Post on 01-Apr-2015
transcript
Innovative Approaches to Innovative Approaches to Wildlife/Highway InteractionsWildlife/Highway Interactions
The “Seven Dwarfs”The “Seven Dwarfs”
The “Seven Dwarfs”The “Seven Dwarfs”
Often overlooked highway Often overlooked highway project planning elementsproject planning elements
May be outside ROW, so may May be outside ROW, so may be missed in NEPAbe missed in NEPA
Elements require analysis, Elements require analysis, clearance, documentation, clearance, documentation, permitspermits
Don’t delay considerationDon’t delay consideration
The “Seven Dwarfs”The “Seven Dwarfs”
1.1. Borrow and Waste Borrow and Waste Sites/Material BalanceSites/Material Balance
2.2. Contractor’s Staging Contractor’s Staging AreasAreas
3.3. Water for ConstructionWater for Construction
4.4. Access for Construction Access for Construction or Geotechnical or Geotechnical InvestigationInvestigation
The “Seven Dwarfs”The “Seven Dwarfs”
5.5. Utility Placement or Utility Placement or ReplacementReplacement
6.6. Mitigation ProjectsMitigation Projects
7.7. Impact of Outside Impact of Outside Agencies and Agencies and DirectionDirection
1. Borrow and Waste Sites1. Borrow and Waste Sites
Material balance to handle Material balance to handle large volumes of moved earthlarge volumes of moved earth
Requires temporary or Requires temporary or permanent storage locationpermanent storage location
NEPA analysis needs to NEPA analysis needs to include impacts to sitesinclude impacts to sites
2. Contractor’s Staging Areas-2. Contractor’s Staging Areas-IssuesIssues
Large equipment needed for Large equipment needed for constructionconstruction
May be large numbers of May be large numbers of vehiclesvehicles
Supplies may include trailers, Supplies may include trailers, culverts, gravel, construction culverts, gravel, construction materialsmaterials
Need large areas of flat groundNeed large areas of flat ground
2. Contractor’s Staging Areas-2. Contractor’s Staging Areas-Things to RememberThings to Remember
Carefully choose and analyze Carefully choose and analyze staging areastaging area
Avoid placing adjacent to Avoid placing adjacent to important wildlife areasimportant wildlife areas
Have appropriate clearancesHave appropriate clearances Include restoration planInclude restoration plan
3. Water for Construction-3. Water for Construction-IssuesIssues
Construction requires Construction requires huge volumes of waterhuge volumes of water
Up to 6 million Up to 6 million gallons/daygallons/day
Surface water can be Surface water can be readily depletedreadily depleted
Aquatic resources Aquatic resources impactedimpacted
3. Water for Construction- 3. Water for Construction- Things to RememberThings to Remember
Carefully analyze withdrawal sitesCarefully analyze withdrawal sites Define and enforce maximum daily and Define and enforce maximum daily and
seasonal withdrawal limitsseasonal withdrawal limits Consider seasons of use and any Consider seasons of use and any
seasonal impact on fish and wildlifeseasonal impact on fish and wildlife Place limited operating season on Place limited operating season on
withdrawal site if necessarywithdrawal site if necessary
4. Access for 4. Access for Construction or Construction or Geotechnical Geotechnical InvestigationInvestigation
May need to access future highway May need to access future highway location with a temporary roadlocation with a temporary road
May be far different from future May be far different from future alignment alignment
May be outside ROWMay be outside ROW Detours may affect many acres if Detours may affect many acres if
speed is retainedspeed is retained
4. Access for Construction or 4. Access for Construction or Geotechnical InvestigationGeotechnical Investigation
Don’t leave access roads out of NEPA Don’t leave access roads out of NEPA investigationinvestigation
Early consideration avoids construction Early consideration avoids construction delaysdelays
Determine mitigation for access roads when Determine mitigation for access roads when no longer needed (gates, removal)no longer needed (gates, removal)
Install barriers when open to restrict public Install barriers when open to restrict public accessaccess
Remember seasonal timing restrictions for Remember seasonal timing restrictions for sensitive wildlife areassensitive wildlife areas
5. Utilities-Issues5. Utilities-Issues
Frequently co-located with highwayFrequently co-located with highway New placement may require different New placement may require different
routings for each utilityroutings for each utility Often located outside ROWOften located outside ROW Clearances often needed for pole Clearances often needed for pole
placementplacement Several companies may be involvedSeveral companies may be involved
5. Utilities-- 5. Utilities-- Things to RememberThings to Remember
Realignment offers chance to reassess Realignment offers chance to reassess
Consider underground utility placementConsider underground utility placement
Determine responsibility and level of Determine responsibility and level of
maintenance for any closed roadsmaintenance for any closed roads
Don’t forget to include Don’t forget to include
all utilities in decisionsall utilities in decisions
6. Mitigation Projects-6. Mitigation Projects-IssuesIssues
Mitigation also requires NEPA analysis and Mitigation also requires NEPA analysis and clearancesclearances
May be far outside ROWMay be far outside ROW Usually interagency, long-term agreementsUsually interagency, long-term agreements May not be completely funded from highway May not be completely funded from highway
projectproject Monitoring is strongly recommendedMonitoring is strongly recommended
6. Mitigation-Things to 6. Mitigation-Things to RememberRemember
Determine who is responsible Determine who is responsible for planning, funding and for planning, funding and implementationimplementation
Document in MOU (this helps in Document in MOU (this helps in case of changes in personnel too)case of changes in personnel too)
Develop monitoring plan prior to Develop monitoring plan prior to issuance of Letter of Consentissuance of Letter of Consent
7. Impact of Outside Agencies7. Impact of Outside AgenciesIssuesIssues
Failure to plan for and obtain necessary Failure to plan for and obtain necessary permits causes project delayspermits causes project delays
Consider all regulations, permits Consider all regulations, permits needed, FWS consultation requirementsneeded, FWS consultation requirements
State DOT and FHWA interpret NEPA State DOT and FHWA interpret NEPA differently, particularly on timingdifferently, particularly on timing
Rapid pace can allow details to ‘fall Rapid pace can allow details to ‘fall through the cracks’through the cracks’
7. Impact of Outside Agencies7. Impact of Outside AgenciesThings to RememberThings to Remember
It is Forest Service’s responsibility to ensure It is Forest Service’s responsibility to ensure all applicable laws, regulation and policy are all applicable laws, regulation and policy are followedfollowed
Involve necessary specialists by informing Involve necessary specialists by informing them of projects early and oftenthem of projects early and often
Do not issue Letter of Consent without Do not issue Letter of Consent without ensuring MOU enforcement of applicable ensuring MOU enforcement of applicable environmental laws is followedenvironmental laws is followed