Back in Time

Rickie Longfellow was a Program Assistant in the Federal Highway Administration's Ohio Division Office. As a writer-editor for many years, she decided to combine her love of history with her interest in highways by writing a column, "Back in Time," for FHWA News. Ideas for the column come from...

Section 2

The Natives are Restless

The FHWA published the Notice shortly before the presidential election on November 5, 1968. Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon defeated the Democratic candidate, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and would take office on January 20, 1969. The outgoing Democratic Administration accelerated the remaining steps to implement the change in the 1968 Act before the Republican Administration took office.

Section 1

One option not available is to disassociate and insulate our activities from the sweep of events in America today. To pretend otherwise would be the depth of self-delusion.Lowell K. Bridwell
Federal Highway Administrator
December 1968

The Sixties

When historians give a nickname to a decade, such as the Roaring 20's, the nickname usually doesn't apply from the first day of the decade to the last. That is the case with "The Sixties." That nickname evokes images and ideas that evolved during the decade.

Section 3

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson (D-Wa.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, was looking for a way to ensure all Federal actions reflected the new environmental awareness. Late in the Johnson Administration, Senator Jackson wanted to increase the expertise of his staff in this area, but did not have the funds to do so. He asked Train if the Conservation Foundation would pay for the consultant services of Professor Lynton K. Caldwell of Indiana University to work with the committee. Train agreed.

Section 4

April 1970

In September 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wi.) was attending a conference in Seattle. Since encouraging President Kennedy to embark on a 5-day, 11-State conservation tour in September 1963, the Senator had been searching for a way of focusing attention on the environment. During his conservation speaking tour in the summer of 1969, he had an inspiration:

Section 7

Adjustments

One casualty of NEPA was the era of personal mediation. During the 1950's and 1960's, State highway officials decided the location of Interstates by selecting the best route on the basis of geography, cost, economic benefit, directness of routing, minimum disruption of homes and businesses, political factors-all outside the public view.

Section 6

Adapting to NEPA

As reflected in Kessler's presentation, the transition to the new requirements was gradual, reflecting a wearing down of early resistance. In June 1973, the Center for Science in the Public Interest released its analysis of environmental impact statements issued by highway departments and found that they exaggerated the importance of the projects, minimized harmful effects, and neglected consideration of alternatives.

Section 5

FHWA Goes on the Offense

Throughout the 1960's, the highway community believed it was being unfairly targeted by critics who were delaying the important work for short-sighted, even selfish, reasons. In late 1969, FHWA launched an extensive counter-initiative of speeches, editorials, letters to the editor, and press releases to rebut what Director of Public Roads Ralph R.

Addressing the Quiet Crisis: Origins of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

By Richard F. Weingroff

Appendix