WRA DelDOT WL Presentation

Project Team

• Experienced staff – 5 key staff with over 25 years and 2 with

10 years in delineation, permitting, mitigation

• All have DelDOT experience - know current regulatory

climate, jurisdictional and RTE criteria and stream restoration

• Staff serve on industry and stakeholder committees in

forefront of regulatory wetland developments

• Team knows the ramifications of recent court rulings and

federal delineation manual supplements

• Project Manager can offer insights of 17 years of experience

with MDE (DNREC sister agency) working with transportation

agencies as well 10 years on the private sector

Project Team

Project Team

Immediate Extension of DelDOT Staff

• Over 50 Environmental Scientists

• Multiple assignment capability and ability

to meet schedules

• Local staff located within 2 hours of

DelDOT

• Continuity and commitment of staff -

WR&A has a proven track record of staff

commitment

Project Team

Key Staff

Andrew Der – Project Manager, WRA• Director of Environmental Services, 28 years experience in water resources

• 17 years with MDE culminating as Regional Chief in Wetlands Program

• Expertise in wetland and water quality regulation and permitting

• Serves on regional public and industry advisory committees - keeps current

James McCulley, PWS – Assistant Project Manager, LandmarkJCM

• Principal and Professional Wetlands Scientist, 26 years experience including DelDOT work

• National Academy of Sciences Wetland Characterization Committee

• Serves on regional public and industry advisory committees - keeps current

Robert Siegfried – Mitigation and Restoration Manager, WR&A• Restoration Specialist, 25 years of experience including DelDOT work, 10 years

experience in wetland and stream design and innovative stormwater management

• Stream assessment and restoration

• Designed over 15,000 l. f. of stream restoration, over 100 acres of wetland mitigation

Key Staff

Key Staff

Jason Cosler – Vice President, WR&A

• Senior Engineer, 25 years experience, 5 with DelDOT work

• Stormwater management, hydrology and hydraulics, and erosion and sediment control

• Stream stability, culvert and bridge design, scour analysis

• Stream assessment and restoration per Rosgen methodologies

Michael McQuade – Senior Environmental Scientist, WR&A

• 10 years of Experience, 5 with Delaware work

• Wetland delineation and permitting, RTE species surveys

• Botany and forestry, Certified Arborist

Susan Smith – Senior Environmental Scientist, WR&A

• 25 years of experience, 5 with DelDOT work

• Wetland delineation and permitting, RTE species surveys

• NEPA specialist

Key Staff

Key Staff

Amy Nazdrowicz – Environmental Scientist, LandmarkJCM

• 9 years of Experience including DelDOT work

• Wetland delineation, impact permitting, mitigation, habitat

assessment, and hydrologic studies

• RTE species surveys, published author on mitigation

David Smith, PWS – Senior Environmental Scientist, Coastal

Resources, Inc.

• Committed to DBE goals

• 24 years experience including DelDOT work

• Wetland delineation and mitigation, RTE species surveys, Bog

Turtle qualified surveyor

Key Staff

Services

Services that May Be Required under this Contract

• Wetland, habitat, RTE evaluations and other potential environmental studies

• Permit application preparation and submission; federal, state and local agency

coordination

• Development of mitigation proposals, design plans for wetland creation, restoration or

enhancement, site selection pre-construction monitoring

• Design plans for stream restoration and stabilization and evaluation of bioengineering

techniques

• Development of monitoring plans, site monitoring and preparation of monitoring reports

• Development of invasive plant species eradication plans

• Construction consultation and preparation of construction contracts including

specifications and cost estimates suitable for competitive public bidding

• Survey

• Coordination with other DelDOT Divisions

• Public Involvement

Services

Delaware Projects

• Project team familiar with all

regions and characteristics of

Delaware

• Worked on small to major projects

• Expertise in simple to complex

environmental permitting

Delaware Projects

Experience

• Rt. 113 – DEISs and EAs, agency coordination, wetlands and RTE species (Swamp Pink) investigations, highway design, GIS mapping to identify NEPA and Section 404 issues regarding highway location.

