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Last Updated: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:13 AM

NADR Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a NADR required on all projects?
2. Does a NADR have to follow the format of the example on the HQ Environmental website?
3. Who is responsible for developing the NADR?
4. If there are no walls or other abatement proposed in the noise study on a project with a NEPA action is a NADR still required?
5. What about local projects on the State Highway system that do not utilize any federal funding - do they require a NADR?
6. Many of our noise studies are done by consultants - can a consultant create the NADR?
7. What is the timing for completion of the NADR and who should sign the document?

1.  Is a NADR required on all projects?

A. No - a NADR is only required on State Highway projects that have a NEPA environmental document of any type.  These are Type I projects using federal funds or requiring a federal action; such as a design exception, federal permit for construction or for alteration of an Interstate.  On these projects, a noise study will be developed by the District environmental staff to provide acoustic information to the design engineer.  If a project has only a CEQA environmental document then an abbreviated noise study is still required, however a NADR will not be required.  Mitigation of CEQA impacts, if any, will be addressed in the environmental document.

2. Does a NADR have to follow the format of the example on the HQ Environmental website?

A. No - the example shown is a best practices format only.  The NADR does need to include all the engineering considerations that result in the noise abatement decision for the project.  This includes the acoustic design information from the noise study such as impacted residences, benefited residences, all proposed walls whether reasonable/feasible or not (see Protocol for further discussion), engineer’s estimate for all walls and any other reasonability considerations such as local government interests or competing resources like a scenic view. The NADR documents which walls are proposed to be a part of the project subject to public review in the draft environmental circulation. 

3. Who is responsible for developing the NADR?

A.  The Project Engineer is responsible for the content of the NADR because it is a decision document on a project feature.  Chapter 30 of the Project Development Procedures Manual outlines the specific responsibilities of the Project Engineer regarding noise abatement.  The most important function of the NADR is to make the preliminary decision on what abatement, if any, is to be included in the project.

4. If there are no walls or other abatement proposed in the noise study on a project with a NEPA action is a NADR still required?

A Yes - Federal Code only requires that abatement be considered not necessarily constructed.  A brief NADR document can be attached to the noise study outlining why abatement was not proposed, including the engineer’s determination of infeasibility.

5. What about local projects on the State Highway system that do not utilize any federal funding - do they require a NADR?

A. If the project is on the State Highway System and has a NEPA environmental document a noise study and NADR are required.  This falls under Title 23 Part 772 of Federal Code that deals with Federal or Federal Aid highway projects.

6. Many of our noise studies are done by consultants - can a consultant create the NADR?

A. Yes - consultants can create and sign the NADR if they are also acting as the project design engineer, but the decision maker regarding proposed abatement in the District needs to sign the NADR also.

7. What is the timing for completion of the NADR and who should sign the document?

A. The purpose of the NADR is to gather both the engineering and acoustic information of all noise abatement considered into one document. The project engineer is responsible for developing and signing the document. Because acoustic information is included from the noise study, the Office Chief for the environmental branch should also sign the NADR. For consultant developed NADR's, in addition to the other signatures the consultant Project Manager's signature should be included. The NADR needs to be completed early enough for the information to be included in the Draft Environmental Document prior to public circulation.