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Environmental Programs

The Oregon Department of Transportation's Maintenance and Operations Branch Environmental Programs provides statewide environmental support to ODOT Maintenance Districts.

Their support, along with support from the other geo-environmental teams in the agency, is critical to ensuring statewide guidance on maintenance programs and ensuring practices meet state and federal laws and regulations intended to protect natural and cultural resources.

The Maintenance and Operations Branch Environmental Section includes the following staff and programs.

  • 2 water quality technicians.
  • 2 foresters.
  • A vegetation management coordinator.
  • A winter maintenance deicer coordinator.

ODOT's Maintenance Environmental Program Staff:

  • Work with the Department of Environmental Quality to develop, update, modify, and improve ODOT’s statewide permits and management plan to comply with the Clean Water Act, ​the Safe Drinking Water Act including the NPDES-MS4 permit and Underground Injection Control (UIC) Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) permit.
  • Work with ODOT Maintenance and technical experts, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop and update the Routine Road Maintenance Habitat and Water Quality Guide Best Management Practices, (ODOT Blue Book) for compliance with ESA and the Clean Water Act.​
  • Technical assistance on drainage maintenance, water treatment, water quality assessment, materials management, and various environmental permits.
  • Lead a statewide team that includes Maintenance, Facilities, Fleet and Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate and update the Maintenance En​vironmental Management System (EMS) for ODOT Maintenance Yards. The EMS Manual provides guidance on the handling, storage and disposal of materials commonly found at ODOT maintenance yards.
  • Coordinate ODOT’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure program for ODOT maintenance yards.
  • Support various technical advisory committees, work with regulatory agencies, designers, and environmental staff to increase their understanding of maintenance issues.
  • Propose and coordinate experimental water quality research projects.
  • Develop and deliver training programs on water quality and material management.
  • Develop and implement an illicit discharge detection and elimination program.

Contact Information

Patti Caswell, Maintenance Environmental Program Manager​
ODOT Blue Book
Phone:  503-913-9221
Fax: 503-986-3055

EMS, SPCC, Materials Management
Phone: 971-446-1960
Fax: 503-986-3055

Ted Hart - Maintenance Clean Water Program Coordinator​
Maintenance Clean Water Program Coordinator
Stormwater, Waste Management
Phone: 503-991-9367​​
Fax: 503-986-3055

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Additional Program Information

MS4 Permit

The Clean Water Act requires owners and operators of municipal public storm sewer systems to possess National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. These permits direct owners of storm systems to reduce or eliminate stormwater pollutants to the maximum extent possible and protect the nation’s streams and waterways.

ODOT holds a single National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System MS4 permit issued and regulated by Department of Environmental Quality that covers the operation of all ODOT storm drain systems statewide. Underground Injection Control systems dispose of storm and waste water by distributing it underground. These are installed at ODOT maintenance yards and on ODOT highways where water disposal through storm or sewer systems is impossible.

The Maintenance and Operations Branch manages ODOT Underground Injection Control systems in areas where risks to groundwater are high and are working with the Department of Environmental Quality to permit all these systems.

TMDL Program

​The Total Maximum Daily Load Program is a component of the federal Clean Water Act which addresses specific pollutants within watersheds. TMDLs identify the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be present in a waterbody and still meet water quality standards.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality which establishes pollutant limits for all Oregon watersheds to restore and protect the health and function of state rivers and waterways. We work with DEQ to develop our TMDL Statewide Implementation Plan.

Our implementation plan focuses on assessment and improvement of watershed conditions and riparian areas within our operational area of control to address historic, current, and upcoming TMDL and/or water quality management plan requirements.

Best Practices for Water Quality and Habitat

ODOT has implemented the guide “Routine Road Maintenance: Water Quality and Habitat Guide Best Management Practices” since 1999. The guide is considered the cornerstone of ODOT’s Maintenance &​ Operations Environmental Section. ODOT maintenance crews use the guide to help minimize impacts to the environment while performing day-to-day highway maintenance activities and to comply with provisions of the Endangered Species Act.

Stormwater Management for Maintenance Yards

The maintenance yard EMS program translates regulatory requirements and agency expectations into best management practices for the storage, handling, and disposal of materials typically associated with the day-to-day management of the highway system. The program was developed and implemented to support the Governor's executive order on sustainability. The EMS Program is ODOT’s Stormwater Management Plan for the Maintenance Yards.

