Wetlands and Waterways Permits

Patti Caswell

Statewide Wetlands/Permits Program Coordinator Geo-Environmental, ODOT

Overview

1. The main actors: DSL and the Corps2. A recommended decision sequence

to navigate the permit process3. Avoiding permit process potholes4. Tools and references

State Removal-Fill Law

Waters of the state• Essential salmon habitat• Non-essential salmon habitat

Permit types• General Authorizations• General Permits (new) • Removal-Fill Permits

DSL Factoids • Admin. rule timeframes to issue• 50 cy permit threshold in non-essential habitat

DSL

Section 404 Clean Water Act

Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act

Waters of the U.S.• 404 waters• Section 10 waters• Navigable waters

Permit types• Nationwide• Regional General• Individual

Corps Factoids• No hard timeframes to issue permits• No permit volume thresholds• ESA compliance critical• Tribal consultation critical

Corps of Engineers

Basic permit questions

• Do I need a permit for this project?• If so, what are the requirements to

obtain it?• How long will it take to get?

A recommended decision sequence

1. Is the project area jurisdictional?2. If yes, does an exemption apply?3. If a permit is required, do we qualify

for a “streamlined” permit?4. Is mitigation required?

A recommended decision sequence

1a. Jurisdiction (cartoon version)

Removal-Fill LawRemoval-Fill LawSection 404

Tidal Waters Fresh WatersRemoval-Fill Law &

Section 404

Section 10

Uplands

TidelandsCoastalWetlands Streams, ponds,

lakes, some ditches

FreshwaterWetlands

Section 10 if navigable

Uplands

OHWLMean High

Water

1b. Jurisdiction example

Coast Fork Bridge, I-5Willamette River, Lane Co.

High flow channel above OHW(not regulated)Upland

(not regulated)

OHWL

Wetlands

N

Willamette R.

1c. Challenging jurisdictional features

Roadside ditch

Natural stream channel

Culvert

Roadside ditch

Drainageditch “Dry” Wetlands

2. Do exemptions apply?

• Culvert replacements– cleaning sediment from barrel– installing larger diameter barrel within

the road prism– Not for:

• temporary road access fills• stream realignment• sand bag dams for temporary water

management?

2. Do exemptions apply?

• Repair/maintenance of transportation structures– repair of road scour that had riprap– scour around structures that had riprap– Not for:

• relocating structures• scour that was unprotected

3a. Do we fit a “streamlined” permit?

• DSL– General authorizations ~ mini individual

permits– General Permits (new and untried)

• Corps– Nationwide Permits– Regional General Permits

3b. Permit application timing

Permit target date

- 1- 2- 3- 4- 6 - 5- 8 - 7

JPA submittal time before target date(months)

DSL/Corps Individual Permit

GA & NWP

~ -3 wksFinal JPA Items In

NMFS BiOp

DEQ 401 Cert

DEQ SWMP SHPO OKTribal OK

1. Avoid impacts2. Minimize unavoidable impacts3. Rectify temporary impacts4. Compensate for permanent

unavoidable impactsa. Mitigation banks – first priorityb. Fee in lieu – second priorityc. Physical mitigation site – last option

unless a low cost, low risk option is available

4. Mitigation

Avoiding permit process potholes

Typical potholes

• Timing of wetland delineation/jurisdictional determinations

• Incomplete applications• Negative public comments during

app review• Final completeness items missing

before permit issuance• Surprise permit conditions

Preventing violations

Wetland

Contract special provisions

• No equipment

• No driving

• No disturbance

• Prevent sediment discharge into NWZ

No work zone

Construction Fencing

For detailed info—

• ODOT Geo-Environmental E-guide– http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOE

NVIRONMENTAL/e_guide.shtml

• ODOT Geo-Environmental Wetlands and Permits Manual– http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/WETM

ANUAL/

EndEnd