Wetlands and Waterways Permits Patti Caswell Statewide Wetlands/Permits Program Coordinator Geo-Environmental, ODOT

Overview 1.The main actors: DSL and the Corps 2.A recommended decision sequence to navigate the permit process 3.Avoiding permit process potholes 4.Tools and references

State Removal-Fill Law Waters of the state Essential salmon habitat Non-essential salmon habitat Permit types General Authorizations General Permits (new) Removal-Fill Permits DSL Factoids Admin. rule timeframes to issue 50 cy permit threshold in non- essential habitat DSL

Section 404 Clean Water Act Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act Waters of the U.S. 404 waters Section 10 waters Navigable waters Permit types Nationwide Regional General Individual Corps Factoids No hard timeframes to issue permits No permit volume thresholds ESA compliance critical Tribal consultation critical Corps of Engineers

Basic permit questions Do I need a permit for this project? If so, what are the requirements to obtain it? How long will it take to get?

A recommended decision sequence

1.Is the project area jurisdictional? 2.If yes, does an exemption apply? 3.If a permit is required, do we qualify for a “streamlined” permit? 4.Is mitigation required? A recommended decision sequence

1a. Jurisdiction (cartoon version) Removal-Fill Law Section 404 Tidal Waters Fresh Waters Removal-Fill Law & Section 404 Section 10 Uplands Tidelands Coastal Wetlands Streams, ponds, lakes, some ditches Freshwater Wetlands Section 10 if navigable Uplands OHWL Mean High Water High Tide Line Ground Water Line

1b. Jurisdiction example Coast Fork Bridge, I-5 Willamette River, Lane Co. High flow channel above OHW (not regulated) Upland (not regulated) OHWL Wetlands N Willamette R.

1c. Challenging jurisdictional features Roadside ditch Drainage ditch “Dry” Wetlands

2. Do exemptions apply? Culvert replacements –cleaning sediment from barrel –installing larger diameter barrel within the road prism –Not for: temporary road access fills stream realignment sand bag dams for temporary water management?

2. Do exemptions apply? Repair/maintenance of transportation structures –repair of road scour that had riprap –scour around structures that had riprap –Not for: relocating structures scour that was unprotected

3a. Do we fit a “streamlined” permit? DSL –General authorizations ~ mini individual permits –General Permits (new and untried) Corps –Nationwide Permits –Regional General Permits

3b. Permit application timing Permit target date JPA submittal time before target date (months) DSL/Corps Individual Permit GA & NWP ~ -3 wks Final JPA Items In NMFS BiOp DEQ 401 Cert DEQ SWMP SHPO OK Tribal OK

1.Avoid impacts 2.Minimize unavoidable impacts 3.Rectify temporary impacts 4.Compensate for permanent unavoidable impacts a.Mitigation banks – first priority b.Fee in lieu – second priority c.Physical mitigation site – last option unless a low cost, low risk option is available 4. Mitigation

Avoiding permit process potholes

Typical potholes Timing of wetland delineation/jurisdictional determinations Incomplete applications Negative public comments during app review Final completeness items missing before permit issuance Surprise permit conditions

Preventing violations Wetland Contract special provisions No equipment No driving No disturbance Prevent sediment discharge into NWZ No work zone Construction Fencing

For detailed info— ODOT Geo-Environmental E-guide – ONMENTAL/e_guide.shtmlhttp:// ONMENTAL/e_guide.shtml ODOT Geo-Environmental Wetlands and Permits Manual – AL/ AL/

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