• I-95 Toll Plaza Improvements – CE, evaluate impacts to wetlands and subaqueous lands, mitigation, permits, environmental compliance plans per DelDOT and DNREC standards.

• SR 7, Newtown Road to SR 273 – wetland delineation, evaluate impacts to wetlands and subaqueous lands, permits, mitigation, environmental compliance plans per DelDOT and DNREC standards.

• City of Dover Garrison Oak Force Main & Pump Station - wetland delineation within 4,200 linear foot study area, evaluate impacts to wetlands and subaqueous lands, mitigation, permits.

• SR 41 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin Road Safety Project – wetland delineation for 1-mile roadway widening project study area, permitting, mitigation, environmental compliance plans per DelDOT and DNREC standards, stream bank stabilization.

Experience

Experience

LJCM

• DelDOT Rt 1, Scott Run to Smyrna, New Castle & Kent County

• Wetland delineations, impact permitting, creation, restoration

• Rare species and habitat studies

• Agency coordination

CRI

• DelDOT Agreement 1414 highway projects, New Castle County

• Phase 1 bog turtle habitat assessment

• Wetlands assessments

• Agency coordination

Experience

Site Assessment Process

DelDOT Environmental

Studies Findings Meeting

Coordinate Jurisdictional

Determination

Project Initiation

Field Investigations

Prepare Work Products

Potential

Related Studies

Site Assessment Process

Project Initiation

• Meet with Environmental Studies Project

Manager

• Review project history

• GIS level assessment

• Site visit

• Develop scope and price proposal with schedule




Determination

Project Initiation



Potential

Related Studies

Project Initiation


• Identify wetland and other habitat areas

• Flag jurisdictional waters, including wetland,

areas per 1987 Corps manual, regional

supplements, court rulings, and other guidance

and additional data

• Record all wetland flag locations using sub-foot

GPS and identify potential ephemeral,

intermittent and perennial streams, and isolated

wetlands




Determination

Project Initiation



Potential

Related Studies



• Download GPS data and convert into plan sheet

format per DelDOT standards

• Prepare applicable digital GIS maps

• Prepare report of findings





Determination

Project Initiation



Potential

Related Studies

DelDOT Environmental Studies Meeting

• Present findings

• Discuss sensitive areas

• Discuss jurisdictional status of on-site wetlands

and potential “red flags”

• Determining agencies’ authority (DNREC and

Corps)

• Discuss agency coordination

DelDOT Environmental Studies Meeting




Determination

Project Initiation



Potential

Related Studies

Coordinate Jurisdictional Determination

• Submit jurisdictional determination request

• Set up meeting with agencies or attend JPPM

• On-site meeting to achieve concurrence on

delineations

• Obtain jurisdictional determination from Corps of

Engineers and/or DNREC

Coordinate Jurisdictional Determination




Determination

Project Initiation



Potential

Related Studies

Potential Related Studies

• RTE habitat coordination and assessment

– Delmarva fox squirrel

– Bog turtle

– Numerous plants & others

• Hydrology studies for atypical areas and nexus

test

• Forest investigation

• Others (NEPA, Phase I, etc.)

Potential Related Studies




Determination

Project Initiation



Potential

Related Studies

Permitting Process

Prepare and Submit

Applications

Receive Permit/Approvals

Acquire Design

Plans/Project Description

Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts

Meet with DNREC and/or

USACE on Impacts

Assess Other Type

Of Potential

Environmental Impacts

Permitting Process

Environmental Compliance Plan (from Environmental Section)

