Environmental Scoping Guidance Jerry Vogt Region Environmental Coordinator ODOT – Region 3

Objectives Raise awareness of the potential for environmental permits and clearances Raise awareness of the potential for environmental permits and clearances Identify the types of permits and clearances that might be required Identify the types of permits and clearances that might be required Identify the types of construction activities that may trigger the need for additional study or a permit Identify the types of construction activities that may trigger the need for additional study or a permit

Session Topics Benefits of Environmental Scoping Benefits of Environmental Scoping Types of resources that require permits/clearances Types of resources that require permits/clearances Activities that trigger permits and clearances Activities that trigger permits and clearances

Benefits of Environmental Scoping Better cost estimates when preparing grant applications or funding requests Better cost estimates when preparing grant applications or funding requests Gives project team an idea of the types of environmental disciplines that will be needed Gives project team an idea of the types of environmental disciplines that will be needed Aids in preparation of prospectus Part 3 Aids in preparation of prospectus Part 3 Used in the development of scopes of work for environmental consultants Used in the development of scopes of work for environmental consultants Better avoidance/minimization of impacts Better avoidance/minimization of impacts ELIMINATES SURPRISES!!! ELIMINATES SURPRISES!!!

Environmental Disciplines Air Quality Air Quality Archaeology Archaeology Biology Biology Floodplain/Floodway Floodplain/Floodway Land Use Land Use Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials Historic Resources Historic Resources Parks 4(f) and 6(f) Parks 4(f) and 6(f) Traffic Noise Socioeconomic/ Environmental Justice Visual Resources Water Quality Wetlands Waterways Other Permits

Environmental Disciplines The environmental disciplines needed for a project will depend on the size and type of project and the resources present The environmental disciplines needed for a project will depend on the size and type of project and the resources present Focus of this presentation is on CatEx projects Focus of this presentation is on CatEx projects

Air Quality In Air Quality Maintenance or Non-Attainment Area Regional air quality analysis (Usually done by MPO) Regional air quality analysis (Usually done by MPO) Project-level air quality analysis Project-level air quality analysis Signalization Signalization Channelization Channelization Add capacity Add capacity

Archaeology Projects that involve any ground disturbing activities Projects that involve any ground disturbing activities Includes work within existing roadways and previously disturbed areas Includes work within existing roadways and previously disturbed areas Surveys include pedestrian, subsurface probing, construction monitoring & data recovery Surveys include pedestrian, subsurface probing, construction monitoring & data recovery

Biology Evaluate impacts to listed species Evaluate impacts to listed species No Effect No Effect Biological Assessment Biological Assessment Programmatic BO Programmatic BO Listed Fish: Listed Fish: Work within stream channel will likely require BA or Programmatic BO Work within stream channel will likely require BA or Programmatic BO BA could be needed to assess stormwater impacts BA could be needed to assess stormwater impacts

Biology, continued Listed Plants Listed Plants Plant surveys are needed for projects involving ground disturbing activities Plant surveys are needed for projects involving ground disturbing activities Biological Evaluation and consultation with USFWS needed if project will impact listed plants Biological Evaluation and consultation with USFWS needed if project will impact listed plants Listed Wildlife Listed Wildlife BA needed if project is located within or near critical habitat BA needed if project is located within or near critical habitat Even if project has no effect, documentation is still required to justify determination

Floodplain/Floodway Projects that involve work within a floodplain may require review/approval by local planning department Projects that involve work within a floodplain may require review/approval by local planning department May require hydraulic analysis May require hydraulic analysis

Land Use Projects that: impact protected land use zonings (Exclusive Farm Use, Open Space Reserve, Forest) impact protected land use zonings (Exclusive Farm Use, Open Space Reserve, Forest) displace buildings displace buildings construct new road through resource lands construct new road through resource lands create new land parcels create new land parcels

