Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act Section 18

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Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act Section 18

• Hal Gard, Geo-Environmental, ODOT Tech Services

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JTA Section 18

• Requires ODOT to adopt OAR to take into
  consideration
• 2(a) Incorporating Environmental Performance
  Standards into the design and construction of all
  state highway projects, including local
  government highway construction projects funded
  by ODOT

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JTA Section 18

• Requires ODOT to adopt OAR to take into
  consideration
• 2(b) Improving environmental permitting process
  for state highway construction projects to
• Reduce time required to design project and obtain
  environmental permits
• Reduce the cost and delay associated with
  redesigning projects to meet environmental
  requirements
• Maintain a strong commitment to environmental
  stewardship
• Reduce the states dependence on foreign oil

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Initial Vision

• Adopt an OAR that will provide a high-level
  framework to meet requirements

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Stakeholder Involvement

• To help meet Section 18 requirements
• ODOT staff being queried (early Feb. 2010)
• Non-ODOT stakeholders to be queried in late
  Feb.-early Mar. 2010)
• Results will be used to develop an implementation
  process and strategy
• Stakeholders will help determine composition of
  OAR, environmental performance standards,
  internal guidance and processes, and permitting
  improvements

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Working Group and Steering Team

• Working Group is meeting weekly.
• ODOT Geo-Environmental, Local Agency Program, and
  Association of Oregon Counties (AOC)
• Steering Team is meeting monthly.
• ODOT Regions (Environmental, Construction,
  Bridge, Project Leader) Roadway, Technical
  Services (Geo-Environmental, Bridge, Roadway,
  Maintenance, AOC, and Federal Highway
  Administration

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Collaboration

• This is a great opportunity for us to expand our
  work with our regulatory partners in developing a
  process that addresses multiple needs and
  improves project delivery. Our collaborative
  efforts will help us achieve better business,
  community, and environmental outcomes.
• ODOT Deputy Director Doug Tindall

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Questions/Comments?