environmental awareness odots environmental reality

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESSENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

ODOT’S ENVIRONMENTAL REALITYODOT’S ENVIRONMENTAL REALITY

ODOT Environmental ODOT Environmental Guidance StatementGuidance Statement

GUIDANCE STATEMENTGUIDANCE STATEMENT• ODOT will carry out its mission consistent with sound ODOT will carry out its mission consistent with sound

environmental stewardship and best management practices. environmental stewardship and best management practices. We strive to meet the spirit and intent of environmental laws. We strive to meet the spirit and intent of environmental laws. We comply with regulations, and we will enhance the We comply with regulations, and we will enhance the environment, balancing such enhancement with the scope and environment, balancing such enhancement with the scope and purpose of our ODOT mission.purpose of our ODOT mission.

• Valuing Oregon’s environment is the responsibility of every Valuing Oregon’s environment is the responsibility of every ODOT employee and it is reflected in our decision and actions.ODOT employee and it is reflected in our decision and actions.

Definition of the term “Environment”Definition of the term “Environment”

All of the external factors affecting an All of the external factors affecting an organismorganism, including living organisms and , including living organisms and non-living variables such as water, soil, non-living variables such as water, soil, climate, light and oxygen. All of these climate, light and oxygen. All of these factors together make up the environment.factors together make up the environment.

Best Management PracticesBest Management Practices

AvoidAvoid

MinimizeMinimize

MitigateMitigate

Resource TopicsResource Topics

ArchaeologyArchaeology Historic Resources Historic Resources Biology and Endangered SpeciesBiology and Endangered Species Water QualityWater Quality WetlandsWetlands Air QualityAir Quality Noise QualityNoise Quality Erosion ControlErosion Control Hazardous MaterialsHazardous Materials

Archaeology in ODOTArchaeology in ODOT

Potential range of impacts:Potential range of impacts:

Ground disturbance:Ground disturbance:• Staging of equipment Staging of equipment

and materialand material• EmbankmentEmbankment• Guardrail Guardrail

installation/flaring installation/flaring • Culvert extensions, etc.Culvert extensions, etc.• Other ground Other ground

disturbing activities disturbing activities beyond backslope of beyond backslope of ditchditch

Historic ResourcesHistoric Resources

What are Historic Resources?What are Historic Resources?• Buildings, Sites, Objects, etc., which are Buildings, Sites, Objects, etc., which are

significant in historysignificant in history• Must be at least 50 years oldMust be at least 50 years old• Must meet eligibility criteria for the National Must meet eligibility criteria for the National

Register of Historic Places for federal regulatory Register of Historic Places for federal regulatory laws to applylaws to apply

Maintenance Project Issues - Historic Maintenance Project Issues - Historic ResourcesResources

Bridge rails, transition rails, guardrailBridge rails, transition rails, guardrail Masonry features - parapet rails, culverts, Masonry features - parapet rails, culverts,

stone facing, pedestrian featuresstone facing, pedestrian features Memorial features - historic signs, plaques, Memorial features - historic signs, plaques,

markersmarkers Effects to setting - fill, removal of Effects to setting - fill, removal of

landscaping, new visual elementslandscaping, new visual elements

Biology and Endangered SpeciesBiology and Endangered Species

SMA’s for Plants and WildlifeSMA’s for Plants and Wildlife

Sensitive Management AreaSensitive Management Area (SMA) is a (SMA) is a voluntary program initiated by Environmental voluntary program initiated by Environmental Services in 1994 in response to the Services in 1994 in response to the increasing number of increasing number of state and federally state and federally listed species and resourceslisted species and resources found along found along ODOT right-of-way. There are approximately ODOT right-of-way. There are approximately 40 SMA sites found along ODOT right-of-way40 SMA sites found along ODOT right-of-way

RES and RAZ Mapping ToolsRES and RAZ Mapping Tools

a tool that field crews could use to help avoid a tool that field crews could use to help avoid impacts to sensitive resources.impacts to sensitive resources.

RES (Resource and Sensitive Area)RES (Resource and Sensitive Area)

RAZ (Restricted Activity Zone) RAZ (Restricted Activity Zone)

RAZ Map exampleRAZ Map example

Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

• The federal Endangered Species Act (1973) requires agencies “insure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat of such species.”

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulates listed plants, wildlife, invertebrates (including birds), and resident fish.

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries) regulates listed ocean-going (anadromous) fish and marine mammals.

Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act

ESA defines ESA defines “take”“take” to include: to include:-- -- “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect…”“harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect…”-- -- “Harm”“Harm” is further defined to include: is further defined to include:

“…“…significant habitat modification or degradation that results in death or significant habitat modification or degradation that results in death or injury…”injury…”

-- -- “Harass”“Harass” is further defined to include: is further defined to include:“…“…significantly disrupt normal behavior patterns which include, but are not significantly disrupt normal behavior patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering”.limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering”.

