Major Projects and Environment

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Major Projects and Environment
FHWA 2006 ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCEJune 28, 2006

• Jim Sinnette, Major Projects Team, FHWA

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What are FHWA Major Projects?

• Federal financial assistance
• Total cost of 500 million or more
• Other projects of special interest
• Defined by its NEPA limits

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1 Billion Threshold (TEA-21)
DC
States with 21 Projects
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500 Million Threshold (SAFETEA-LU)
DC
States with 37 Projects
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Future States with over 80 Projects
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SAFETEA-LU Requirements for Megaprojects

• Interim Major Project Guidance (January 27, 2006
  memo)
• Project Management Plan
• Finance Plan and Annual Updates (December 8, 2005
  memo)

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FHWA Environment Participation

• Checklist of Major Project questions
• Initial PMP and Updates
• Initial Finance Plan and Annual Updates
• Initial and subsequent cost estimates

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Early FHWA Oversight

• Checklist of Major Project Questions
• Evaluation of potential issues staffing
  capability relationships public involvement
  and fiscal constraint
• Project Management Plan
• Management of scope, cost, schedule, quality and
  Federal requirements
• Roles and responsibilities

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Finance Plan and Annual Updates

• Cost Estimates and Revenues
• Final delivered cost
• Year of expenditure
• All uncertainties and unknowns
• Risks
• Unbiased validations

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Unique Major Project and Environment Issues

• Project coordination plan for the environmental
  review process
• 5 Pilot Program States

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Project Coordination Plan

• Not the same as a Project Management Plan
• The Project Coordination Plan should be fully
  integrated into the Project Management Plan

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5 Pilot Program States for delegation of
Environmental Reviews

• Review of Initial PMP by the Division Office
  prior to the NOI
• Review of Updated PMP by the Division Office
  prior to the ROD or FONSI
• PMP must include delegations
• Division Office review is only for completeness
  and compliance with guidance

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Ultimate goals of FHWA Oversight

• Good management strategies
• Reasonable and complete costs
• Forecast challenges
• Up-to-date project status
• Project performance measures

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July/August 2004
MEGAPROJECTS Are you ready for one? Take a
closer look
http//www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/04jul/index.htm
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Resource
FHWA Website www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/mega/i
ndex.htm