Environmental Environmental Scoping Scoping

GuidanceGuidanceJerry VogtJerry Vogt

Region Environmental CoordinatorRegion Environmental Coordinator

ODOT – Region 3ODOT – Region 3

ObjectivesObjectives

Raise awareness of the potential for Raise awareness of the potential for environmental permits and environmental permits and clearancesclearances

Identify the types of permits and Identify the types of permits and clearances that might be requiredclearances that might be required

Identify the types of construction Identify the types of construction activities that may trigger the need activities that may trigger the need for additional study or a permitfor additional study or a permit

Session TopicsSession Topics

Benefits of Environmental ScopingBenefits of Environmental Scoping

Types of resources that require Types of resources that require permits/clearancespermits/clearances

Activities that trigger permits and Activities that trigger permits and clearancesclearances

Benefits of Environmental Benefits of Environmental ScopingScoping

Better cost estimates when preparing Better cost estimates when preparing grant applications or funding requestsgrant applications or funding requests

Gives project team an idea of the types of Gives project team an idea of the types of environmental disciplines that will be environmental disciplines that will be neededneeded

Aids in preparation of prospectus Part 3Aids in preparation of prospectus Part 3 Used in the development of scopes of Used in the development of scopes of

work for environmental consultantswork for environmental consultants Better avoidance/minimization of impactsBetter avoidance/minimization of impacts ELIMINATES SURPRISES!!!ELIMINATES SURPRISES!!!

Environmental Environmental DisciplinesDisciplines

Air QualityAir Quality ArchaeologyArchaeology BiologyBiology Floodplain/FloodwayFloodplain/Floodway Land UseLand Use Hazardous MaterialsHazardous Materials Historic ResourcesHistoric Resources Parks 4(f) and 6(f)Parks 4(f) and 6(f)

Traffic NoiseTraffic Noise Socioeconomic/ Socioeconomic/

Environmental Environmental JusticeJustice

Visual ResourcesVisual Resources Water QualityWater Quality WetlandsWetlands WaterwaysWaterways Other PermitsOther Permits

Environmental Environmental DisciplinesDisciplines

The environmental The environmental disciplines needed for disciplines needed for a project will depend a project will depend on the size and type of on the size and type of project and the project and the resources presentresources present

Focus of this Focus of this presentation is on presentation is on CatEx projectsCatEx projects

Air QualityAir Quality

In Air Quality In Air Quality Maintenance or Non-Maintenance or Non-

Attainment AreaAttainment Area Regional air quality Regional air quality

analysis (Usually analysis (Usually done by MPO)done by MPO)

Project-level air Project-level air quality analysisquality analysis SignalizationSignalization ChannelizationChannelization Add capacityAdd capacity

ArchaeologyArchaeology Projects that involve Projects that involve anyany ground disturbing ground disturbing activitiesactivities

Includes work within Includes work within existing roadways and existing roadways and previously disturbed previously disturbed areasareas

Surveys include Surveys include pedestrian, subsurface pedestrian, subsurface probing, construction probing, construction monitoring & data monitoring & data recoveryrecovery

BiologyBiology Evaluate impacts to Evaluate impacts to

listed specieslisted species No EffectNo Effect Biological AssessmentBiological Assessment Programmatic BOProgrammatic BO

Listed Fish:Listed Fish: Work within stream Work within stream

channel will likely channel will likely require BA or require BA or Programmatic BOProgrammatic BO

BA could be needed BA could be needed to assess stormwater to assess stormwater impactsimpacts

Biology, continuedBiology, continued Listed PlantsListed Plants

Plant surveys are needed Plant surveys are needed for projects involving for projects involving ground disturbing ground disturbing activitiesactivities

Biological Evaluation and Biological Evaluation and consultation with USFWS consultation with USFWS needed if project will needed if project will impact listed plantsimpact listed plants

Listed WildlifeListed Wildlife BA needed if project is BA needed if project is

located within or near located within or near critical habitatcritical habitat

Even if project has no effect, Even if project has no effect, documentation is still required documentation is still required to justify determinationto justify determination

Floodplain/FloodwayFloodplain/Floodway

Projects that Projects that involve work involve work within a floodplain within a floodplain may require may require review/approval by review/approval by local planning local planning departmentdepartment

May require May require hydraulic analysishydraulic analysis

Land UseLand Use

Projects that:Projects that: impact protected land impact protected land

use zonings (Exclusive use zonings (Exclusive Farm Use, Open Space Farm Use, Open Space Reserve, Forest) Reserve, Forest)

displace buildingsdisplace buildings construct new road construct new road

through resource through resource landslands

create new land create new land parcelsparcels

Hazardous MaterialsHazardous Materials All projects should be All projects should be

evaluated for the evaluated for the presence of hazardous presence of hazardous materialsmaterials

