Managing Environmental Compliance for ODOT’s OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program: Many Regulations – One Framework Michelle Eraut Environmental Program Manager Federal Highway Administration—Oregon Division 530 Center Street, NE, Suite 100 Salem, Oregon 97301 503/587-4716 Michelle.Eraut@fhwa.dot.gov Title and presenter

OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program $2.5 billion transportation package Enacted by 2003 Legislature (House Bill 2041) Largest investment in Oregon transportation infrastructure in 50 years Includes $1.3 billion to repair or replace almost 400 bridges on the state highway system OTIA III Background

Program Stages – 365+ Bridges Range – throughout Oregon, each ecoprovince

OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program Goals 5 OTIA III Program Goals We will focus on “build projects…”

Environmental Stewardship Program Framework 5 OTIA III Goals Environmental Performance Standards Programmatics: Regional General Permit (Corps) General Authorization (Department of State Lands) Biological Opinion (USFWS and NMFS) Memorandum of Understanding (FHWA, USFS, BLM) Documented Categorical Exclusions (with baselines) The OTIA III Environmental Stewardship Program was founded on or supported by the 5 OTIA III Program Goals The mission was to build “green” bridges Therefore, Environmental Performance Standards were developed, which outline limitations on the range of effects to natural resources These standards were used as the Proposed Action description and later, terms and conditions, for the Programmatic Permitting Process developed for the Program. The EPS provide a SINGLE set of T&Cs for ALL the programmatics

Environmental Performance Standards Elements Goal What does success look like? Threshold Statement Relevant to my project? Objectives How do I measure success? Means, Methods, or Materials How can I achieve success? Compliance Documentation How do I document success? Elements of an EPS Goals of resource and regulatory agencies MMM – not always prescriptive, these are the ‘proven’, ‘standard’, ‘accepted’ practices

Environmental Performance Standards What do they cover? Program Administration Species Habitat Water Quality Site Restoration Compensatory Mitigation Fluvial Only 7 original regulatory EPS Species (note picture – fish, wildlife, invertebrates, plants)

ODOT Organization Program Manager OBDP came on with the Environmental Stewardship Program framework drafted OBDP is the OTIA III Program Managers OBDP is a joint venture of HDR and Fluor

Environmental Stewardship Tools Overview EMS-type framework and model Arrow starts at permitting, leads to design and concludes with construction. EDMS is throughout that process TOOLS

Planning Tools Overview Communication Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) Permitting Programmatic Agreement Reporting and Implementation Team (PARIT) Design Pre-Construction Assessment (PCA) Construction Field verification via electronic handhelds (PDAs) EMS-type framework and model Arrow starts at permitting, leads to design and concludes with construction. EDMS is throughout that process TOOLS

Planning Tools Communication Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) Web-based (accessible anywhere and anytime) Controlled access (sensitive resources) Searchable (by title and body) Fuzzy bunny slippers example

Planning Tools Permitting Our Challenge 7 Untested Environmental Performance Standards + 4 Undeveloped Environmental Performance Standards + 3 Unique Programmatic Permits Our Solution (equals) 1 PARIT Only the framework was drafted We still had a lot of work to do We developed and facilitate the PARIT Some of called this – extreme collaboration… Programmatic Agreements Reporting and Implementation Team

Planning Tools Permitting Mission of the PARIT: Facilitate the successful implementation of the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program’s Environmental Stewardship Program Goals: Develop effective communication protocols Develop effective monitoring & reporting procedures Calibrate understanding of permitting process, compliance, and environmental performance standard intent Refine the permitting process to better achieve the missions and goals of all involved agencies Adaptive Management Continuously Refine, Evaluate and Improve the Program Ensure we meet goals of all agencies involved

Planning Tools Permitting PARIT 10+ agency participants (liaisons) Two working meetings per month One with “Project” focus One with “Program” focus One Annual Coordination Meeting Reporting Evaluating Improving More than 10 agencies represented Meet nearly bi-weekly Meet annually with executive management at each agency

Planning Tools Design Pre-Construction Assessment (PCA) Single programmatic permitting application From issue identification (effect) to resolution (specs) Agency-friendly output Metrics tracking EPS – single set of T&C PCA – single application, linked to Environmental database

Planning Tools Construction Field verification via electronic handhelds (PDAs) Linked to EDMS (transparency) Environmental database Fast, paperless Compliance is important element of Stewardship

Stewardship Success!!! Coast Fork Willamette River Bridge First bridge replaced… Complied with Environmental Performance Standards Reduced permitting by 100+ days Reduced cost by $1+ Million Pleased Contractor, ODOT, and Permitting Agencies Sensitive to fluvial landscape, wildlife passage Avoided long-term adverse effects ESA from 135 days to 30 days Saved time, allowing reuse of detour structure Completely recovered cost of all ESA programmatic work with FIRST PROJECT OUT THE DOOR (year 1) Contracting and regulatory community ecstatic as well

Conclusion Environmental Stewardship Building projects sensitive to their communities and landscape through: Integrating Environmental Performance Standards Communicating with Permitting Agencies Evaluating Performance Improving Our Process Back to CS3

Questions? Michelle Eraut Environmental Program Manager Michelle.Eraut@fhwa.dot.gov Federal Highway Administration 530 Center Street, NE, Suite 100 Salem, Oregon 97301 503.587.4716 Title and presenter