As a participant in the construction and development process, your success may depend on how well you identify, analyze, and manage your environmental risks. Simply being unaware of your environmental obligations does not relieve you of your liability. This planning guide was developed in a collaborative effort between U.S. EPA and its partners. Its purpose is to help you to: Recognize the federal environmental requirements and factor in the associated expenses for the project; Designate the responsible party to fulfill these requirements; Complete the requirements by filing the necessary paperwork, performing the required activities, and obtaining the essential permits; and Identify additional sources of information to help implement these requirements throughout your project.