| e-Guide: Region Environmental Coordination (REC Manual) |
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| The REC Manual Overview |
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This e-Guide page serves as the newly updated (June 2008) “REC Manual” and is intended to provide the majority of environmental guidance and tools that Region Environmental Coordinators need on a daily basis to perform their jobs. The REC Manual also serves as a training tool for new RECs, other ODOT staff, consultants, and local agencies.
The REC Manual is a compilation of guidance and links to external websites and other ODOT internet locations intended to supplement the ‘manual’ to form usable comprehensive environmental guidance for RECs and other project staff involved in delivering state and federal-aid projects, and maintaining and operating transportation facilities, in the state of Oregon.
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DIRECT LINKS TO THE GUIDANCE:
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| ODOT Standard Operating Procedures for RECs |
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| TECHNICAL SERVICES (TSB) Policies & Directives |
Region Environmental Coordinators are members of ODOT’s Technical Services Branch (TSB). Technical Services consists of six sections: Bridge Engineering , Construction, Right of Way, Roadway Engineering , Geo-Environmental, and Traffic-Roadway Section, and three units: Project Delivery (PDU), Branch Operations, and Access Management .
TSB’s mission is to be known for excellence as technical leaders for Transportation.
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| PROJECT DELIVERY (PDU) Operational Notices & Directives |
The link above houses all the Operational Notices and Directives that guide ODOT Project Delivery processes. Operational Notices are ODOT’s project delivery policy guidelines, intended to ensure consistency in project delivery practices throughout ODOT. The audience for these notices is all ODOT and local agency staff, and any contractor or consultant doing business on behalf of ODOT using ODOT’s practices and policies.
The following Operational Notices are the most relevant for Region Environmental Coordination work:
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| Regulations & Guidance |
Following are the primary ‘umbrella’ regulations guiding the majority of work a Region Environmental Coordinator does:
Following are links to further NEPA and environmental coordination guidance contained within the e-Guide:
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| Project Scoping | Prospectus & 'Part 3' Guidance |
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Scoping is a very important first step for determining environmental issues and looking for early opportunities for flexible design aimed at either avoiding issues or identifying mitigation and enhancement opportunities and for determining very early alternatives for NEPA processes.
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| Project Scoping |
Each ODOT Region uses a slightly different process, but in general the project leaders, local agency liaisons, construction project managers or special project coordinators work with the STIP coordinators to assemble the prospectus (Parts 1 and 2) and then send to the RECs who prepare the environmental portion or ‘Part 3’ of the Prospectus. The entire Prospectus gets submitted to management for approval.
All of ODOT’s projects are located in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)—the culmination of transportation planning processes—which starts the Project Programming phase. The STIP is a four-year project funding and scheduling list, comprising all the transportation projects and programs seeking federal funding in Oregon. Agencies involved in preparing the STIP include cities, counties, MPOs, ODOT, transit agencies, and the Governor’s Office.
A STIP Scoping Summary Report is the first step in completing a Project Prospectus, and includes initial information on the following (typically the REC need only be concerned with filling out the Environmental Scope section—and costs as relevant):
- Clear purpose and need statement
- Outline of all project elements
- Estimates of preliminary engineering, construction engineering and right of way costs
- Anticipated design exceptions
- Required agreements
- Right of way scope
- Environmental scope—and costs as relevant
- Utility conflicts and permits
- Unique or special elements
- Initial delivery method recommendation (in-source or out-source)
The Digital Video Log can be used by ODOT staff only for viewing roadways throughout the state on the State Highway System. This can assist the REC in determining what resources may be present.
MORE SCOPING REOURCES:
Project Delivery Guidebook (Scoping)
Project Scoping Best Practices Guidebook
Project Scoping | Programming | Delivery (e-Guide webpage)
[more updates forthcoming]
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Prospectus—Completing a Part 3
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Only ODOT staff have access to the electronic database tool called PDWP for compiling the Part 3 information for the Project Prospectus. Click on the link below for more information on how to get access to PDWP:
Project Delivery Work Planning(PDWP) the "electronic prospectus" (Parts 1, 2, and 3)
[NOTE: Stay tuned for new updates to PDWP with new links for the Part 3]
How to fill out a Part 3
[more guidance forthcoming for each resource/section in the part 3]
Project Tracking Tool (primarily for project leaders, but may also be valuable for RECs or EPMs—internal ODOT only)
[more updates forthcoming]
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| NEPA Classification | Environmental Baseline Reports |
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Please Note: This section is under construction. Your patience and feedback are appreciated!
| NEPA Classification |
- C and D lists
- New NEPA regs (for classifying CEs)
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| Environmental Baseline Reports (EBRs) & Area of Potential Impact (API) |
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| Project Development Guidance |
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Please Note: This section is under construction. Your patience and feedback are appreciated!
A User’s Guide to PS&E Delivery (a guidebook primarily for Project Leaders, but may be helpful to RECs for CE documentation submittals)
ODOT Maintenance & Operations Guidance Manuals
ODOT Maintenance & Operations Website
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| CE Closeout Guidance and Documentation |
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Please Note: This section is under construction. Your patience and feedback are appreciated!
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| Contacts - Region Environmental Coordination |
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| FOR STATEWIDE PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE |
*Contact the staff listed below within the appropriate Section:
*Statewide NEPA Program Coordinator
*Geo-Environmental Section Manager
Geo-Environmental Section (Salem) 503-986-4200
GeoEnvironmental Homepage
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| FOR REGION PROJECT DELIVERY GUIDANCE |
*Contact the staff listed below within the appropriate Region:
*Region Environmental Coordinator (REC)
*Region NEPA Project Manager (EPM)
*Region Environmental Unit Manager
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Portland
Salem
Roseburg
Bend
La Grande
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503-731-8200
503-986-2600
541-774-6299
541-388-6032
541-963-3177
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| FOR LOCAL AGENCY PROJECT GUIDANCE |
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Help Us Improve! Send comments and suggestions for improving the e-Guide.
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Please Note: The e-Guide site is under continual construction to bring you the most current guidance possible. Your patience and feedback are appreciated!
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CE CLOSEOUT GUIDANCE AND DOCUMENTATION
