Project Delivery

Overview

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance•

TTIP

Design

Environmental Right‐of‐Way

Project

Package

Design

Exceptions

PS&E

Tribal

Resolution

Right‐of‐Way

Certification

Environmental

Compliance

Procu
Project Delivery

Influence/Cost

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Planning

Preliminary Engineering

(Design)

Construction

10%

$1

High

50%

Medium

$10

Low

$100

CN
NEPA and Other Environmental Requirements

• NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act (1969)• It is the “National Charter” for protection of the environment, a

federal actions (including funding).

• Requires that a Federal agency consider the impacts of its activ

and human environment.

• NEPA provides a comparative process that allows the decision m

an informed decision.

• FHWA and TTP Implementing Regulations: 23 CFR 771 and 25 C

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
National Historic Preservation Act

Endangered Species Act

Coastal Zone Management ActClean Air Act

Clean Water Act

Section 4(f) ‐ Parks, Recreation Areas,

Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges, and

Historic Sites

Section 6(f) ‐ Land and Water Conservation

Fund ActFish and Wildlife Coordination Act

NEPA

Umbrella

Farmland Protection PolNative American Graves 

and Repatriation Act

Protection of Wetlands EOrderFloodplain Management OrderProcedures for Abateme

Traffic Noises and ConstApplicable Tribal/State la

Other applicable Federaregulations

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
Compliance with other Environmental Requirem

(examples, but not all‐inclusive)

• Section 106 of National Historic Preservation 

• Section 7 of Endangered Species Act

• Protection of Wetlands Executive Order 1199

• Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportat

Act

• Clean Water Act• Clean Air Act• Floodplain Management Executive Order 119

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
Three Types of NEPA Documents

• Environmental Impact Statement

o Used when a project will or is likely to result in significan

environmental impacts

• Categorical Exclusion

o Used for certain types of projects that normally will not 

significant environmental impacts

• Environmental Assessment

o Used when it is uncertain if a project will result in signifi

environmental impacts

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• Think of the “NEPA” document as a Box

• The box will hold all of the necessary Environmental 

for understanding potential impacts for a project in o

• FHWA determines the size of the box (and when it is 

o The type of documentation (CE, EA or EIS).

• The box will contain all of the necessary Regulations.

o Pertinent Regulations under the NEPA Umbrella

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• The Regulations that fill the box are “owned” by other age

Jurisdiction).

o FHWA needs to “ask permission” to place those regs in the 

consultation and coordination)

• Cultural is “owned” by the THPO or SHPO

• Biology is “owned” by USFWS• ROW (often) is “owned” by BIA

• Etc.

• FHWA needs to be sure that all of the necessary environm

and information has been placed in the box before “putti

(issuing clearance).

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• NEPA is a CONSULTATION PROCESS (not regulatory)

• It is “Procedural” not “Substantive”• About the process, not necessarily about the resulting 

• Did we follow the process? Did we do our “due diligen

attempt to discern all impacts and take them into acco

include and coordinate with all affected parties?

• The “owned” regulations that the NEPA process covers 

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• Exercise: Which Project is a Cat Ex?

• Chip Seal Project on 58 miles of roadway.

• Creation of Bike Trails through a local park

• 23 Miles of New Asphalt Roadway

• Paving 17 miles of a previously dirt road

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• It’s All about the Impacts

• NEPA documentation and Mitigations are about IMPAC

type.

o Even lists of Categorical Exclusions were created based on p

• An impact can be defined as a change (that the project 

the natural, cultural, historic, and human environmen

• Need to be able to evaluate and explain these changes 

parties (and get their input)

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
Environmental Commitments

o Tribe must follow through on its commitments to 

mitigate environmental impacts.

o Commitments result from coordination with agen

the public. Also from conditions listed in permits 

by regulatory agencies.

o As much as possible, commitments should be liste

document.

o Incorporate them into final design as appropriate.

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
Environmental Permits

• Under PAs and G2Gs, Tribes are responsible f

obtaining and complying with all necessary p

associated with a project.

• Environmental Permits (examples, but not all

inclusive)

o Corps of Engineers 404 permito Environmental Protection Agency 402 perm

(NPDES) and 401 certification

o Floodplain permito Fish habitat permit

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
• If a Tribe has a Program Agreement with FHWA, then FHWA 

approving agency for NEPA, otherwise BIA has NEPA approva

• Regardless of whether BIA or FHWA is the lead agency for N

applicable, TTP‐funded projects can use FHWA’s categoricalexclusions (25 CFR 170.453)

• Majority of TTP projects are Categorical Exclusions

• Even if your project is cleared as a CE, it does not mean othe

environmental laws do not apply.

