The Commission conducted a scoping process and field view in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) that an Environmental Assessment (EA) would be appropriate for this project because the significance of project's potential environmental impacts was unknown at the time (2003).

If at any time during the EA process it is determined that significant impacts will result from the proposed project, then an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) may be prepared. An EIS, like an EA, requires virtually the same level of environmental analysis and serves the same purpose - to achieve the goals of NEPA. Both require a collaborative decision making process that discloses to the public the rationale behind the transportation decision and the environmental impacts resulting from it. Feasible and appropriate mitigation of adverse impacts would occur under either approach.

The Commission recognizes the importance of this project to the local, regional, and national transportation networks and further recognizes the high level of public interest in the project. Therefore, the Commission is implementing a public outreach program that is considerably more extensive than the typical public notification requirements of an EA.