Programs
Environment
FHWA Contacts
Melissa Maiefski, Program Delivery Team Leader
(402) 742-8473
Melissa.Maiefski@dot.gov
Project Status/Delivery
Streamlining Efforts
- In accordance with the 2010 Five-point Nebraska Action Plan, the FHWA Division, with input from NDOR, created 6 programmatic agreements (PA's) to provide environmental approval for 6 activity types, provided the conditions of the applicable PA are met. NDOR provides oversight by reviewing projects to see if they meet the conditions of the PA's, and are therefore programmatically approved for environmental compliance.
- In 2008, FHWA and NDOR entered into a Programmatic Agreement regarding the processing of Categorical Exclusions (CE's). Under the agreement, both FHWA and NDOR agreed to the process used to approve CE level environmental documents, including the documentation formats used. In addition, if certain stipulations are met per project, FHWA delegated authority to NDOR to approve, without FHWA review or individual approval, these NEPA documents (referred to as Programmatic CE's, or PCE's). To download a copy of the PCE or CE form, please see NDOR's website, under useful links. 2008 Programmatic Agreement for activities classified as CE's
- In an effort to streamline the Section 106 compliance process for minor activity types, the FHWA Nebraska Division issued a "No Potential to Affect Historic Properties" letter to NDOR. The letter outlined action types, which in the opinion of FHWA, had no potential to affect historic properties. Projects which fit the descriptions within the letter require no further Section 106 coordination with FHWA or the State Historic Preservation Office. NDOR is responsible for reviewing projects for applicability under the "no potential" letter; this responsibility cannot be delegated.
- Protected Species Matrix: On January 20, 2012, the FHWA Nebraska Division, Nebraska Department of Roads, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) successfully finalized a programmatic agreement that satisfies Endangered Species Act and Nebraska Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act compliance for the entire federal-aid transportation program, for all listed species, within the entire state of Nebraska. This was part of an ongoing effort among the agencies to streamline the biological review process required for every project. The programmatic agreement provides an up-front concurrence for the majority of the program by applying agreed-to standardized effect determinations based on activity type and habitat characteristics, and by utilizing standardized conservation conditions to be implemented at the project level. Importantly, this new agreement saves a minimum of 5 weeks within project delivery schedules, provides a consistent and predictable species mitigation approach, removes repetitive agency reviews, and allows resource agencies to focus more time on their mission of species recovery.
- A listing of Bridges eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in Nebraska was consulted on by FHWA and concurred with by the State Historic Preservation office. This early determination has streamlined the Section 106 consultation process for bridge work in Nebraska: Historic Bridges in Nebraska
- In order to ensure efficient NEPA compliance for both the FHWA and Army Corps of Engineers when an Individual 404 Permit is required for a project, the FHWA, NDOR, and US Army Corps of Engineers entered into an agreement. This agreement outlines necessary coordination and concurrence points when an Individual Permit is required for a federal-aid project to ensure efficient, collaborative NEPA compliance. Nebraska NEPA 404 Policy
Useful Links
FAQs
