Early Environmental Coordination for Design Projects

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Early Environmental Coordination for Design
Projects

• February 9, 2005

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Yearly Advertising Program

• 400 million FY 1991
• 470 million FY 2004
• 600 million (projected) FY 2005
• 500 600 million out years

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Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP)

• Fiscally Constrained Need to advertise
  everything that is in the STIP
• FY 2003 Only Advertised 30
• FY 2004 Only Advertised 56
• FY 2005 Targeted Goal 100

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Transportation Need versusAvailable Funding

• Increase advertising
• Improve meeting STIP Targets (Planning)
• Improve accountability in Federal Programming
  (Funding)
• Increased credibility of yearly advertising
  program

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Elements for Advertising

• Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS E)
• All necessary permits obtained
• Rights of Way acquisition (ROW)

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Project Development Process

• Design Schedule within control of consultant
• Design Review Schedule within control of
  MassHighway

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Environmental Approvals

• Applications set schedule
• Agency review varies
• Many approval processes are sequential

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What We Can Control

• Understanding of permit application requirements
• Understanding of approval process and schedules
• Limit number of surprises

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Coordination During Project Development

• Environmental Approvals
• Context Sensitive Design
• Communities First
• Smart Growth

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Early Environmental Coordination

• Goal
• Receipt of all permits coincides with 100-percent
  design submittal

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Schedule (24-month timeline)
NOTICE TOPROCEED
100 DesignPSE
25 Design
96 weeks
40 weeks
104 weeks
75 Design
Notice of Intent(30-60 days) MEPA (45
days) ACOE Section 404(60 days) Section
4(f)(120-180 days) Water QualityCertification(
120-150 days)
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Early Coordination for Design Projects

• Community issues
• Environmental issues
• Design parameters
• Permit identification
• Context-sensitive solutions
• 25 design plans

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Plan Ahead for Permit Process

• Permit section of contract is starting point
• Field work can reveal unexpected conditions
• Advanced design can identify further unexpected
  impacts

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Plan Ahead for Permit Process

• Permit section of contract is starting point
• Field work can reveal unexpected conditions
• Advanced design can identify unexpected impacts

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Existing Conditions

• Office research
• Field work
• Document results in Early Environmental
  Coordination 25 Design Submittal

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Early EnvironmentalChecklist
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Existing Conditions

• Office research
• Field work
• Document results in Early Environmental
  Coordination 25 Design Submittal

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Coordination/Office Research

• Send Letter to Local Historic Commission
• Send Letters to other Local Boards, Commissions,
  and interested parties
• Review known hazardous material releases with
  local Fire Department
• Send letter to Massachusetts Natural Heritage
  Program
• Send letter to Federal Resource Agencies

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On-Line Information

• MassHighway Environmental Section
  www.mass.gov/mhd/environ
• Department of Environmental Protection
  www.mass.gov/dep
• Army Corps of Engineerswww.nae.usece.mil/
• MassGISwww.mass.gov/mgis/

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MassHighway Environmental
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Sample Letters
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Sample Forms
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MassGIS
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Existing Conditions

• Office research
• Field work
• Document results in Early Environmental
  Coordination 25 Design Submittal

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Existing Conditions

• Office research
• Field work
• Document results in Early Environmental
  Coordination 25 Design Submittal

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Early EnvironmentalChecklist
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Put Field Data on Plans

• Existing and proposed drainage structures
• Bridges, culverts within/adjacent to project
  limits
• Include all MassHighway structure numbers
• Label all historical/locally significant
  monuments and markers
• Publicly-owned parks
• Label tops and bottom of slopes with
  takings/easements

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Sample Plan
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Proposed Alignment
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Proposed Toe of Slope
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Wetland and Water Resources

• Wetland Resources within 100 feet of project
  limits
• Show location of wetland replacement and
  compensatory flood storage
• Bridge rehabilitation/replacement photos of four
  quadrants

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Wetland Delineation
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Trees with Diameter 14 inches
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Cultural Resources

• Show all bridges and culverts with MassHighway
  numbers
• Illustrate historic buildings/structures/district
  boundaries
• Provide photos
• Label street address
• Label significant monuments/markers
• Detail of typical street light

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Historic Stone Wall
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Culverts or Bridges(with MHD )
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Property Lines and Building Footprints
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Include Office Research

• Letters and correspondence from local Boards
• Letters from State/Federal Agencies
• Photos of historic structures
• Photos of river banks where work will occur

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Schedule (24-month timeline)
NOTICE TOPROCEED
100 DesignPSE
25 Design
96 weeks
40 weeks
104 weeks
75 Design
Notice of Intent(30-60 days) MEPA (45
days) ACOE Section 404(60 days) Section
4(f)(120-180 days) Water QualityCertification(
120-150 days)
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Questions