Companion Guide to Video August 2012

www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials

Most local public agencies and contractors are 

knowledgeable about general environmental 

regulations—such as the need for erosion control. 

But it’s the specific environmental commitments 

made during the environmental phase of your 

project development that can become obscured or 

left out of contract documents. 

Every federally funded transportation project must 

comply with all environmental requirements, and 

the authorization to advertise a project for 

construction is conditional on meeting all 

environmental obligations. 

When you describe project-specific environmental 

commitments in plan sheets and in special 

provisions, your agency alerts contractors to 

requirements during the bidding process and 

allows them to reflect the costs of delivering 

commitments in their bids.

Let’s look at some proven and 

effective practices that can help your 

agency meet the project’s 

environmental requirements during 

construction.

Before requesting authorization to advertise a 

project for construction, review the latest 

environmental document approval to ensure it is 

current and that the scope of the work has 

remained consistent since its initial development—

meaning that the project boundaries or activities 

have not expanded. Projects may not be 

authorized for construction if the environmental 

document is outdated or the project scope has 

changed. To expedite the approval for construction, 

document the review.

Next, the environmental document is examined for 

any commitments your agency has made.

Project Development

Preparing the PS&E

Environmental Requirements

The authorization to advertise a Federal-aid project for construction 

is conditional on meeting all environmental obligations

The authorization to advertise a Federal-aid project for construction 

is conditional on meeting all environmental obligations
Federal-aid Essentials for Local Public Agencies

The reviewer identifies these commitments and 

matches them to mitigation efforts in the plan 

sheets and specifications. For example, the 

reviewer might verify that necessary 

environmentally sensitive and off-limit areas are 

clearly shown. 

Lastly, the reviewer verifies that significant 

commitments and mitigation measures are listed 

in the notice to all bidders. By highlighting items 

that might affect the construction schedule or cost 

estimate, agencies alert bidders of the item’s 

importance. 

To see how these practices work to 

highlight the environmental 

requirements, let’s follow the review 

of a bridge rehabilitation project. 

The project's reviewer begins by confirming that 

the environmental document is current. She then 

compares the document’s scope and nature of 

work with the project plans. She verifies that the 

boundaries and the nature of the work are 

unchanged.

In the environmental document, she finds two 

commitments: One not to disturb a wetland area, 

and another restricting when work is allowed 

because it will impair the spawning of a protected 

species of trout. 

From experience, she knows to look for buffer 

zones and protective fencing at the wetland 

boundaries and stream banks in the plan sheets, 

as well as specific time of year restrictions when 

work is not allowed during the trout spawning 

season. 

She focuses first on what's been planned to 

delineate and protect the wetland. In the project 

plans, she confirms a requirement to install a 

protective fence. She then checks that there is a 

special provision for the fence and finds it is 

appropriate and clear.

Next, the reviewer turns to the protection of the

spawning trout. The plan includes a buffer zone 

and silt fence along both banks of the stream.

She finds a corresponding special provision for 

erosion and sediment control and another special 

provision restricting work during the anticipated 

spawning season. Bidders could easily overlook 

the work time restriction, and she finds no mention 

of it in the notice to all bidders. She alerts the 

project manager of the omission and completes her 

review.

The agency is now ready to request an 

authorization to advertise the project for 

construction.
Federal-aid Essentials for Local Public Agencies

Project sponsors are responsible for 

meeting project-specific 

environmental commitments.

For additional guidance on preparing your 

Federal-aid project for construction, contact your 

State department of transportation. Its staff can 

provide you with State-specific guidance on how to 

ensure you incorporate environmental 

commitments into your project plans.
Federal-aid Essentials for Local Public Agencies

The content of this 

document is not a 

substitute for 

information obtained 

from State departments 

of transportation, 

appropriate FHWA 

Division Offices, and 

applicable laws. 

Scenarios have been 

simplified for emphasis 

and do not necessarily 

reflect the actual range of 

requirements applicable 

to the scenario or this 

topic. This document

was created under 

contract number

DTFH61-11-D-00025 by 

the Federal Highway 

Administration, U.S. 

Department of 

Transportation, and is 

offered to the public to 

heighten and focus 

awareness of Federal-aid 

requirements within the 

local public agencies 

community and 

reinforces the 

importance of these 

necessary policies, 

procedures, and 

practices.

This companion resource 

is the script content for 

the video production of 

the same name. 

Web Resources

• Federal regulation covering PS&Es needed to be authorized for 

construction 

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi/t/text/textidx?c=ecfr&sid=c77406a2f82ad3763e963b092b2c308d&rgn=div8&vi

ew=text&node=23:1.0.1.7.23.3.1.5&idno=23

• FHWA Web site on preparing and approving a project PS&E 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/cqit/pse.cfm 

• Link to FHWA policies, guidance, best practices, training and other 

updates 

http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/index.asp