Programmatic ESA Consultation Training: ODOT's Guide for Highway Projects

1. Welcome to Oregon’s Programmatic ESA Consultation for Highway Projects User’s Training on How to Implement the ODOT-FHWA Programmatic ESA Consultation June-July 2013 Presented by ODOT Geo-Environmental Section (Highway Div., Technical Services), the Federal-Highway Administration (Oregon Div.), and National Marine Fisheries Service (Oregon State Habitat Office)

2. Background & Purpose • Emphasis on Programmatic Agreements • SLOPES only provides coverage for some species and some Highway actions • USACE permits • Stormwater-only impacts • No FWS species • FHWA as the lead Federal Nexus • Increasing role of ODOT in Local Agency projects • Project Notification • Certain activities do not require “approval”

3. Programmatic Goals • Overall Goals • Improve the condition of the environmental baseline most directly impacted by the transportation program (e.g., habitat connectivity, water quality) • Avoid and minimize adverse impacts to federally-listed species and critical habitat • Section 7(a)(1) • Better tracking of project effects (good and bad)…fewer actions need regulatory approval in future • Necessary for ODOT and Local Agency

4. Early Coordination • Importance of early coordination • Prior to DAP, provide Services Liaison, FHWA, NRU and Region Env. basic project information • Project name, type, location • Anticipated notification type (approval/no approval) • Anticipated bid let date • Possible activities that may require “modifications” to design standards or mitigation • More details on “how to” during Day 2

5. Programmatic Scope • NMFS Species • “Take” • Informal consultation • USFWS Species • “Take” • Informal consultation • Action Area • Aquatic and riparian effects • Stormwater effects Credit: Jamie King, Alaska DFW

7. Qualifying Actions

8. Exclusions Excluded activities may require Individual Consultation • Tidegates • NEPA Class I (EIS) • Solely related to mass transit or rail • New permanent stream crossings or roads in the riparian zone (except bridge approaches or as needed to restore historic stream channels) • In-water work downstream of Willamette Falls Dec. 1 - Jan. 31 • Stream channel realignment (except to restore former channels or eroding banks)

9. Exclusions (cont.) • New lanes/intersections that contribute to other land use changes that trigger effects • Drilling or earthwork at EPA-designated Superfund Site, a state-designated clean-up area, or in the likely impact zone of a significant contaminant source • Direct or indirect take of Steller sea lion, killer whale • Effects to USFWS species (for now) • Large projects with greater than “programmatic-scale effects”

10. Modifications • NMFS interest in Programmatics • Expedite Project Notification by designing & building according to Design Standards • NMFS recognizes one-size-does-not-fit-all • Minor modifications – report in Notification • Substantive modifications –Early Coordination; likely will trigger Services approval of Notification • Major modifications may exceed “programmatic effects” = exclusion

11. Other ESA consultation Options • SLOPES IV or V • Bridge Preservation (USFWS) • Vernal Pools (USFWS) • ODOT Maintenance 4d exemption • ODOT Maintenance HCP • Individual Consultation • To streamline, model after FAHP