Managing Environmental Compliance for ODOT’s OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program: Many Regulations – One Framework

Michelle ErautEnvironmental Program Manager

Federal Highway Administration—Oregon Division530 Center Street, NE, Suite 100Salem, Oregon 97301503/587-4716Michelle.Eraut@fhwa.dot.gov

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

Program Stages – 365+ Bridges

OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program Goals

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?

Environmental Performance Standards

What do they cover? Program Administration Species Habitat Water Quality Site Restoration Compensatory Mitigation Fluvial

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)

Planning ToolsOverview

Our Challenge 7 Untested Environmental Performance Standards

+ 4 Undeveloped Environmental Performance Standards

+ 3 Unique Programmatic Permits

Our Solution (equals)

1 PARIT

Planning ToolsPermitting

Programmatic Agreements Reporting and

Implementation Team

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

Planning ToolsPermitting

Pre-Construction Assessment (PCA)• Single programmatic permitting application

• From issue identification (effect) to resolution (specs)• Agency-friendly output • Metrics tracking

Planning ToolsDesign

Field verification via electronic handhelds (PDAs)• Linked to EDMS (transparency)• Environmental database

• Fast, paperless

Planning ToolsConstruction

First bridge replaced… Complied with Environmental

Performance Standards

Reduced permitting by 100+ days

Reduced cost by $1+ Million

Pleased Contractor, ODOT, and Permitting Agencies

Stewardship Success!!!Coast Fork Willamette River Bridge

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

ConclusionEnvironmental Stewardship

Questions?

Michelle Eraut Environmental Program ManagerMichelle.Eraut@fhwa.dot.gov

Federal Highway Administration530 Center Street, NE, Suite 100Salem, Oregon 97301503.587.4716