If there is reasonable expectation that a catastrophic spill could reach water, the federal Oil Pollution Prevention Act requires Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure plans for facilities that have aboveground storage of more than 1,320 gallons of oil or fuel.​​​​​​

ODOT Foresters/Certified Arborists:

  • Identify and document hazard trees based on tree health and are arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.
  • Develop and manage timber sale contracts where warranted based on appraised value.
  • Support development of corridor tree plans for known problem areas; coordinate with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Region technical staff for environmental clearance.
  • Coordinate with Department of Forestry on tree removal projects and obtaining reforestation waivers.

Contact Information

Districts 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14
Cell: 503-508-1346

Districts 1, 2B, 2C, 3, 5, 9, 11
Cell: 503-580-2045

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ODOT Maintenance Environmental Program Staff

  • Provide deicer training and technical guidance.
  • Coordinate with Department of Administrative Services for the MGCL2 (deicer) contract.
  • Manage solid salt contract.
  • Manage the deicer testing contract.
  • Represent ODOT on the Clear Roads Technical Advisory Committee for winter maintenance research.
  • Member of the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters​ non-profit organization to support development of the PNS winter maintenance conference.
  • Oversee ODOT's deicer quality assurance sampling and testing program.

Contact Information

Position currently vacant - contact Patti Caswell
Statewide Winter Maintenance Program Coordinator
Phone:  503-913-9221
Fax: 503-986-3055

ODOT Winter Maintenance and Operations Practices:
ODOT works to balance cost, safety and all the environment in implementing winter maintenance activities.  ODOT's standard practices during snow removal include:
  • Reducing plowing speeds in sensitive areas
  • Minimizing snow blowing into sensitive areas

Sanding material is sometimes applied on roads and bridges to improve traction for safer driving.  ODOT's practices minimize effects on natural resources by:
  • Reducing application rates and frequency of sanding when weather and traffic conditions allow.
  • Minimize sanding in areas with air quality problems.
  • Placing barriers to capture sanding material along sensitive waterways.

The use of deicer is an effective way to improve road surface safety during winter conditions.  ODOT uses magnesium chloride (MgCl2) with a corrosion inhibitor and solid salt (NaCl​), both as an anti-icer before a storm to help prevent ice and snow from bonding to the road, and as a deicer after a storm to help break the bond between ice and road.  Use of deicing products has been proven to improve road conditions, reduce crashes and mobility restrictions and reduce the use of sand - which limits impacts on air quality, water quality and aquatic habitat.  We continually strive to optimize application timing & rates of these products.  ODOT uses:

  • The lowest application rate necessary to achieve desired road conditions.
  • Adherence to the specifications of Clear Roads, a consortium of snow states and provinces dedicated to safety and performance.

We believe minimizing impacts to the environment while providing a safe transportation system is a smart move.  Plowing, sanding and deicing do not, however, make the road completely safe.  Travelers have a shared responsibility to travel safely, drive at speeds appropriate for road and weather conditions and make considerations to delaying travel if necessary.

Know before you go:  Visit TripCheck​, Oregon's travel information website​, for up-to-the-minute road conditions and more information on Oregon's chain law and chain requirements.  You can also get the latest road condition information by calling 511.

ODOT's Vegetation Management Staff:

  • Provide continuing education credit training for all licensed ODOT applicators.
    • Annual Statewide IVM meeting each fall in Salem.
    • Annual District IVM meetings at each Region.
  • Maintains the statewide herbicide chemical contract.
  • Coordinates with Oregon Department of Agriculture and ODOT Districts on the release of bio-controls for weed eradication.
  • Provides technical support and expertise on seed mixes and availability, identification of weeds and vegetation management techniques.
  • Provides guidance on meeting applicable laws including those that mandate noxious weed control and the practice of Integrated Pest Management.
  • Serve as a liaison to the Oregon Department of Agriculture Plant and Pesticide Division.
  • Represents ODOT on the Oregon Vegetation Management Association, the state Pesticide Analytical Response Center, Integrated Vegetation Management Association, and the steering committee for the cooperative weed management boards to ensure ODOT program goals and objectives are reflected in statewide programs.

Contact Information

Phone: 503-508-3549
Fax: 503-986-3055

For information regarding daily herbicide applications performed by ODOT personnel to highway right of way, call 888-996-8080

Request for Vegetation Control Permit

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Additional Resources

Information and guidance about working with ODOT on Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Projects or Enhancements on ODOT-owned Roadsides and Lands

Contact the Environmental Program Team

455 Airport Road SE, Building K
Salem, Oregon 97301

Program Contact