Wetlands and Waterways Permits Patti Caswell Statewide WetlandsPermits

Wetlands and Waterways Permits Patti Caswell Statewide Wetlands/Permits Program Coordinator Geo-Environmental, ODOT

Overview 1. The main actors: DSL and the Corps 2. A recommended decision sequence to navigate the permit process 3. Avoiding permit process potholes 4. Tools and references

DSL Waters of the state State Removal-Fill Law DSL Factoids • Admin. rule timeframes to issue • 50 cy permit threshold in nonessential habitat • Essential salmon habitat • Non-essential salmon habitat Permit types • General Authorizations • General Permits (new) • Removal-Fill Permits

Corps of Engineers Section 404 Clean Water Act Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act Corps Factoids • No hard timeframes to issue permits • No permit volume thresholds • ESA compliance critical • Tribal consultation critical Waters of the U. S. • 404 waters • Section 10 waters • Navigable waters Permit types • Nationwide • Regional General • Individual

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

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?

1 a. Jurisdiction (cartoon version) Fresh Waters Tidal Waters emoval-Fill Law Section 404 Uplands Section 10 if navigable Mean High Water Tidelands Removal-Fill Law & Section 404 OHWL Coastal Wetlands Streams, ponds, lakes, some ditches Freshwater Wetlands

1 b. Jurisdiction example Willamette R. Wetlands N OHWL High flow channel above OHW (not regulated) Upland (not regulated) Coast Fork Bridge, I-5 Willamette River, Lane Co.

1 c. Challenging jurisdictional features Roadside ditch Drainage ditch “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

3 a. Do we fit a “streamlined” permit? • DSL – General authorizations ~ mini individual permits – General Permits (new and untried) • Corps – Nationwide Permits – Regional General Permits

3 b. Permit application timing DSL/Corps Individual Permit DEQ SWMP SHPO OK DEQ 401 Cert Tribal OK ~ -3 wks NMFS Bi. Op GA & NWP -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 JPA submittal time before target date (months) -2 Final JPA Items In -1 Permit target date

4. Mitigation 1. 2. 3. 4. Avoid impacts Minimize unavoidable impacts Rectify temporary impacts Compensate for permanent unavoidable impacts a. Mitigation banks – first priority b. Fee in lieu – second priority c. Physical mitigation site – last option unless a low cost, low risk option is available

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 Construction Fencing Wetland Contract special provisions • No equipment • No driving • No disturbance • Prevent sediment discharge into NWZ No work zone

For detailed info— • ODOT Geo-Environmental E-guide – http: //www. oregon. gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVI RONMENTAL/e_guide. shtml • ODOT Geo-Environmental Wetlands and Permits Manual – http: //www. oregon. gov/ODOT/HWY/WETMAN UAL/

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