Environmental Prequalification Requirements Ohio Department of Transportation

ODOT’s Pre-Qual Areas…. - Environmental Document Preparation - EA/EIS - Environmental Document Preparation - CE - Environmental Doc. Preparation - Section 4(f) - Ecological Surveys & Wetland Delineation - Wetland Mitigation - Air Quality Analysis - Noise Analysis & Abatement Design - Archaeological Investigations - History/Architectural Investigations - ESA Screening, ESA Phase I & II - ESA Remedial Design

Requirements Update every two years or when major changes occur. Successfully complete ODOT’s training classes. ODOT looks at: Education Qualifying Experience Acceptable Documents…

Acceptable Documents “Acceptable” means documents that have been formally accepted by ODOT or transportation agencies in other states and FHWA; and, for CEs and Section 4(f) documents, must be approved documents with minimum comments or revisions. CEs and Section 4(f) documents that require multiple revisions and resubmissions will not be considered acceptable as a prequalified document.

(Note: EA/EIS, CE and Section 4(f) prequalification may be revoked if documents are continually submitted that require substantial comments and/or multiple revisions)

EA/EIS Prequal Project manager must have successfully completed ODOT’s two-week “Managing the Environmental and Transportation Development Process” course or equivalent NHI/FHWA course; and, ODOT’s one-day “Categorical Exclusion (CE) Class.

EA/EIS PreQual The project manager must have specific experience in preparation or staff member(s) with specific experience in EA/EIS preparation (*); or, Project manager or staff member(s) with specific experience in preparation of at least two (2) lower level CEs (CE-2) and any combination of at least two (2), higher level Ces (CE-3 or CE-4) - these must meet the requirements specified above.

Section 106 Successfully complete the “Section 106/National Register Eligibility” training and the “Cultural Resources Handbook” training. Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed the Code of Federal Regulations, 36CFR Part 61, Appendix A in the area of Archaeology/History.

Section 106 Personnel meeting the qualifications as defined by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office as appropriate for each level of survey (OHPO 1994: pg 37-38).

Section 106 Demonstrated knowledge of FHWA guidelines and regulations relative to archaeological/historic analysis of transportation projects. Demonstrated ability to conduct and complete all levels of acceptable surveys of archaeological/historic resources in accordance with SHPO and ODOT requirements.

ODOT’s Training Program Environmental Document Preparation - EA/EIS Environmental Document Preparation - CE Section 4(f) Ecological Surveys & Wetland Delineation Section 106- (Big picture) Section 106 Manual/Process ESA Screening, ESA Phase I & II Purpose and Need Public Involvement Environmental Update Meetings

All Classes Have Testing!!! Necessary to pass to have “successfully” taken the class. People pay attention! (No Cell phones, side-bars, etc.) Not established as a “gotcha”. For example:

From our Section 4(f) Class… Could a Final Nationwide Section 4(f) Programmatic Evaluation apply if there is minor use of a Section 4(f) property? For example, if a project will require a small amount of permanent right of way from a public park but does not affect any recreational facilities. Could a Programmatic apply? ___yes ___no

From our Section 4(f) Class… An intersection improvement project will require temporary acquisition of right of way from the playground at St. Aloysius Catholic Middle School. Would you prepare a determination of non-applicability for temporary occupancy? ___yes ___no

From our Two-Week NEPA Class… Any action that does not have a significant environmental impact may be classified as a CE. Where does the CE criteria come from? A. 36 CFR Part 800 B. Section 106 C. Section 23 CFR 771.117 D. ORC 929.05(A)

From our Section 106 Class… To meet any criteria of eligibility for the National Register, a property must have a certain amount of integrity. The aspects of integrity to be considered are: A. Location, Materials, Workmanship, setting, feeling, design B. Location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association C. Workmanship, association, materials, historic context, setting D. None of the above.

It doesn’t end with the class… Consultant evaluations for every product… Prime and Sub are rated as one! A low score requires an immediate mtg with that firm to ensure the problem isn’t repeated. Scores are used as part of our consultant selection process. Continuations of low scores will result in a removal of pre-qual status.

The Results….. It’s getting better, but not where I want it yet. Quality has certainly improved. Knowledge has certainly improved. Scopes are better Asking the right questions Still need to address the “research mindset” issue vs. “info for project decisions”.

Conclusion Quality counts!!!! This program is working, but it takes a lot of time to manage and keep it up-to-date. Training is a huge factor for ODOT and it will continue to grow over time!!!

Contact: Questions??? Contact: Timothy M. Hill – ODOT/OES-(614) 644-0377 Val Norris- ODOT/OES (614) 466-1484