Hazardous Materials All projects should be evaluated for the presence of hazardous materials All projects should be evaluated for the presence of hazardous materials Level of evaluation will be determined by proximity of known sites or probability of contamination of project area Level of evaluation will be determined by proximity of known sites or probability of contamination of project area Can include asbestos or lead paint on old bridges or in old buildings Can include asbestos or lead paint on old bridges or in old buildings

Historic Resources All projects should be evaluated for historic resources All projects should be evaluated for historic resources Any buildings, bridges or other structures over 50 years old may be historic Any buildings, bridges or other structures over 50 years old may be historic Documentation requirements will vary depending on presence/absence of resources and severity of impacts Documentation requirements will vary depending on presence/absence of resources and severity of impacts

Parks – 4(f) and 6(f) 4(f) Evaluation needed for: Projects that receive FHWA funding and Projects that receive FHWA funding and “Use” parks, wildlife refuges, recreational areas and historic sites “Use” parks, wildlife refuges, recreational areas and historic sites 6(f) Evaluation needed for: Conversion of lands that have received LWC funds Conversion of lands that have received LWC funds These evaluations can require extensive coordination with FHWA, resource managers and National Park Service

Traffic Noise Significant shift in horizontal or vertical alignment of highway Significant shift in horizontal or vertical alignment of highway Construction of new roadway on a new alignment Construction of new roadway on a new alignment Removal of noise-shielding topographic features Removal of noise-shielding topographic features Construction of additional through travel lanes that increase capacity Construction of additional through travel lanes that increase capacity

Socioeconomic/Environmental Justice Benefits of a project should be stated Benefits of a project should be stated Project should be evaluated to determine if there are disproportionate adverse impacts to Environmental Justice populations (low- income, minority, elderly) Project should be evaluated to determine if there are disproportionate adverse impacts to Environmental Justice populations (low- income, minority, elderly) Determine if project will disrupt or divide an established community or neighborhood. Determine if project will disrupt or divide an established community or neighborhood.

Visual Resources Coordination on visual resources may be needed for projects: Coordination on visual resources may be needed for projects: Within a State Scenic Waterway Corridor (OPRD) Within a State Scenic Waterway Corridor (OPRD) Within a Wild and Scenic River Corridor (BLM/USFS) Within a Wild and Scenic River Corridor (BLM/USFS) Within a Scenic Byway (BLM/USFS/ODF) Within a Scenic Byway (BLM/USFS/ODF)

Water Quality Stormwater Management Plan Stormwater Management Plan Project requires Corps permit Project requires Corps permit Project adds impervious surface area Project adds impervious surface area Changes runoff patterns to receiving waterways Changes runoff patterns to receiving waterways May need to include both water quality treatment and detention May need to include both water quality treatment and detention

Wetlands Wetland determination Wetland determination Wetland delineation (for unavoidable wetland impacts) Wetland delineation (for unavoidable wetland impacts) Corps/DSL Permits Corps/DSL Permits Compensatory Wetland Mitigation Compensatory Wetland Mitigation

Waterways Includes streams, some ditches, irrigation canals, lakes Includes streams, some ditches, irrigation canals, lakes Permits are required for placement of fill material or removal of material (Corps/DSL) Permits are required for placement of fill material or removal of material (Corps/DSL) Instream Work Period Instream Work Period

Other Permits & Approvals Fish Passage Plan Approval (ODFW) Fish Passage Plan Approval (ODFW) Tree Removal Permits Tree Removal Permits Riparian Vegetation Permits Riparian Vegetation Permits Noise variance for night work Noise variance for night work Farmland Conversion Impact Rating (NRCS) Farmland Conversion Impact Rating (NRCS) 1200-C Permit for construction (DEQ) 1200-C Permit for construction (DEQ)

Summary With few exceptions, all Federal Aid projects will require some type of documentation for historic resources, archaeology, biology, Hazmat, and water quality With few exceptions, all Federal Aid projects will require some type of documentation for historic resources, archaeology, biology, Hazmat, and water quality For more information on environmental permits and clearances, refer to the Local Agency Guidelines Manual at: For more information on environmental permits and clearances, refer to the Local Agency Guidelines Manual at: