1. Other Resources
Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

2. Project Initiation Package
Farmland Process
Project Initiation Package
Field Investigations
Non-Urbanized Area
Meets MOU
FCIR Form NO
Urbanized Area
YES
Agency Coordination
NEPA Document
[2] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

3. Agricultural District Process
Project Initiation Package
Field Investigations
Agricultural District
YES NO
Meets
ORC (a) NO
YES
Agency Coordination
NEPA Document
[3] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

4. Why So Important? Agriculture the #1 industry in Ohio
More than $107 billion annually
Nearly 1 million employees
[4] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

5. Federal Law Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) of 1981
Established by Congress
Requires federal agencies to be compatible with programs and policies to protect farmland
Local, State, and private
Projects sponsored or financed in whole or in part by the federal government
Highways
Airports
Dams
Federal Buildings
[5] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

6. State Law Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 929.05
Ohio’s Farmland Preservation Act
Projects that take 10% or 10 acres (whichever is greater) from any individual property within an agricultural district require coordination
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)
Utility and emergency repair projects exempt
[6] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

7. Farmland MOU Between NRCS and ODOT Executed March 2016
In accordance with the FPPA and 7 CFR 658
Establishes a process to determine which Federal- Aid highway projects require NRCS coordination
Projects that meet MOU criteria are processed with no further coordination required
Discuss in NEPA document
Standard language provided by OES
[7] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

8. MOU Criteria Projects that require no new right-of-way
Bridge replacement projects that require right-of-way of three acres or less (permanent/temporary)
Includes piers, wingwalls, and/or approach work
Widening projects involving linear strip right-of-way of 10 acres or less per linear mile (permanent/temporary)
Intersection improvements requiring conversion of 3 acres or less of right-of-way (permanent/temporary)
Use of any amount of temporary right-of-way providing land being used is returned to equal or greater productive capability
[8] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

9. Coordination
If MOU criteria exceeded, completion of FCIR (Farmland Conversion Impact Rating) Form required
OES coordinates with NRCS
Determines if significant impacts to prime or unique farmland will occur
No formal coordination if score is less than 60
All documentation required in Project File
[9] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

10. D-Listed CEs - Remarks
Discuss how project complies with MOU or results of coordination
Standard language provided by OES
On corridor projects, the scoring process of the FCIR must be discussed for each build alternative
If ORC (a) threshold exceeded:
Discuss impacts
Identify properties within Agricultural District
Possible coordination with ODA
[10] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

11. D-Listed CEs - Remarks
Include acreage of agricultural land to be taken
Indicate current use of agricultural land, if known
Cropland, fallow land, pasture
Identify and discuss known conservation easements
May require a higher level of coordination
Indicate if field tile drainage is present
Discuss measures to avoid/minimize harm
Include as environmental commitments
[11] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

12. D-Listed CEs - Remarks Discuss impact to farming operations, if any
Farm structures, storage or staging areas
Quantify landlocked parcels
Consider indirect and cumulative development
For large corridor projects
How project will impact regional farm economy
Amount of farmland to be converted to other uses as a result of the project
Reduction of support services, which may adversely affect remaining farms
[12] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

13. Other Resources Tab - EnviroNet

14. Project File Documentation can include:
USGS Topo Quad Map (upload to General)
U.S. Census Urbanized Area Map
FCIR Form
OES and/or NRCS Correspondence
Ohio Department of Agriculture Coordination
Follow ODOT NEPA File Management and Documentation Guidance
[14] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

15. Contacts Doug App – NEPA Document Coordinatoror
Kevin Davis – OES Policy Supervisor or
[15] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

16. Other Resources Drinking Water
Other Resources
Drinking Water

17. Present, No Coordination Required
Process Overview
Project Initiation Package
Field Investigations
Not Present or
Present, No Coordination Required
Coordination
NEPA
Document
[17] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

18. Role & Responsibilities
OES provides oversight on projects that impact community water resources
Monitors new rule making and legislation
Serves as liaison to regulatory agencies
Provides training
Provides assistance to districts and consultants
Districts responsible for identification/coordination
[18] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

19. Water Resource Types Residential Wells Public Water Systems
Residential Wells
Public Water Systems
Ground and Surface Water
Wellhead Protection Areas
Sole Source Aquifers
[19] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

20. Identification Where the intake of raw water occurs
Where the intake of raw water occurs
Water lines are not drinking water resources
OEPA and/or ODOT GIS mapping
[20] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

21. Residential Water Wells
No removal = No coordination
Removal = Commitments and likely coordination
Mapping is limited or non-existent
ODNR Well Logs
ODNR Division of Water
Local Health Department
[21] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

