region 10 |
56 |
25% |
20% |
39 |
47% |
* NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question.
The Entire Process Took a Reasonable Amount of Time________________________
Resource: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Resource Reviewers in Regions 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 3 (from 82% to 61% top two box, a 21-point decrease) and Region 7 (from 76% to 58% top two box, an 18-point decrease). Increases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 42% to 55% top two box, a 13-point increase), Region 2 (from 27% to 74% top two box, a 47-point increase), and Region 10 (from 38% to 51% top two box, a 13-point increase). Overall, Region 2, Resource Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 74% saying their sister agency: The Entire process took a reasonable amount of time.
Transportation: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Transportation Reviewers in Regions 1, 4, 5, and 9. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 61% to 39% top two box, a 22-point decline), Region 4 (from 71% to 52% top two box, a 19-point decline), and Region 9 (from 55% to 40% top two box, a 15-point decline). Increases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 5 (from 58% to 76% top two box, a 18-point increase). Overall, Region 5 Transportation Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 76% saying their sister agency: The Entire process took a reasonable amount of time.
Summary: Overall, Resource Reviewers indicated higher levels of agreement with the entire process took a reasonable amount of time than their sister agency Transportation Reviewers. The most divergent regions were Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5. Region 1: 39% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 55% of Resource Reviewers. Region 2: 51% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 74% of Resource Reviewers. Region 3: 49% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 61% of Resource Reviewers. Region 5: 74% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 59% of Resource Reviewers.
Chart 45: [Transportation Agency] The Process Was The Shortest It Could Have Been Without Compromising NEPA &151; Resource
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
30 |
40% |
23% |
20 |
6% |
|
Region 2 |
12 |
25% |
50% |
11 |
18% |
|
Region 3 |
43 |
35% |
33% |
32 |
54% |
|
Region 4 |
38 |
29% |
29% |
33 |
48% |
|
Region 5 |
29 |
28% |
17% |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Region 6 |
39 |
28% |
28% |
33 |
40% |
|
Region 7 |
23 |
22% |
30% |
21 |
57% |
|
Region 8 |
24 |
33% |
21% |
30 |
54% |
|
Region 9 |
27 |
22% |
15% |
37 |
48% |
|
Region 10 |
33 |
33% |
18% |
32 |
59% |
NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question. There is no data for Region 5 in 2003.
Chart 45a: [Resource Agency] The Process Was The Shortest It Could Have Been Without Compromising NEPA &151; Transportation
|
|
2006 N Size |
2006 Somewhat Agree |
2006 Strongly Agree |
2003 N Size |
2003 %4s and %5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region 1 |
51 |
20% |
14% |
20 |
45% |
|
Region 2 |
35 |
20% |
23% |
11 |
28% |
|
Region 3 |
51 |
18% |
26% |
32 |
24% |
|
Region 4 |
62 |
19% |
21% |
33 |
38% |
|
Region 5 |
44 |
25% |
36% |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Region 6 |
61 |
21% |
39% |
33 |
38% |
|
Region 7 |
21 |
10% |
24% |
21 |
27% |
|
Region 8 |
48 |
21% |
29% |
30 |
28% |
|
Region 9 |
56 |
23% |
11% |
37 |
29% |
|
Region 10 |
53 |
17% |
23% |
32 |
27% |
* NOTE: &147;N size&148; refers to the number of Reviewers responding to the question. There is no data for Region 5 in 2003.
The Process Was the Shortest It Could Have Been Without Compromising NEPA__
Resource: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Resource Reviewers in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 9 (from 48% to 37% top two box, an 11-point decrease). Increases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 6% to 63% top two box, a 57-point increase), Region 2 (from 18% to 75% top two box, a 57-point increase), Region 3 (from 54% to 68% top two box, a 14-point increase), Region 4 (from 48% to 58% top two box, a 10-point increase), and Region 6 (from 40% to 56% top two box, a 16-point increase). Overall, Region 2, Resource Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 75% saying their sister agency: The process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA.
Transportation: Large changes of more than 10% were seen among Transportation Reviewers in Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 10. Decreases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 1 (from 45% to 34% top two box, an 11-point decline). Increases in the top two box responses were seen in Region 2 (from 28% to 43% top two box, a 15-point increase), Region 3 (from 24% to 44% top two box, a 20-point increase), Region 6 (from 38% to 60% top two box, a 22-point increase), Region 8 (from 28% to 50% top two box, a 22-point increase), and Region 10 (from 27% to 40% top two box, a 13-point increase). Overall, Region 5 Transportation Reviewers gave the highest top two box score with 61% saying their sister agency: The process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA.
Summary: Overall, Resource Reviewers indicated higher levels of agreement with the process was the shortest it could have been without compromising NEPA than their sister agency Transportation Reviewers. The most divergent regions were Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10. Region 1: 34% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 63% of Resource Reviewers. Region 2: 43% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 75% of Resource Reviewers. Region 3: 44% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 68% of Resource Reviewers. Region 4: 40% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 58% of Resource Reviewers. Region 7: 34% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 52% of Resource Reviewers. Region 10: 40% of Transportation Reviewers indicated some level agreement vs. 52% of Resource Reviewers.
TYPE OF PROJECT AND TIMELINESS
There were also differences seen in Timeliness based on the type of project. The project categories asked included:
· Environmental Impact Statement (EIS )
· Environmental Assessment &151; Finding of No Significant Impact (EA FONSI )
· Categorical Exclusion (CE)
· Programmatic Agreement (PA) &151; However, there were not enough completes in this area to provide any analysis
Chart 46: EIS Timeliness Transportation vs. Resource
|
|
Transportation % 5 |
Resource %5 |
|---|---|---|
|
The process was the shortest it could have been without comp |
18% |
17% |
|
The entire process took a reasonable amount of time |
18% |
16% |
|
Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks |
27% |
25% |
|
Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process |
21% |
25% |
Chart 47: EA FONSI Timeliness Transportation vs. Resource
|
|
Transportation % 5 |
Resource %5 |
|---|---|---|
|
The process was the shortest it could have been without comp |
18% |
35% |
|
The entire process took a reasonable amount of time |
20% |
32% |
|
Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks |
28% |
34% |
|
Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process |
20% |
39% |
Chart 48: CE Timeliness Transportation vs. Resource
|
|
Transportation % 5 |
Resource %5 |
|---|---|---|
|
The process was the shortest it could have been without comp |
36% |
29% |
|
The entire process took a reasonable amount of time |
33% |
23% |
|
Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks |
44% |
26% |
|
Adhered to schedules that were set throughout the process |
33% |
23% |
Summary: Between a fifth and a third of all Transportation and Resource Reviewers involved in project rated strongly agree for timeliness questions. However, whereas EIS project Transportation and Resource Reviewers were very similar in the percentage of respondents who strongly agree with timeliness questions, EA FONSI and CE projects had very different patterns between Transportation and Resource reviewers. In EA FONSI projects, a larger percentage of Resource Reviewers responded strongly agree to timeliness questions in every timeliness category than did Transportation reviewers. In CE projects, a larger percentage of Transportation Reviewers responded strongly agree to timeliness questions in every timeliness category than did Resource Reviewers.