Red Flag

When federal funds are used for projects, agencies are responsible for complying with certain guidelines and requirements throughout the project process.  One of the requirements when there is a federal undertaking is that, by all practicable means, the action taking place will identify and either mitigate or avoid any adverse harm to the natural or cultural environment.  The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is what establishes these national environmental policies and goals for the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of the environment and provides a process for implementing these goals. As part of this process agencies conduct investigations during or before the project development phase to see what kinds of environmental effects may be caused as a result.  In order to identify locations and issues of concern, or “red flags”, an initial report is completed and referred to as a Red Flag Investigation (RFI). The report identifies these red flags that may require additional study coordination in future steps of the project development process.  They may also prompt creative management or design approaches which may increase right of way and construction costs. The report also identifies any “fatal flaws” in the study area which are locations that must be avoided all together.