Survey Prelim Semi Final

General

Scale Bar N/A

North arrow N/A

Detailed Information

General notes N/A

Natural resource notes N/A

Cultural resource notes N/A

Legend N/A

Sheet prepared by (WR&A and date) N/A

Wetlands delineated by (WR&A and date) N/A

Table of impacts (permanent and temporary) and mitigation summary N/A

Project plan with specific environmental compliance indicated with border

sheets and environmental compliance sheet numberN/A

Environmental Compliance Plan

Legend including only impacts, pattern/shading, and descriptions that

pertain to the area shown on individual planN/A

Construction baseline not screened N/A

Proposed work screened N/A

Topography screened N/A

Environmental features not screened N/A

Impact areas shaded/patterned and called out with hexagon N/A

Ordinary high water, Waters of the US, and wetlands labeled N/A

Limits of construction consistent with construction plans and erosion

and sediment control plansN/A

Acquire Design Plans/Project Description

• Meet with designer

– Determine design phase of project

– Important features of the project

– Acquire existing plans

• Coordinate with designer on changes as design

proceeds

Prepare and Submit

Applications

Receive Permit/Approval

Acquire Design


Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts


USACE on Impacts

Assess Other

Potential


Acquire Design Plans/Project Description

Assess, Avoid, Minimize Impacts

• Overlay the project on the environmental

features and assess potential impacts

• Look closely at critical impacts

• Work with the designer to avoid or minimize

impacts without jeopardizing the project’s

purpose

• Document process for meeting with agencies

Prepare and Submit

Applications


Acquire Design


Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts


USACE on Impacts

Assess Other

Potential


Assess, Avoid, Minimize Impacts

Meet with DNREC and/or USACE on Impacts

• Prepare displays for JPPM

• Determine the level of meeting(s) required

(office/field)

