Post on 01-Apr-2015
OTHERRESOURCES
FARMLAND
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Farmland Process
2
Project Initiation Package
MOU
FCIR Form
Agency Coordinatio
n
NEPA Document
Yes
No
Score Less
than 160
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Agricultural District Process
3
Project Initiation Package
Agricultural District
ORC 929.05(a)
Agency Coordinatio
n
NEPA Document
No
Yes
No
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Yes
Why So Important? Agriculture is the #1 industry in Ohio
$107 billion annually Nearly 1 million employees
4Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Farmland Loss In O-H-I-O Between 1950 and 2000, Ohio lost more
than 7 million acres of farmland = 23 counties lost
Between 1987 and 1997, Ohio was 2nd in the nation for loss of prime farmland
Farmland conversion in Ohio occurring at a greater rate than population growth
5Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Federal Law Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA)
Established by Congress Subtitle to the 1981 Farm Bill Requires federal programs to be
compatible with state, local and private efforts to protect farmland and consider adverse effects on farmland preservation Projects sponsored or financed in whole
or part by the federal government Highways, airports, dams and federal
buildings
6Categorical Exclusion Training Class
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 with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)
Utility and emergency repair projects exempt
7Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Farmland MOU Between FHWA/NRCS/ODOT Executed December 15, 2011 Spells out responsibilities per the FPPA
and the implementing regulations at 7 CFR 658
Establishes a process to determine which Federal-Aid highway projects require NRCS coordination
Projects that meet MOU criteria can be processed with no further coordination required Discuss accordingly in NEPA document
8Categorical Exclusion Training Class
MOU Criteria Projects meet criteria when:
No new right-of-way (ROW) required Bridge replacements with permanent
and/or temporary ROW less than three acres Piers, wingwalls, and/or approach
work Widening with permanent and/or
temporary ROW less than three acres Intersection improvements with
permanent and/or temporary ROW less than three acres
Temporary ROW when land being used returned to equal or greater productive capability
9Categorical Exclusion Training Class
CoordinationNew ROW MOU replaces OES FPPA Screening Form Applies to federally funded projects If MOU criteria exceeded, FCIR (Farmland
Conversion Impact Rating) Form required
FCIR Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) Determines if land to be acquired subject
to FPPA If FCIR score less than 160, no formal
coordination with NRCS required 10Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Online CE – Other Resources Tab
Farmlands
11
#3 will be phased out during enhancements
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Remarks Discuss how the proposed project
complies with the MOU or discuss results of FCIR coordination
If FCIR Form required, the scoring results must be discussed for each build alternative
If ORC 929.05(a) threshold is exceeded: Discuss need to impact agricultural land Identify properties in Agricultural
District Coordinate with Ohio Dept. of
Agriculture12Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Remarks Use standard language provided by OES
for projects that comply with the MOU Use standard language provided by OES
for projects that require an FCIR Form Coordination with NRCS determines if
significant impacts to prime or unique farmland will occur
13Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Remarks Discuss acreage of agricultural land to be
taken and the number of farms impacted Contrast with the total agricultural land
acreage & number of farms in the county Indicate current use of agricultural land
in the project area (e.g. cropland, fallow land, pasture) and any conservation easements
Presence of field tile drainage
14Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Remarks Discuss impact to farming operations, if
any Farm structures, storage or staging
areas Quantify landlocked parcels
Consider indirect and cumulative development 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 15Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Online CE Project File/Part of CE
Aerial Mapping
Photographs
FCIR Form
NRCS Correspondence
OES Correspondence
Ohio Department of Agriculture Coordination
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Other Resources
Drinking Water
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
ProcessProject Initiation
Package
Field Investigations
Coordination
NEPA Document
Resources Not
Present
18Categorical Exclusion Training Class
OES reviews and provides oversight for projects with impacts to drinking water OES monitors new rule making and
legislation, serves as liaison to regulatory agencies, and provides training and assistance to Districts and consultants
The primary responsibility for identifying resources and associated coordination belongs to the ODOT Districts with oversight by OES
Role & Responsibilities
19Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Drinking Water resources are: Residential Wells Public Water Systems
Water Source Protection Areas involving Ground and Surface Water
Wellhead Protection Areas Sole Source Aquifers
Definition
20Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Defined as where the intake of raw water occurs Water lines are not a drinking water
resource
OEPA and/or ODOT GIS mapping
Identification
21Categorical Exclusion Training Class
If not removed or impacted, no coordination required
Removal or impacts will require commitments and possible coordination
Mapping is limited or non-existent Searching ODNR well logs, contacting
ODNR Division of Water or the local county health department can be useful
Residential Water Wells
22Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Coordination with the owner is not required When impacted, an environmental commitment
may include drilling a new well or providing a connection to the local public water supply If this is not feasible, the property and/or
dwelling may be acquired Impacted wells are properly abandoned in
accordance with ODNR’s Technical Guidelines for Sealing Unused Wells
Residential Water Wells
23Categorical Exclusion Training Class
A Public Water System (PWS) serves piped water to at least 25 persons or 15 service connections for at least 60 days per year
Approximately 6,200 in Ohio Over 95% use a ground water source
Public Water Systems
24Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Three types in Ohio: Community Water Systems
Cities, mobile home parks, and nursing homes