• Under a Program Agreement with FHWA or G2G with BIA, th

responsible for studies/analyses to support NEPA and other

environmental decisions.

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Design

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

Project DeliveryEnvironment
Plans, Specifications & Estimates (PS&E):

• Conforms to the project scope and the TTIP

• Must follow design standards listed in 25 CFR Part 170 

Subpart D

• Design Exceptions• Typical design milestones include:

o 30% (preliminary/conceptual design)o 75% (intermediate design)o 100% (final design)

Project DeliveryPS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance
Project Delivery

PS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

• AASHTO ‐ A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways an

Edition 2018 (the “Green Book”) athttps://store.transportation.org/item/collectiondetail/

• AASHTO ‐ Guidelines for Geometric Design of Low‐Volu

Edition, 2019, Single User PDF available for purchase at

https://store.transportation.org/Item/PublicationDeta

• FHWA ‐ Standard Specifications for Construction of Roa

Federal Highway Projects, FP‐14 at https://highways.do

lands/specs

• MUTCD 2009 Edition, DOT, FHWA, 2009 at http://mutc• FHWA‐approved State standards
Project Delivery

PS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

• Other design standards may be approved by FHWA for 

project if they:

o Meet or exceed those listed in 25 CFR 170;

o Provide a 20‐year (or longer) design life for highway 

75‐year design life for highway bridges.
What should be included

in the PS&E:• Design standards• Summary of quantities• Typical sections• Horizontal and Vertical alignments • Drainage needs

• Erosion Control• Traffic Control

Project DeliveryPS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance
A Tribe may approve PS&E’s and proceed to construction 

• PS&E is stamped (certified) by a State licensed enginee

certification is provided to BIA or FHWA.

• Assures construction will meet or exceed applicable he

standards

• Additional requirements may be in Tribe’s Agreement w

Project DeliveryPS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance
Project Delivery

PS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

• Tribe submits Design Exception requests for FHWA con

o Should submit early in the development of the PS&o Before licensed engineer certifies (seals) the plans.o Must include Engineer of record’s written justificatio

documents), based on their engineering analysis.

o Tribe needs to inform and coordinate with the owne

Authority) of the road regarding the exception.

o Send to FHWA or BIA point of contact
• FHWA has 30 days from receiving the request to appro

or decline the exception.

• FHWA may approve Design Exceptions for:

(1) Experimental features on projects; and(2) Projects where conditions justify the exceptions

• Document the exception using the Highway Design Sta

form, or equivalent information.

Project DeliveryPS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance
Project Delivery

PS&E

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

• Highway Design Standards

Certification:

o Optional form, but good

way to documentreasoning for request

• Exhibit 7.2 in the Fillable

Forms of the Program

Delivery Guide athttps://highways.dot.gov/f

ederal‐lands/programs‐tribal/guide/hds‐certification
Right‐of‐Way (ROW) and Utilities

• Acquisition cannot begin until NEPA document is comp

• Many types of property (trust/non‐trust)*

• Regulations for acquisition

o 25 CFR Part 169 (ROW over Indian land)o Uniform Relocation Act (ROW over fee land)

• Certification of Right‐of‐Way clearances

• Real Estate Acquisition Guide for Local Public Agencies

* See Indian Land Tenure Foundation website

Project DeliveryRight‐of‐Way

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance
Project Package

• Provide to BIA or FHWA before the start of construction

• Includes documentation identified in 25 CFR§170.460:

o Plans, Specification, Estimate (may be approved by Tribe)o Required environmental clearances.o Right‐of‐Way certificationo Approved design exceptionso Tribal resolution or other authorized document supportin

• Approved by Public Authority before starting construction

Project DeliveryProject Package

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance
Project Delivery

Project Package

• Eligible Activities

• Hiring a Consultant or

Contractor

• Planning

• Project Delivery

• Overview• Influence/Cost• Environment• PS&E• Right‐of‐Way• Project Package

• Construction• Maintenance

• Pre‐Advertisement Checklist

(optional).

• Tool to ensure Project Package

is complete.

• Exhibit 9.2 in the Fillable Forms

of the Program Delivery Guide

at

https://highways.dot.gov/

federal‐lands/programs‐tribal/guide/pre‐advertisement
Questions?

Project Delivery