• Meet with agencies & present information

• Potential coordination with counties

Prepare and Submit

Applications


Acquire Design


Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts


USACE on Impacts

Assess Other

Potential


Meet with DNREC and/or USACE on Impacts

Prepare and Submit Applications

• Submit PCN for Nationwide Permit

• Prepare Application Packages for USACE and/or DNREC

• Prepare environmental compliance sheets

– Clear environmental features

– Close coordination with design to assure compatible EC sheets

– Develop accurate tabulation of impacts

– Conform with DelDOT CADD standards

– Account for temporary access & staging impacts

• Submit application and impact plans

– Provide alternatives analysis

– Document avoidance and minimization

– Develop conceptual mitigation plan

Prepare and Submit Applications

Prepare and Submit

Applications


Acquire Design


Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts


USACE on Impacts

Assess Other

Potential


Receive Permits/Approval

• Continuous follow-up with agencies to assure

information is complete and for timely issuance

• Notify agencies of project commencement

• Engage agencies in appropriate compliance

processes

Receive Permits/Approval

Prepare and Submit

Applications


Acquire Design


Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts


USACE on Impacts

Assess Other

Potential


Assess Other Potential Environmental Impacts

• Solicit direction from USFWS and DNHP

• Additional RTE screening and species inventory

• Survey and record presence of critical species

populations and habitat

• Address project impacts and offsets

• SHPO coordination and screen for need of

cultural resource assessment

Prepare and Submit

Applications


Acquire Design


Assess, Avoid,

Minimize Impacts


USACE on Impacts

Assess Other

Potential

Environmental

Impacts

Assess Other Potential Environmental Impacts

Opportunities for Streamlining

Each project’s degree of impact and resource

sensitivity can vary, offering opportunities for

efficiency

• Combine concurrent field assessment and project impact

comment processes

• Utilize and re-purpose previous assessment studies or permitting

work products in project area by others

• Evaluate project design for refinements to avoid impacts and

maximize use of Nationwide Permits

• Maximize other contemporary on-site mitigation and offset

strategies: enhancement of degraded areas, vegetative

restoration, re-establishing fish passage, and urban stormwater

retrofit opportunities to reduce customary mitigation and permitting

burdens

Opportunities for Streamlining

Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species

• All team scientists thoroughly experienced in

species identification

• Plants and animals

• Upland/wetland

• Insects, mammals, reptiles

• Timing of assessments


• Pre-application coordination with wildlife

agencies

• Waters and wetlands evaluation suited to

potential species habitat

• Findings documented and presence located

• Potential issues coordinated with agencies

Wetland Mitigation

• Select sites based on landscape position to

maximize success and minimize costs

– Target historically drained or modified wetlands

– Minimize excavation

– Proximity to multiple sources of hydrology

• Example projects

– Restored agriculturally drained Delmarva Bay

– Created 5 acre tidal wetland with minimal excavation

Ridgely

Rt 33 Tidal Wetlands

Wetland Mitigation

Wetland Mitigation

• Use reference wetlands to optimize site design

– Selecting plant community and species

– Identify appropriate hydrology

– Prepare appropriate soil conditions

• Leading cause of wetland failure is soil compaction

– Use low ground pressure equipment

– Minimize use of equipment on final grade

– Rip and disk soils post-final grade

– Add organic matter to decrease bulk density, increase moisture

retention, and increase hydric soil development

Nottoway Bank

Nottoway Bank

Wetland Mitigation

Stream Mitigation

• Use reference systems to identify appropriate

habitat and geomorphic structures

– Use constructed riffles for most coastal and piedmont streams

– Large woody debris for habitat enhancement in pools

• Restore geomorphic and ecological processes to

maximize success

– Fish passage

– Nutrient retention & reduction

– Reconnect floodplain & wetlands to stream

MD 237 Fish Passage

Stream Mitigation

Neabsco Creek

After

Neabsco Creek

Before

Mitigation Construction

Keys to successful mitigation/restoration construction

• Experienced restoration contractors

• Specialized construction equipment

• Designer on-site during construction

• Anticipate changes to the design

• Expect weather related issues

Specialized Equipment

Difficult Field Conditions

Mitigation Construction

Ecosystem and Watershed Restoration

• Move toward ecosystem and watershed

restoration

– Focus on system scale instead of reach scale

– Combine wetlands, streams, buffers, stormwater

management, and other requirements into

comprehensive solutions

– Contribute to NPDES water quality, TMDL, and

watershed restoration goals

Ecosystem and Watershed Restoration

U. S. 113 North South StudySwan Creek Mitigation Plan

• Restore, enhance and preserve Swan Creek

Stream Valley

– Remove fish barriers

– Restore 14 acres of tidal wetlands

– Enhance 58 acres of tidal wetlands

– Create 7 acres of tidal wetlands

– Create 8 acres Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands

– Preserve 157 acres of forested wetlands, including

23 acres of AWC wetlands

– Preserve 79 acres of upland buffers

U. S. 113 North South StudySwan Creek Mitigation Plan

Construction Documents and Constructability

• Focus on permitable, biddable and constructible

mitigation and restoration plans

• Conformance with DelDOT standards for:

– CADD

– Specifications

– Bid Items

• Specialized work requires specialized

construction documents and support staff

Construction Documents and Constructability

Quality

WR&A’s DelDOT Quality Control program for DelDOT projects

• Independent discipline-specific peer reviews

• Design computations checked by a Professional Engineer

• Project Manager reviews all submittals

• Design checklists

– DelDOT Plan Submission Checklist

– WR&A addendum to DelDOT Plan Submission and Permit Preparation Checklist

– Review Comment Form

Environmental Compliance Plan (from Environmental Section)

