Environmental Process and Overview for Transportation Project Development

1. EnvironmentalProcess and Overview for Transportation Project Development Presented by: Jim Cox

2. Desired Outcome • Describe the organization of the Environmental Section • Review the three environmental classifications for projects • Identify the critical issues that can delay projects • Identify project actions that are likely to require help from Environmental Services

4. Governing Directives • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 • Define needs and solution(s) • Identify sensitive resources and impacts • Invite public and agency review • Refine proposals • Other Federal Laws • Transportation. Act, 1966 - Section 4(f) • Federal Aid Highway Act , 1970 - Noise • Clean Air Act, 1970 • Endangered Species Act, 1973 • Clean Water Act, 1977 • RCRA, 1976 and CERCLA, 1980 • TEA 21, 1998 • Federal Policies • Wetlands, Floodplains, Environ. Justice • State and Local Laws and Policies • Land Use, Right of Way, Wetlands, Forestry

5. ODOT Environmental Setup • Technical Services • Environmental Section • Engineering • Noise, Air, Energy, and Historic Cultural Resources • Research • Biology, Water Quality, and Wetlands • Project Coordination • Land Use, Socioeconomics, Manages EIS’ and EA’s, CE’s (Region Environmental Coordinators), Permits

6. Region Environmental Coordinators • Region 1: Richard Beck and Lisa Hemesath • Region 2: Melissa Fricke and Brian Bauman • Region 3: Max Mizejewski and Jerry Marmon • Region 4: Gary Larson and Teresa Brasfield • Region 5: Chuck Howe and Rick Jerofke

7. Project Prospectus • Parts 1 and 2 - Identify problem, describes solution and project details • Part 3 - Provides environmental information • Prepared during scoping, so it is only as good as the project description • Identifies environmental work, use the Environmental Actions Checklist • Needs to be updated when the project changes • May provide initial estimate of environmental budget • May have names of agency contacts • Includes a location map • Part 4 - Identifies Budget

8. Project Classes(Is an EIS needed?) • Class 1 - Yes Environmental Impact Statement • 1% to 3% of projects • Class 2 - No Categorical Exclusion • 93% + of projects • Class 3 - Maybe Environmental Assessment • 3% to 7% of projects *Note: All Projects are treated as if federally funded to maintain eligibility

9. Class 1Environmental Impact Statement • Complex and Controversial Projects (Significant Impacts) • Time: 3 to 5+ years • Cost: Estimate $500,000 • Will have: • Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) • Public Hearing • Decision Statement • Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) • Record of Decision (ROD) • Examples • Bend Parkway, W. Eugene Parkway, South Medford Interchange

10. Class 2Categorical Exclusions(Action will not have Significant Impacts) • No EIS or EA Required • May require environmental work • Wetlands • T & E fish • Historic preservation • Noise Analysis • Examples • Overlays • Minor curve re-alignment • Signing

11. Class 3Environmental Assessments • EA determines if there is a need to do an EIS • Focuses on Major Impacts • Time: 2 years • Cost: $80,000 - $200,000 • Requires a “finding of no significant impact” or EIS is done • Helps in evaluating alternatives • Controversial projects may need an EA to document decision process • Examples • Realignment or adding lanes • Intersection to interchange • Federally managed lands ie. BLM and USFS

12. What’s Needed to StartEnvironmental Work • Purpose and need • Prospectus part 1, problem definition and justification • One or more build alternatives • Prospectus part 2, project details • Preliminary Design • Survey Data/DTM • Cut and fill lines • Existing and proposed R/W lines • Traffic analysis • Preliminary R/W report • Maps and drawings of project

13. EIS or EA Process • Scoping or reconnaissance • Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) or Stakeholder Group Involvement • Regular Project Team Meetings and Minutes • Public Information Meetings • Technical Reports • Publish draft EIS or EA • Public Hearing • Respond to public/agency comments • Revise design/update technical reports • Decision document • Land use actions, Biological Opinion • Final EIS or Revised EA • Record of Decision or FONSI

