REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT Environmental Update Meeting 16 September 2010
Mar 27, 2015
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENTEnvironmental Update Meeting
16 September 2010
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
ODOT’s most recent CE Programmatic Agreement went into effect in 2003
One of the most aggressive Programmatic Agreements in the country
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
The agreement allows ODOT to:
Clear Exempt, CE 1, and CE 2 documents at District
Clear CE 3 documents at Central Office (OES)
Complete CE 4 documents for more complex projects without significant impacts
Process the vast majority of projects as CEs rather than requiring EAs and EISs which take much longer to approve and are much more expensive
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Since 2003, ODOT has completed 7,405 CE level projects under the PA
Under the PA, our ability to process 98% of these projects in-house (CE 3 and lower) has saved thousands of hours in project time and labor
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
However….a lot has changed in 7 yearsNew technologiesNew processes and proceduresNew project types7 years of experience
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
The Revision Process:
OES began meeting with FHWA at the end of June
Revised PA submitted for signatures in mid-August
Signed on Monday and is now active!
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
General Changes
Addition of Ohio Rail Development Commission as a signatory and participant
Addition of new project types
Moved several project types down a level
Focus more on Context and Intensity
Addition of Exempt Project form
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Exempt Actions
Doubled the number of Exempt project types Expanded existing project types Added “new” project types Moved some down from Level 1 CE list
Added new Exempt Project Documentation Form
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Level 1 Categorical Exclusions
Added to list of project types Expanded existing project types Added new project types Moved some down from Level 2-3 CE list Added “Other Project Types”
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Level 2-3 Categorical Exclusions
Added “Other Project Types”
Changes in Impacts: CE 2
Removed maximum acreage allowed for relocations
Allow up to 0.5 acres of impacts to Category 3 wetlands
Added de minimis to Section 4(f) impacts
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Level 2-3 Categorical Exclusions
Changes in Impacts: CE 3
Removed maximum acreage allowed for relocations
Added de minimis to Section 4(f) impactsAdded Individual Section 4(f)
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Level 4 Categorical Exclusions
No changes
Allows us to retain flexibility to accommodate other project types and higher levels of impacts as long as they are not significant impacts
REVISED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT
Categorical Exclusion Forms Exempt Project Documentation Form “Old” CE 1 Form “Old” CE 2-4 Form “New” CE 1-4 Form
Online CE Form Web-based form Approved by IT Governance Board Attempting to secure funding
Questions?
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tim Hill, Environmental Administrator
614.644.0377
Erica L. Schneider, Asst. Environmental Administrator
614.381.0134
Kevin Davis, Environmental Supervisor
614.752.2788