22. Residential Water Wells
Coordination with owner not required
Removals will require an environmental commitment
Drilling a new well
Providing connection to a public water supply
If neither is feasible, property/dwelling may be acquired
Impacted wells are abandoned in accordance with ODNR’s Guidelines for Sealing Unused Wells
[22] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

23. Public Water Systems Approximately 6,200 in Ohio
Over 95% use a ground water source
Three types:
Community
Cities, mobile home parks, nursing homes
Transient non-community
Rest areas, restaurants, churches
Non-transient non-community
Schools, businesses, and industries
[23] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

24. Water Source Protection Areas
Regulated by Ohio EPA
Ground Water
Coordinate if project is within 1 and 5 year time of travel zones (Corridor Management Zone)
Surface Water
Coordinate if project is within a designated Emergency Management Zone
[24] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

25. Wellhead Protection Areas
Prevents contamination of public water supplies
Approved by USEPA in 1992
In conjunction with contaminant source control and pollution prevention at all levels of government
[25] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

26. Sole Source Aquifers Regulated by USEPA
Primary drinking water aquifers
Only in Districts 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8
FHWA and USEPA MOU
CE projects meet the criteria
[26] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

27. [27] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

28. Coordination
Coordination occurs when OES and the coordinating agency negotiate impacts upon a specific resource
For example, a concrete ditch crossing a one year time of travel zone or crossing a well field
[28] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

29. Other Resources Tab - EnviroNet
Answer drop-downs appropriately for presence of and impacts to drinking water resources
Sole Source Aquifer
Water Source Protection Area
Groundwater and Surface Water
Residential Wells (ODNR well logs)
If impacts anticipated, coordination required for documentation and mitigation purposes
[29] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

30. Other Resources Tab - EnviroNet
[30] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

31. Remarks Identify drinking water resources
Water lines are not drinking water resources
Summarize coordination, if any
Requesting information is not coordination
List mitigation and environmental commitments
[31] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

32. No Coordination Example
Remarks
OEPA’s Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) mapping was reviewed by URS Corporation environmental personnel. No sole source aquifers or drinking water source protection areas for community, non-community, and residential wells are located within the proposed project area (see project file – Other Resources/Drinking Water/Mapping). Therefore, the proposed undertaking will not impact known drinking water resources.
[32] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

33. No Coordination Example
The Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters was contacted to identify the presence of drinking water resources within the proposed project area. In an dated June 28, 2018, OEPA provided a map showing the proposed project area in relation to surrounding drinking water resources. There are no drinking water source protection areas within one mile of the proposed project area. In addition, the proposed project area does not lie over a Federally-designated sole source aquifer. The ODNR well logs were reviewed and no residential wells were identified within the proposed project area.
The OEPA water resources map can be found in the project file under Other Resources/Drinking Water/Mapping
[33] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

34. Water Source Protection Area Example
The proposed project area is located within (on eastern edge of) the OEPA designated Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer System and an OEPA designated Water Source Protection Area (City of Hamilton Municipal Water System).  The City of Hamilton is the reviewing and approving agency for actions within their WSPA, and is also the sponsor of the proposed project for the CNG refueling station.  The city water utility department has reviewed and approved the proposed action (November 2017 internal city reviews), and has not requested special conditions or environmental commitments.
[34] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

35. Corridor Management Zone Example
The Ohio EPA (OEPA) Division of Drinking and Ground Waters was contacted to determine if drinking water resources were present within the proposed project area. Based on the information provided by OEPA, the proposed project is located within the Corridor Management Zone (CMZ) for Henry County Regional Water & Sewer District McClure intake. In addition, ODNR’s Division of Soil and Water Resources on-line mapping was reviewed for residential well locations and none were noted. Therefore, a plan note will be included in the plans.  
Secondary Source Review information can be found in the project file under Other Resources/Drinking Water/Site Specific Resource Map and Literature Review Results
[35] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

36. Sole Source Aquifer Example
The proposed project area is located within the boundaries of a designated sole source aquifer. However, the proposed project is not located within the boundaries of a designated Water Source Protection Area.  The proposed project area is served by the City of Dayton public water supply. A plan note requiring precautions to protect groundwater resources will be included.  As the project falls under the Categorical Exclusion classification, sole source aquifer coordination is not required under the Memorandum of Understanding between FHWA Region 5 and USEPA Region V.
[36] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services

37. Project File Documentation can include:
Coordination and/or correspondence with OES, OEPA, or USEPA
Secondary Source Review
Site Specific Resource Mapping
Follow ODOT NEPA File Management and Documentation Guidance
[37] Categorical Exclusion Training Class – Presented by the Office of Environmental Services