Details
Type: Advisory
Topic or Program: Environmental
Final Number: GE12-01(A)
Effective Date: 10/22/2012
Updated Date: 05/04/2020
Signature on File: Susan Haupt, Environmental and Hydraulic Engineering Manager
Topic
Provide guidance for project teams in utilizing Section 00280 of the Oregon Standard Specifications and Special Provisions for highway project administration and construction based on risk and ground disturbance. This advisory supersedes advisory GE12-01(A).
ACRONYMS
- BMP
- Best Management Practices
- ESC
- Erosion and Sediment Controls
- ESCP
- Erosion and Sediment Control Plan
- NPDES
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Advisory Information
ODOT is required to comply with the conditions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit number 1200 CA on all projects with one acre or more of ground disturbance. For projects with less than one acre of ground disturbance, ODOT needs to provide appropriate Erosion and Sediment Controls (ESC) necessary to protect receiving waters. For these smaller projects, ODOT is not required to conduct the same level of monitoring, documentation and reporting, or to comply with the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP) requirements included in the 1200 CA permit and the Standard Section 00280 Specifications. To accommodate these smaller projects, pre-approved revisions have been made to the 00280 Special Provisions to guide designers through the spec writing options.
No Risk Projects
No 00280 specifications are required for projects with no ground disturbance.
Low Risk Projects
Section 00280 Special Provisions have been prepared with revised subsections 00280.00, 00280.06, 00280.62 and 00280.90 as identified below that may, with concurrence from the Section 00280 Technical Resource, be applied to low risk projects. Proper use of the specifications will reduce time in project development and construction, result in cost savings, and provide appropriate ESC for the project.
High Risk Projects
High Risk projects with less than one acre of ground disturbance may contain erosion potential or environmental factors that would lead the Project Team to use the Section 00280 Specifications, but not the revised subsections of the Section 00280 Special Provisions that address low risk projects.
Erosion Risk Determination Factors
Before deciding to use the revised subsections of the Section 00280 Special Provisions, the Project Team should ascertain presence of High Risk Erosion Factors that are likely to generate erosion or sediment movement off-site or into a waterway or a wetland. These factors include, but are not limited to:
- Proximity to a wetland or waterway within 100 feet;
- Erodible soils or disturbance of steep slopes;
- Wet season construction and soil disturbance;
- Multiple construction season schedule;
- Probability that the area of ground disturbance will increase to an area greater than one acre;
- Stringent local requirements that affect the ESCP and monitoring requirements.
Use the table below to identify the required specification language corresponding to a project’s risk level:
| Type I - No Risk | Type II - Low Risk | Type III - High Risk |
|---|
| Project does not involve any ground disturbance (e.g., clearing, grading, excavation, or stockpiling). | Project involves less than one acre of ground disturbance and does not contain any High Risk Erosion Factors. | All projects with one acre or more of ground disturbance, and projects with less than one acre of ground disturbance when High Risk Erosion Factors are present. |
| Examples include striping projects, pavement in-lay projects, paving projects with no widening or ground disturbance, specialty projects with no ground disturbance involved. | Examples include paving projects with minor widening, major sign installations, guardrail projects with minor widening, etc. | Examples include projects with grading activities, bridge construction, and culvert replacement. |
Specifications
Section 00280 - Erosion and Sediment Control: Specifications and separate Bid Items are not required. |
Specifications
Section 00280 - Erosion and Sediment Control: Utilize revised
subsections of Special Provisions and provide Bid Items for all BMP shown on the ESCP. |
Specifications
Section 00280 -Erosion and Sediment Control: Include Special Provisions and provide Bid Items for all BMP shown on the ESCP. Do not include revised subsections identified above. |
| Section 00290 - Environmental Protection: Specifications are required. | Section 00290 - Environmental Protection: Specifications are required. | Section 00290 - Environmental Protection: Specifications are required. |
Target Audience
- Erosion and Sediment Control Designers
- Inspectors
- Project Leaders
- Project Managers
- Regional Environmental Coordinators