ODOT-FHWA Programmatic Categorical Exclusion Agreement

Overview of PCE Agreement Stipulations,Impact Thresholds, and Roles & Responsibilities

October 8, 2020 PCE-CE DeliveryVirtual Workshop

Presented by Susan White, Statewide NEPA Program

ODOT & FHWA PCE Agreement – Introduction

Documentation Requirements

ODOT Approvals

Impact Thresholds

ODOT-FHWA PCE Agreement Summary• Allows ODOT to approve NEPA (PCEs) on behalf of FHWA• 2015 Agreement replaced 1999 PCE Agreement (16 yrs

old); renewed for another 5-year term in 2020• Projects must meet 14 “impact thresholds”

• if exceeded, FHWA review/approval req’d as CE• ODOT staff must be “qualified to prepare and approve

PCEs” as per the following stipulations:• Web-based NHI NEPA course (the minimum requirement)• Be familiar with 23 CFR 771 – 774 • Have experience with transportation & NEPA compliance

• Requires statewide consistency• Process & Documentation

• Applies to both ODOT and LPA projects with FHWA nexus• Streamlines ROW acquisition start (fed funds request)• Requires ODOT QA/QC & regular reporting to FHWA• 5-year term (March 10th effective date)

PCE Agreement Benefits & Goals

• ODOT approves PCEs on behalf of FHWA (streamlined)• 90-95% projects are now processed as PCEs (previously ~ 50%)• Reduces FHWA review and approval time• Improved ODOT & FHWA NEPA program partnership (monthly coordination)• Easy, fillable, standardized forms, templates, processes statewide• Improved quality & consistency of documentation (new QA/QC program)• Authorizes ROW acquisition with Federal $$ prior to PS&E• Includes new “No Ground Disturbance” (NGD) type of PCE (streamlined)• Strengthens ODOT for future NEPA assumption

PCE Agreement 2020 Renewal – New Amendment

• PCE Agreement renewed in March• Retains the same 14 impact thresholds

and… adds new clarification to CE/PCE procedures (via ODOT NEPA Manual)

• Retains ODOT staff qualifications to prepare and approve PCEs

• Reduces # of QA reviews• Reduces # of reports to FHWA• Another 5-year term (> March 2025)

REC Team Meeting 2013, PME project site

PCE Agreement & ODOT-FHWA NEPA Program –

Partner Roles & Responsibilities

• Prepares / Approves PCEs• Performs QA/QC• Prepares reports for FHWA• Monitors performance & staff

qualifications, reviews & approvesconsultant & LPA work

• Recommends & incorporatesprogram improvements

• Develops & maintains PCE forms,tools, procedures, standard SOWs

• Performs regular programmonitoring (access to PCEs)

• Reviews CEs, PCE reports,QA/QC recommendations

• Answers questions regardingPCE Agreement “kickouts”

• Participates in regular PCE QAreviews

• Assist ODOT – draft PCEdocuments (cannot finalize orapprove)

• Must use ODOT PCE/CE forms,SOW templates, procedures, and(new in 2020) QA/QCprocedures, SOW tasks, andforms

• Works with ODOT (ODOT workswith FHWA)

ODOT HQ & Regions – FHWA OR Div – Consultants & LPAs–

FHWA & ODOT Stewardship and Oversight Agreement

• “… the most frequently occurring approvals and related responsibilities that may not be assumed by the State DOT:

• Environmental approvals, except those specifically assumed under other agreements (23 U.S.C. 326 and 327; programmatic categorical exclusion agreements)…”

• The State DOT is responsible and accountable for LPA compliance with all applicable Federal laws and requirements (i.e., NEPA and environmental approvals).

• State DOT Oversight of Locally Administered Projects includes Environment program area (i.e., NEPA and environmental approvals)

Add’l Environmental Programmatic Agreements – Further CE/PCE Streamlining

• Programmatic Section 106• ODOT• FHWA, Oregon Division• Oregon SHPO• American Council on Historic Preservation

• Programmatic ESA Consultation (a.k.a., “the FAHP”)

• ODOT• FHWA, Oregon Division – Programmatic

Biological Opinions with…• USFWS• NMFS

REC Team Meeting 2013, PME project site

Summary of PCE Agreement “Kickouts”Does the project have or need….

Unusual circumstancesMore than de minimis Section 4(f) useSection 106 Adverse EffectU.S. Coast Guard bridge permit Section 404/Section 10 Individual

Permit Designated regulatory floodway

elevation increase, or more than 1 foot elevation rise in the 100-year floodplainW&S River Section 7 determination

Substantial changes to trafficMore than minor ROW acquisitions, or

displacement of owners and/or tenantsDoes not conform to the Air Quality SIPIndividual project-level formal ESA

consultationException to Oregon Statewide

Planning GoalsControversyIs identified subsequent to the

execution of this agreement by FHWA

PCE Agreement Statistics to Date (1st 5 years)

• Avg. 75-90 PCEs approved by ODOT annually

• Avg. 3-5 CEs reviewed and approved by FHWA annually

• PCE costs ~ $7k to $40k (depending on project type)

• NGD-PCEs ~ $3k each• CE costs ~ can be well over $50k• PCE Avg. ROW time savings ~ 12

months

ODOT Statewide NEPA ContactsSalem Technical Leadership Center (NEPA Program)• Rod Thompson (Env. Eng. & Policy Unit Manager)

• 503.986.3514

• Michael Holthoff (NEPA Program Lead)• 503.986.3428

• Susan White (NEPA Program Coordinator)• 503.986.3519

Region Environmental Units (FHWA-nexus Projects: RECs, Environmental Specialists)• Region 1 (Portland HQ) 503.731.8200• Region 2 (Salem HQ) 503.986.2900• Region 3 (Roseburg HQ) 541.957.3500• Region 4 (Bend HQ) 541.388.6180• Region 5 (La Grande HQ) 541,963.3177

Susan’s 60th birthday trip, Eagle Cap Wilderness, 2015

QUESTIONS?