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Environmental Requirements for FHWA

Projects in Oregon

Teresa BrasfieldSusan Haupt

Oregon Department of Transportation

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Overview

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Other Environmental Requirements

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What is NEPA?

NEPA requires federal agencies to factor environmental considerations into their decision making.

NEPA includes full range of activities to evaluate the environmental impacts of a proposed action.

NEPA requires environmentally informed decisions.

NEPA is a procedural statute and does not dictate a decision or require elevation of environmental concerns over other pertinent considerations.

Project Development

Planning

Right-of-Way

NEPA

Construction

Need, alternatives and impact analysis, public / agency coordination, documentation (CE, EA/FONSI, EIS/ROD)

Final Design

NEPA Approval: Location, design concept acceptance

Post NEPA Project

Development Activities

System considerations, coordination, conformity, project need,

FHWA NEPA Process “Umbrella”

•Endangered Species Act – Section 7•Civil Rights Act •Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice)

•Section 4(f) of USDOT Act (49 USC 303) - Parks, recreation, etc

•Clean Air Act•Safe Water Drinking Act•Clean Water Act 404(b)(1)•Farmland Protection Policy Act •National Historic Preservation Act •Floodplains

• Economic, Social, and Environmental Effects (23 USC 109(h)) analysis • Public involvement, interagency coordination • Tribal consultation• Location, design, and engineering• Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 • Noise Standards• Public Hearing Requirements• Americans with Disabilities Act

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NEPA “Documents”

Categorical Exclusion (CE)

Environmental Assessment (EA) Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

Notice of Intent (NOI)

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision (ROD)

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Categorical Exclusion

Actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment

Actions that, based on past experience with similar actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts

Neither an EA nor EIS is required

40 CFR 1508.423 CFR 771.117(a)

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Environmental Assessment

Document …… prepared for an action where the significance of the social, economic, and environmental impacts are not clearly established

23 CFR 771.115(c)40 CFR 1508.9

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FONSI

Finding Of No Significant Impact• A document which briefly presents why an

action does not have a significant impact• It must include and reference the

environmental assessment

CEQ Q&A #37A40 CFR 1508.13

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Environmental Impact Statement Environmental impacts of the proposed

action and alternatives Unavoidable adverse environmental

impacts

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Record of Decision

Decision - identify selected alternative Alternatives considered

- Discuss values considered and basis of decision

- Identify “environmentally preferred” alternative(s)

40 CFR 1506.9 23 CFR 771.125(g))

NONO

Proposed Action

Coordination and Analysis

Significant Impact ?

ListedCE

Public Comment

DocumentedCE

EnvironmentalAssessment

Significant impact

Notice of Intent & Scoping Process

Draft EIS

Record of Decision (ROD)

Final EIS

Agency ActionAgency Action

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

Agency Action

Coordination and analysis as needed

No significant impacts

Unknown

YESYES

Document appropriately

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Elements of the NEPA Process

Public involvement throughout Interagency coordination throughout Purpose and Need Alternatives analysis Impact analysis Mitigation Documentation

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Purpose and Need

Critical foundation for decisions Basis for reasonable alternatives,

evaluations and comparisons Reasons are established for moving

forward with Federal action

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Purpose

Purpose is the “Problem Statement”

Transportation demand Safety Legislative direction Economic development or planned growth System linkage Condition of existing facility

40 CFR 1502.13TA Page 13

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The “need” supports the problem statement- Facts demonstrating a "need" exists - History and background

Need

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Alternatives Analysis

Varies with Class of Action Rigorously explore and objectively

evaluate in the EIS– Reasonable range alternatives / reasonable

number No-action / no-build always included

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Screening Alternatives - ODOT

Does it meet Purpose and Need? Is it an acceptable solution? Have environmental constraints been

considered? Does it require a state land use goal

exception?

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Impacts

Direct impacts …… caused by the action and occur at the same time and location

Project ActionProject ActionDirect Direct

Environmental Environmental ImpactsImpacts

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Indirect Indirect EnvironmentaEnvironmenta

l Impactsl Impacts

Indirect Impacts

Project ActionProject Action Other Actions

40 CFR 1508.8

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Cumulative Impacts

Result from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions …

… regardless of what agency or person undertakes such other actions…

… Federal, non-federal, public and private must be considered

Significant Impacts

SignificantSignificant

ImpactImpact

Context Intensity+

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Federal Mitigation Policy

AvoidMinimize/PreserveRectify, Repair, Rehabilitate,

RestoreCompensate

40 CFR 1508.20

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Implementation Responsibility

Must implement mitigation commitments made in environmental documents

Ensure compliance through project management

Formal monitoring plan may be established (recommended where sensitive resources are impacted)

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Lead and Cooperating Agency

Lead agency (Federal)… Sponsoring agency-

Cooperating agency may be… Federal agencies with jurisdiction by law

(mandatory) or special expertise (optional)

… State and local agencies… Federally recognized Tribes

40 CFR 1508.5 & 1508.16

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Cooperating Agency Responsibility Respond to lead agency’s request

– Cooperate where jurisdiction by law Attend scoping and coordination

meetings Provide meaningful and early input on

issues of concern Review and provide comments on Pre-

draft and Pre-final environmental documents

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Other Requirements

Section 4(f) of the DOT Act (FHWA) (NPS)

Section 106 of the NHPA of 1965 (SHPO)

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (USCOE)

Oregon Removal/Fill Law (ODSL)

ESA Section 7 consultation (NMFS, USFWS)

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Other Requirements

Noise (FHWA)

Title VI and EJ (FHWA)

Clean Air (DEQ, EPA)

Hazardous Materials (DEQ, EPA)