--Critical HabitatCritical Habitat - “the specific areas within - “the specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the the geographical area occupied by the listed specieslisted species on which are found those physical or biological features which: on which are found those physical or biological features which:

-- are -- are essential to the conservationessential to the conservation of the species. of the species.

-- may require -- may require special management considerationsspecial management considerations . .

-- -- PERMITTED WORK PERMITTED WORK requiredrequired

Clean Water ActClean Water ActSection 404Section 404

Federal Law enacted in 1972Federal Law enacted in 1972 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulatesU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulates Establishes a federal connection (nexus) if a permit Establishes a federal connection (nexus) if a permit

is required.is required. Authorized States to administer their own general Authorized States to administer their own general

permit program for dredged or fill material.permit program for dredged or fill material. Oregon Division of State Lands (DSL) has Oregon Division of State Lands (DSL) has

regulatory control.regulatory control.

ODFW In-Water Work Period

Clean Water ActSection 404

Riparian AreaRiparian Area

Critical Habitat DesignationsCritical Habitat Designations

(NOAA Fish, and USFWS) can include (NOAA Fish, and USFWS) can include an area an area up to 300 linear feetup to 300 linear feet from the from the Ordinary High Water Elevation.Ordinary High Water Elevation.

Riparian AreaRiparian Area

Areas adjacent to the stream that provide:Areas adjacent to the stream that provide:

ShadeShade Sediment transport controlSediment transport control Nutrient or chemical regulationNutrient or chemical regulation Streambank stabilityStreambank stability Inputs of large woody material or organic Inputs of large woody material or organic

mattermatter

WetlandsWetlands

HydrologyHydrology- - ground and surface waterground and surface water

Hydric SoilHydric Soil – – abundance of moistureabundance of moisture

VegetationVegetation

3 defining characteristics of a wetland

Resource TopicsResource Topics

Water Quality - Water Quality - runoff treatment, floodway, runoff treatment, floodway, floodplain. floodplain.

Air Quality – Air Quality – alignment, traffic lanes, alignment, traffic lanes, signalization, regulatory study. signalization, regulatory study.

Noise Quality – Noise Quality – alignment, traffic lanes, alignment, traffic lanes, sound barriers, restrict work sound barriers, restrict work

periods.periods. Erosion Control – Erosion Control – sedimentation into waters of sedimentation into waters of

the STATE (loss of soil) the STATE (loss of soil) Hazardous Materials – Hazardous Materials – spills, cleanup, remediationspills, cleanup, remediation

Examples of Non ComplianceExamples of Non Compliance (Courtesy of NOAA Fish (Courtesy of NOAA Fish Enforcement Staff)Enforcement Staff)

Water QualityWater Quality

Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction

Riparian LossRiparian Loss

Culvert CleaningCulvert Cleaning

Road Construction SlideRoad Construction Slide

Bank HardeningBank Hardening

Unauthorized Fill

Unregulated In-stream WorkUnregulated In-stream Work

Unauthorized Flood ControlUnauthorized Flood Control

Side Channel ModificationSide Channel Modification

Culvert CleaningCulvert Cleaning

DEWATERINGDEWATERING

AcronymsAcronyms

BMP – Best Management PracticeBMP – Best Management Practice CWA – Clean Water ActCWA – Clean Water Act DSL – Oregon Division of State LandsDSL – Oregon Division of State Lands ESA – Endangered Species ActESA – Endangered Species Act FHWA – Federal Highway AdministrationFHWA – Federal Highway Administration IVM – Integrated Vegetation ManagementIVM – Integrated Vegetation Management NOAA Fish – NOAA Fish – National Oceanic & National Oceanic &

Atmospheric Atmospheric Administration FisheriesAdministration Fisheries

ODA – Oregon Department of AgricultureODA – Oregon Department of Agriculture ODF – Oregon Department of ForestryODF – Oregon Department of Forestry ODFW – Oregon Department of Fish & WildlifeODFW – Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

AcronymsAcronyms

ODF – Oregon Department of ForestryODF – Oregon Department of Forestry ODFW – Oregon Department of Fish & WildlifeODFW – Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife RAZ – restricted activity zoneRAZ – restricted activity zone RES – Salmon Resource and Sensitive AreaRES – Salmon Resource and Sensitive Area RMA- Riparian Management AreaRMA- Riparian Management Area SHPOSHPO – – State Historic Preservation OfficeState Historic Preservation Office SMA – Sensitive Management AreaSMA – Sensitive Management Area USACE – US Army Corps of EngineersUSACE – US Army Corps of Engineers USCOE – US Army Corps of EngineersUSCOE – US Army Corps of Engineers USFWS – U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceUSFWS – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service