14. Public Involvement • Early in process • Community Based Solutions • Involve key stakeholders

15. Environmental Analysis may include: Noise Energy (EIS mainly) Water Quality/Quantity Historic Resources 4(f) and 6(f) Socio-economics Floodplains Aesthetics Geology Traffic Costs Air Quality Hazardous Materials Wetlands Biology-Fish, Wildlife and Plants Archaeology Land Use Environmental Justice Right of Way Impacts Source/Fill Sites Direct, indirect and cumulative impacts

16. Biology • Threatened or Endangered Plants and Animals and species proposed for listing • State and Federal lists • Sensitive species on National Forests (PETS) • 77 old growth related species on BLM land and National Forests in the range of the spotted owl (Survey and Managed Species) • Noxious Weeds • Regulating agencies: USFWS, NMFS, ODF&W, and ODAG

17. Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds • A) to the maximum extent practicable minimize and mitigate adverse effects of the actions on salmonids or the habitat they depend on; and • B) not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of salmonids in the wild. • Project Impacts • Passage: bridges or culverts • Habitat: riprap, vegetation removal • Water Quality: erosion control, highway runoff, in-water work periods

18. 1) Introduction 2) Evaluation Methods 3) Project Description 4) Natural History and Species Occurrence 5) Baseline Conditions 6) Analysis of Effect 7) Conservation Measures 8) Interrelated, Interdependent, and Cumulative Effects 9) Mitigation 10) Finding of Effect What’s in a BA?

19. 1) Introduction 2) Evaluation Methods 3) Project Description 4) Natural History and Species Occurrence 5) Baseline Conditions 6) Analysis of Effect 7) Conservation Measures 8) Interrelated, Interdependent, and Cumulative Effects 9) Mitigation 10) Finding of Effect OK, but what do I have to pay attention to?

20. No Effect

21. “Not Likely To Adversely Affect” (NLAA) Finding* • “...effects on the species and/or critical habitat are expected to be beneficial, discountable, or insignificant.” Possible Examples of “NLAA” actions are: • Minimal In-Water Work • Insignificant Riparian Loss • Driving Limited Pilings in Water • Minimal Sediment Production • *Subject to interpretation by NMFS • BA is necessary

23. “Likely to Adversely Affect” (LAA) Finding* “…more than a negligible potential to have adverse effects on the species and/or their critical habitat(s).” • Possible Examples of “LAA” actions are: • Equipment in Water • Excavating Toe Trench in Water • Rip Rap Placement in Water • Significant Riparian Loss • Significant Sediment Production *Subject to interpretation y NMFS BA is necessary

26. If changes are necessary • Contact REC or ODOT Biologist if changes will result in activities or impacts not covered in BA or BO • Bio may need to contact Regulator to discuss additional mitigation or conservation measures • Consultation may have to be reinitiated

27. Most Important!!! Read and become familiar with BA’s, BO’s and Specifications.

28. Wetlands • “Avoid, minimize, mitigate” • ODOT must show: • that there is no practicable alternative to impacts, • and that project includes all practicable measures to minimize harm

29. Wetlands (continued) • No permit, no project • ACE, FHWA, EPA, NMFS, USFWS, ODOT, DSL, DEQ, DLCD, ODFW must agree on project (CEAP) • Early coordination important • Criteria • Standing water and saturated soils • Wetland plants • Wetland soils

30. Wetlands (continued) • Common problem: putting excess material in low spots and construction access • Estuarine wetlands especially sensitive • When is a roadside ditch a wetland? • Natural drainage captured by roadside ditch • Highway constructed across wetland

31. Water Resources and Quality • Bridge Project or Near Creek • Many streams have water quality limited designation • Ask region environmentalist • No direct highway runoff (scuppers) • Vegetated slopes one of best tools • ADT of 30,000 sort of threshold for runoff impact • In-water work restrictions • NPDES permits 1200ca

32. Floodplains and Floodways • “Avoid, minimize, mitigate” • “Only practicable alternative” • FEMA defines but local governments regulate • May require proof that project will not increase base flood elevation • Floodway and Floodplain • Timeline for approval