Visual Resources (FHWA)

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Section 303 in Title 49 AKA Section 4(f) of the DOT ActThe Secretary may approve projects requiring use of publicly owned land of a public park, recreation area, or wildlife/waterfowl refuge, or land of a historic site of National, State, or local significance (as determined by the officials having jurisdiction over the park, recreation area, refuge or site) only if-1. There is no feasible and prudent

alternative to such use, and2. The project includes all possible planning

to minimize harm23 CFR 771.135(a)(1)

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Section 106 of the NHPA

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

ACHP, SHPO, THPO, NPS Avoid unnecessary harm to historic

properties– Federal agencies consider effects of

their actions on historic properties– Provide an opportunity for the

ACHP and interested parties to comment

Relationship to 4(f) 16 U.S.C. 470 36 CFR Part

800

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Section 404 of the CWA

Clean Water Act (CWA) – 33 U.S.C 1344 et seq.– Army Corp of Engineers 33 CFR Part 323

Implementing Regulations– EPA 404(b)(1) guidelines 40 CFR Part 230

Army Corps of Engineers (administers the program), Environmental Protection Agency (veto authority), State / Regional Water Resources Control Boards or agencies

Elevation process (404(q)) FHWA Wetland Regulations 23 CFR 777 Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 10 Permit

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Section 404 - Permit

Permit application must show that you have:– taken steps to avoid

impacts to waters of the US, including wetlands, where practicable

– minimized potential impacts to waters of the US

– provided compensation for any remaining, unavoidable impacts

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Oregon Removal/Fill Law

Oregon Department of State Lands administers

Division 141-085 ORS 196.668 to 196.692 ORS 390.835

ORS 196.800 to 196.990 Purpose: To define and establish rules and

guidelines to regulate removal/fill activities in “waters of the state” of Oregon

www.oregonstatelands.us

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Oregon Land Use Goals

(X-1) Oregon’s Statewide Planning Goals, OAR 660---(1985)

Sets the framework and standards/criteria for the statewide land use planning

Transportation Planning Rule, OAR 660-12-000 (Administered by DLCD)

(I-4) DOT Order 5610.1C, Attachment 2, pg 13, Land Use and Urban Growth---(Sept 1979)

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Oregon Land Use Goals

(II-1) FHWA Technical Advisory T6640.8A, pg 19, Land Use Impacts---(Oct 1987)

(II-1) FHWA Technical Advisory T6640.8A, pg 22, Joint Development---(Oct 1987)

(X-3) Farmland Protection Policy Act---(Dec 1981)

OAR 660-12 “Transportation Planning Rule”---(??? ????)

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Section 7 of the ESA

Endangered Species Act of 1973– 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. – 50 CFR 402

Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI) and NOAA Fisheries

Handbook on-line

http://endangered.FWS.gov/consultations/s7hndbk/toc-glos.pdf

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Section 7 - Consultation

FHWA / SDOT initiates consultation

F&WS provides information (list) on occurrence of threatened and endangered species in area

DOT survey for T&E species or critical habitat

50 CFR 402

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Section 7 - Consultation

Biological assessment (or evaluation) to allow FHWA’s determination of effect

“Not likely to adversely effect” – consultation complete

Adversely effect – formal consultation required

“No jeopardy” opinion required to advance project

50 CFR 402

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Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

are established for specific air pollutants Oregon DEQ also specifies air quality standards

that are equal to or more strict than the national standards

Seven air pollutants have standards established Based on the specific pollutant, DEQ has

designated specific non-attainment areas within the state of Oregon.

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Noise

Consideration and abatement of highway traffic noise and construction noise 23 CFR 772 FHWA Noise Guidance

June 1995http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/polguid.pdf

State Noise Policies

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Environmental Justice

Fundamental concepts of EJ (Executive Order 12898) and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 1. Ensure full and fair participation by all potentially

affected communities in the decision-making process

2. Prevent denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations

3. Avoid, minimize, and mitigate disproportionately high and adverse effects (human health, social, economic and environmental) on minority and low income populations.

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Hazardous Materials

• CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980)---Superfund

• RCRA (Resource Conservation Recovery Act)• 40 CFR 312, ORS 465.255 & FHWA Guidance (Site

identification and cleanup liability) • OAR 340-150 & 340-160 to 163 (UST removal)• OAR 340-122 (Site cleanup requirements)• 40 CFR 255-279 (Waste disposal)• Federal Pesticide Control Act, 40 CFR 152-173• OAR 340-248 (Asbestos survey & abatement)

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HazMat Assessment Resources OTIA III Materials and Contamination

Performance Standards Manualhttp://www.obdp.org/site/view_pdf/?pdf=/files/partner/environmental/MaterialsandContaminationManual.pdf

ODOT Hazardous Materials Program Guideftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/techserv/Geo-Environmental/ Environmental/Procedural%20Manuals/HazMat/HazMatProgram Proceduresl.doc

ODOT HazMat Report Templatesftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/techserv/Geo-Environmental/ Environmental/Regulatory%20Documentation%20Forms%20and%20Examples/HazMat/

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Waste Management ResourcesDEQ approved waste re-use, recycling & disposal options for: Asphalt (old and fresh) Clean fill Concrete (including concrete with lead-paint) Paint (including lead-paint and striping) Metal Wood (including treated and painted wood)Summarized in OTIA III Materials & Contamination Performance Standards Manual

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Visual Resources

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 43 CFR 8350

(II-1) FHWA Technical Advisory T6640.8A, pg 34, Visual Impacts---(Oct 1987)

(XV-3) Landscape and Roadside Development, 23 CFR 752---(Sept 1987)

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