Permitting Lessons Learned:How to Make the Most of Your Agency Partnerships

October 15, 2008

Marla Harrison, Environmental Manager

Port of Portland Facilities

Four airports, four marine terminals and six business parks• At approx Columbia RM100• 11 Species of Threatened and Endangered Salmonids• Portland Harbor Superfund Site, Reynolds Superfund Site• Dredging at Terminals and Federal Navigation Channel

Permitting Approach

• Maintain relationships at multiple staff levels over time

• Partner with other organizations on initiatives– PNWA– Ports– Metro

• Look for new avenues to get work done– Programmatic options– Augment Resources– Underwater Grading

Primary Regulatory Agencies

• U S Army Corps of Engineers• NOAA Fisheries/ National Marine Fisheries Service• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality• Oregon Department of State Lands• Regional Sediment Evaluation Team

Other Key Regulatory Agencies

• U S Fish and Wildlife• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife• U S Environmental Protection Agency• U S Army Corps of Engineers• Cities of Portland, Troutdale, Hillsboro, Mulino• Counties of Multnomah and Washington • State Agencies of Washington

U S Army Corps of Engineers

• WRDA 214 Position• Shared funding with Port of Vancouver, USA• Currently joint funding 120-day detail to NOAA• Expect higher level of service than outside of 214 program

• Costs are spread across multiple projects

NOAA Fisheries• Exploring other resource options

– Extending Corps Detail– Consultants– Port Employee– Prioritizing Projects

• Share RPM’s prior to issuance of BiOp—not yet• Routine discussions regarding workload and upcoming projects

Oregon DEQ• Quarterly Meetings with Northwest Region• Routine meetings on Specific Topics

– 401 Certifications– Turbidity– Dredged Material as Solid Waste

Oregon Department of State Lands

• We can pay by Credit Card• They have criteria for completeness—an actual checklist

• They meet deadlines• They communicate with us and are responsive• They are clear about their jurisdiction and stick to it• They appear to be interested in learning about our projects

Regional Sediment Evaluation Team

• Working with Interim Final guidance• Improvements have been made• Many issues remain regarding process:

– equity – accountability – repeatability – transparency

Questions?

• Photo?