Survey Prelim Semi Final

General

Scale Bar N/A

North arrow N/A

Detailed Information

General notes N/A

Natural resource notes N/A

Cultural resource notes N/A

Legend N/A

Sheet prepared by (WR&A and date) N/A

Wetlands delineated by (WR&A and date) N/A

Table of impacts (permanent and temporary) and mitigation summary N/A

Project plan with specific environmental compliance indicated with border

sheets and environmental compliance sheet numberN/A

Environmental Compliance Plan

Legend including only impacts, pattern/shading, and descriptions that

pertain to the area shown on individual planN/A

Construction baseline not screened N/A

Proposed work screened N/A

Topography screened N/A

Environmental features not screened N/A

Impact areas shaded/patterned and called out with hexagon N/A

Ordinary high water, Waters of the US, and wetlands labeled N/A

Limits of construction consistent with construction plans and erosion

and sediment control plansN/A

Project Title: Airport/Churchmans Road Intersection Improvements

Project Location: Intersection of Route 37 (Airport Road) and Route 58 (Churchmans Road)

State Contract No.: 99-002-01 Federal Aid No.: N/A

ADVERSE IMPACTS/EFFECTS None Possible Probable Comment

Right-of-Way Requirements

A. Private X Partial property acquisitions.

B. Public X Small strip acquisition of New Castle County property.

C. 4(f) XPhase I Historic and Archeological studies are complete. Impacts

to archeological resources are possible.

D. 6(f) X

Relocations

A. Homes X

B. Businesses X The relocation of tw o businesses is identif ied.

C. Non-Profit X

Social Impacts

A. Local X

B. Regional X

Environmental Justice

A. Minority X

B. Low-Income XEconomic Impacts

A. Local X

B. Regional X

C. Statewide X

Cultural Resources

(Listed, nominated, eligible)

A. National Register X

B. State Listing X

C. Other XAir Quality

A. Local X

B. Statewide X

Noise

A. Residential X

B. Commercial X

C. Sensitive Receptors X

D. Other X

Hazardous Waste XPhase I ESA identif ied concerns at Airport Exxon and Auto

Collision Center properties

Water Quality

A. Surface Water X Several culvert extensions are anticipated

B. Ground Water X

Hydrological Impacts

A. Stream relocation X

B. Stream channelization X

C. Stream stabilization X Associated w ith culvert extensions

D. Flood Plain X

Fish & Wildlife

A. Endangered Species X

B. Habitat X Fringe forest and minor w etland impacts

Wetlands

A. Project Area X Potential impacts range from 0.1 to 0.3 acres

B. Up or Down Stream X

Land Use

A. Direct XMinor conversions of land uses adjacent to roadw ay due to road

w idening

B. Secondary X

Natural Resources

A. Farm Lands X Minor encroachments into farm lands

B. Woodlands X Minor encroachments into w ooded fringe areas

C. Conservation Areas X

D. Coastal Zone X

Modal Choice

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION EVALUATION

PROJECT CHECKLIST AND PROJECT LEVEL DETERMINATION FORM

No identif ied minority or low income communities identif ied

Phase I historic structures and archeological studies are

complete. No National Register Eligible or State Listed property

impacts. Impacts to archeological resources are possible.

Roadw ay w ill be extended closer to residential and commercial

properties. Impacts w ill be assessed later in design.

To Provide Check

1 Photo log of impact areas

2 Aerial w/ DNREC SWMP mapping

3 USGS Map

4 Location Map

5

Half-size relevant plan sheets (listed

below)

6 Full-size EC sheets

7 USFWS Correspondence

8 Natural Heritage Correspondence

9 SHPO Correspondence

10

Signed Categorical Exclusion (if Federal

Project)

11 Wetland Delination Report

12 CZM Letter

13 SB 186 exemption letter (if applies)

14 COE Cover letter

15 Construction Plan Title Sheet

16 Construction Plan Sheet Index

17 Construction Plan notes and Legend

18 Construction Plan Project Notes Sheet

19 Construction Plans

20 Construction Details

21 Stream Diversion Plans

22

Stromwater Managagement Plans and

Details

23

Phasing, MOT and E&S Contorl (as

appropriate)

24 Landscaping Plans

DELDOT PERMIT CHECKLIST

Quality

Questions

and

Answers

WRA DelDOT WL Presentation

Documents

Transcript of WRA DelDOT WL Presentation