33. Archaeology • Many potential sites • Three phases: • Phase 1 - Data search, walkthrough • Phase 2 - Subsurface testing • Phase 3 - Full scale recovery

34. Archaeology (continued) • Most problems during construction • Early tribal contact is important • ODOT archaeologist and U of O • Cost for each Phase

35. Section 4(f) ResourcesHistoric Resources, Parks, Refuges • Historic Resources • Eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places • State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) determines eligibility • 50 years old • Associated with historic event or person • Distinctive design - bridges • Historic districts • Wildlife Refuges • Publicly owned

37. Section 4(f)(continued) • Parks and Recreation Areas • Public • Usually Developed (not multiple use lands) • Trails, Wild and Scenic Rivers • Only Federally funded projects • No prudent or feasible alternative • Avoid, minimize, relocate, reuse • Constructive Use - noise impacts • Programmatic if managing agency agrees impact is insignificant

38. Land Use/Planning • Prospectus part 3 does not identify all land use permits • Discuss project with city and county planners to find out what permits are required • Project must comply with statewide planning goals, especially goals for protecting farm and forest lands • Start work early with Region’s Planner

39. Land Use Planning • Landowner must sign application in some counties • Goal Exceptions - 1 year+ • Conditional Uses - 6 months • Project leader responsible for acquiring permits

40. Noise • Concerns • Traffic and construction • FHWA noise (dBA) impact criteria • 65 dBA or 10 dBA increase • primarily outdoor residential areas • Night time noise variances for construction in urban areas

41. Noise (continued) • Mitigation • Construction vs. Permanent • Walls, berms • Can be expensive • Zoning important • Landowners approve • Cost/Benefit

42. Hazardous Materials • GEOHydro Responsible • Avoid the known problem areas - superfund sites • Long delays due to liability issues and regulatory process (ROW) • Many sites are registered • History/use of property key factors • Underground storage tanks • Fuel contaminated soil • Landowner should clean up any HazMat prior to acquisition • Worker safety/utility trenching concerns

43. Air Quality • Must consider when: • Project is in nonattainment or maintenance area,or • Has ADT of 42,500 • Environmental Class 1 or 3 • Pollutants of concern for Oregon: • Suspended particulate matter (PM10) • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Ozone (O3)

44. Air Quality (continued) • Projects must conform to air quality plan if they add capacity • Project conformity for CO and PM10 may be required for intersection projects (signalization), changes in alignment, weigh stations, bus terminals, etc.

45. Air Quality Planning Areas • Eugene - Springfield (PM10 & CO) • Medford - Ashland (PM10) • Medford (CO) • Klamath Falls (PM10 & CO) • Grants Pass (PM10 & CO) • LaGrande (PM10) • Oakridge (PM10) • Portland (CO & O3) • Salem - Keizer (CO & O3) • Lakeview (PM10)

46. Socio-economics • Economic impacts on businesses (temporary and permanent) by changing access, parking, etc • Economic impacts on local economy ie. loss of taxbase, labor market • Impacts on communities; loss of cohesion, changes in access • Environmental Justice; Disproportionate impact on minority or low-income populations

47. Critical Issues • Require examination of alternatives that avoid impacts • Change project design • May require high dollar mitigation • Delay project if not addressed early

48. Critical Environmental Items • Threatened and endangered species • Section 4(f) Resources ; historic resources, parks, refuges, recreation areas • Wetlands • Floodplains or Floodways • Land Use Planning • Hazardous Material Sites • Noise

49. General Comments • Start with best engineering and safety • Look for opportunities to avoid adverse impacts • Look for opportunities to implement the Salmon and Watershed Plan • Regional Environmental Coordinators and PM’s are there to help you get the project done. • Document decisions to dismiss alternatives

50. General Comments • Do not include build alternative unless willing to build it • Construction phasing frequently overlooked • Railroad negotiations are “slow” • Can make minor changes in final design but keep the PM or REC informed