Transient Non-community Water Systems Rest areas, campgrounds, restaurants, and
churches Non-Transient Non-community Water Systems
Schools, businesses, and industries
Public Water Systems
25Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Regulated by Ohio EPA Ground Water
Coordination required if project is within 1 and 5 year time of travel zones (Corridor Management Zone)
Surface Water Coordination required if project is
within a designated Emergency Management Zone
Public Water Systems
Water Source Protection Areas
26Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Designed to prevent contamination of public water supplies
Ohio's Wellhead Protection Program was approved by USEPA in 1992
Intended to work in concert with contaminant source control and pollution prevention efforts at all levels of government
Wellhead Protection Areas
27Categorical Exclusion Training Class
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 EA/EIS projects require USEPA
coordination
Sole Source Aquifers
28Categorical Exclusion Training Class
29Categorical Exclusion Training Class
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
Online CE – Other Resources TabDrinking Water
30Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Online CE – Other Resources Tab
31Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Identify drinking water resources Water lines are not a drinking water resource
Summarize coordination required List mitigation and environmental
commitments
Remarks
32Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Identify drinking water resources Water lines are not a drinking water
resource
Summarize coordination required List mitigation and environmental
commitments
Requesting info from coordinating agencies is not coordination
Remarks
33Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Coordination occurs when ODOT-OES and the coordinating agency negotiate impacts upon a specific drinking water resource An example would be proposed
concrete ditch crossing a 1 year time of travel zone or crossing a well field
Remarks
34Categorical Exclusion Training Class
35
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.
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
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 e-mail dated June 28, 2013, OEPA sent 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 OEPA water resources map can be found in the project file (Other Resources/Drinking Water/Mapping). The ODNR well logs were reviewed and no residential wells were identified within the proposed project area.
No Coordination Example
Categorical Exclusion Training Class 36
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 2013 internal city reviews), and has not requested special conditions or environmental commitments.
Water Source Protection Area Example
Categorical Exclusion Training Class 37
The Ohio EPA 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. (see project file - Other Resources/Drinking Water/Site Specific Resource Map.pdf and Other Resources/Drinking Water/Literature Review Results.pdf). Therefore, the following plan note will be included in the plans.
Corridor Management Zone Example
Categorical Exclusion Training Class 38
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.
Sole Source Aquifer Example
Categorical Exclusion Training Class 39
The project is located in the CMZ for the Henry County Regional Water & Sewer District McClure’s drinking water resource area. In order to minimize the potential for a release in this sensitive area, project related refueling and maintenance activities shall not be performed from STA To STA . Spills of fuels, oils, chemicals or other materials which could pose a threat to the drinking water source area shall be cleaned up immediately by the Contractor. If the spill is a reportable amount, the Contractor should contact (insert name and number of local hazardous material response team) for cleanup of the spill.
Corridor Management Zone Commitment
Example
Categorical Exclusion Training Class 40
Include copies of appropriate coordination ODOT-OES OEPA USEPA
41
Online CE Project File/Part of CE
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
PERMITS
FLOODPLAINS
Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Floodplains Process
Project Initiation Package
Field Review
Floodplain Administrator Coordination
NEPADocument
Not Present
43Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Online CE – Permits Tab Floodplains
44Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Describe impacts to floodplain, floodway, and base flood elevations
Coordination with Local Floodplain Administrator Coordination can be an environmental
commitment completed during design phase
Remarks
45Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Example
According to Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Panel No. 39153CO212E, effective July 20, 2009, the proposed undertaking will impact the 100-year floodplain of both Haley’s Ditch and Springfield Lake Outlet (Attachment E1a, page 102 presents a portion of this FEMA panel and Attachment E1b, page 103 shows that no floodplains occur in the proposed project area). (Continued on page 8a)
46Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Example
Floodplains (continued):
The proposed undertaking will cross Haley’s Ditch and Springfield Lake Outlet with three-sided box Con-span arch culverts. On the proposed project area portion of the FEMA panel, the floodplain of Haley’s Ditch has not been updated since that channel was relocated and channelized in the late 1970s (Attachment E1a, page 102). The combined project impacts on the 100-year floodplains of both Haley’s Ditch and Springfield Lake Outlet are proposed to be less than 0.3 acre. Since the proposed undertaking is located within a floodplain regulated by FEMA, coordination with the local floodplain administer is required. On December 22, 2010, floodplain coordination correspondence was sent to the designated floodplain administrator at the City of Akron (see Attachment E2, pages 104-106 for a copy of the correspondence). See Attachment E3, pages 107-108 for a copy of the Akron Engineering Bureau correspondence, dated March 21, 2011 for the project. This coordination letter states that the project will be required to comply with all sections of the City of Akron code, Article 3 Flood Hazard Areas, Section 197.300 to 197.319 and meet or exceed the minimum FEMA standards. Any encroachment within the floodway that would result in an increase in the base flood elevation can only be granted upon approval by FEMA.
47Categorical Exclusion Training Class
Floodplain Administrator Correspondence and/or Coordination
FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
Online CE Project File/Part of CE
48Categorical Exclusion Training Class
FEMA Map
49Categorical Exclusion Training Class