Level of evaluation will Level of evaluation will be determined by be determined by proximity of known sites proximity of known sites or probability of or probability of contamination of project contamination of project areaarea

Can include asbestos or Can include asbestos or lead paint on old bridges lead paint on old bridges or in old buildingsor in old buildings

Historic ResourcesHistoric Resources All projects should be All projects should be

evaluated for historic evaluated for historic resources resources

Any buildings, bridges Any buildings, bridges or other structures over or other structures over 50 years old may be 50 years old may be historichistoric

Documentation Documentation requirements will vary requirements will vary depending on depending on presence/absence of presence/absence of resources and severity resources and severity of impactsof impacts

Parks – 4(f) and 6(f)Parks – 4(f) and 6(f)4(f) Evaluation needed 4(f) Evaluation needed

for:for: Projects that receive Projects that receive

FHWA funding andFHWA funding and ““Use” parks, wildlife Use” parks, wildlife

refuges, recreational refuges, recreational areas and historic sitesareas and historic sites

6(f) Evaluation needed 6(f) Evaluation needed for:for:

Conversion of lands Conversion of lands that have received that have received LWC fundsLWC funds

These evaluations can require These evaluations can require extensive coordination with extensive coordination with FHWA, resource managers and FHWA, resource managers and National Park ServiceNational Park Service

Traffic NoiseTraffic Noise Significant shift in Significant shift in

horizontal or vertical horizontal or vertical alignment of highwayalignment of highway

Construction of new Construction of new roadway on a new roadway on a new alignmentalignment

Removal of noise-Removal of noise-shielding topographic shielding topographic featuresfeatures

Construction of Construction of additional through additional through travel lanes that travel lanes that increase capacityincrease capacity

Socioeconomic/Socioeconomic/Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice

Benefits of a project Benefits of a project should be statedshould be stated

Project should be Project should be evaluated to determine evaluated to determine if there are if there are disproportionate disproportionate adverse impacts to adverse impacts to Environmental Justice Environmental Justice populations (low-income, populations (low-income, minority, elderly)minority, elderly)

Determine if project will Determine if project will disrupt or divide an disrupt or divide an established community established community or neighborhood.or neighborhood.

Visual ResourcesVisual Resources

Coordination on visual Coordination on visual resources may be resources may be needed for projects:needed for projects:

Within a State Scenic Within a State Scenic Waterway Corridor Waterway Corridor (OPRD)(OPRD)

Within a Wild and Within a Wild and Scenic River Corridor Scenic River Corridor (BLM/USFS)(BLM/USFS)

Within a Scenic Byway Within a Scenic Byway (BLM/USFS/ODF)(BLM/USFS/ODF)

Water QualityWater Quality

Stormwater Stormwater Management Plan Management Plan

Project requires Corps Project requires Corps permitpermit

Project adds impervious Project adds impervious surface areasurface area

Changes runoff patterns Changes runoff patterns to receiving waterwaysto receiving waterways

May need to include May need to include both water quality both water quality treatment and detentiontreatment and detention

WetlandsWetlands

Wetland Wetland determinationdetermination

Wetland Wetland delineation (for delineation (for unavoidable unavoidable wetland impacts)wetland impacts)

Corps/DSL PermitsCorps/DSL Permits Compensatory Compensatory

Wetland MitigationWetland Mitigation

WaterwaysWaterways

Includes streams, Includes streams, some ditches, some ditches, irrigation canals, irrigation canals, lakeslakes

Permits are required Permits are required for placement of fill for placement of fill material or removal material or removal of material of material (Corps/DSL)(Corps/DSL)

Instream Work Instream Work PeriodPeriod

Other Permits & Other Permits & ApprovalsApprovals

Fish Passage Plan Approval (ODFW)Fish Passage Plan Approval (ODFW) Tree Removal PermitsTree Removal Permits Riparian Vegetation PermitsRiparian Vegetation Permits Noise variance for night workNoise variance for night work Farmland Conversion Impact Rating Farmland Conversion Impact Rating

(NRCS)(NRCS) 1200-C Permit for construction 1200-C Permit for construction

(DEQ)(DEQ)

SummarySummary

With few exceptions, all Federal Aid With few exceptions, all Federal Aid projects will require some type of projects will require some type of documentation for historic resources, documentation for historic resources, archaeology, biology, Hazmat, and archaeology, biology, Hazmat, and water qualitywater quality

For more information on environmental For more information on environmental permits and clearances, refer to the permits and clearances, refer to the Local Agency Guidelines Manual at:Local Agency Guidelines Manual at:

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/LGS/Certification.shtml#LAG_Manualhttp://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/LGS/Certification.shtml#LAG_Manual