| CETAS Streamlining (continued) |
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| Program Information |
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CETAS member agencies include:
The CETAS group is working on a series of procedural improvements to provide for efficient use of each agency’s limited resources. These include more batched and/or programmatic biological opinions with NMFS and USFWS, and permits from the USACE and DSL that cover broad areas of activity such as bridge and culvert replacement over a period of several years. Work continues on a storm water management policy that includes DEQ, EPA, NMFS, ODFW, and USFWS. The members also contribute to a Geographic Information System (GIS) application that combines environmental resource data from all agencies for ODOT to use in transportation planning and project scoping.
The CETAS signatory agencies also participate in the development of selected ODOT major transportation projects that are processed with an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and are likely to impact cultural or natural resources. The benefits of early agency participation on major projects are:
- Improved cooperation and efficiency among agencies;
- Greater environmental protections, and
- Projects completed within budget and on time.
To achieve the streamlining goals of CETAS, several accessory agreements have been developed or are in development to fully represent the concept of transportation and environmental streamlining. The first was the CETAS vision for streamlining from which the Six Pillars were extracted as the necessary construct to accomplish streamlining.
For more information on the CETAS group and specific process, please refer to the booklet A Vision for Joint Environmental and Transportation System Stewardship in Oregon.
The CETAS 2008 – 2010 Work Plan and 2007-2008 Progress Report provides information about recent activities of the CETAS group. The CETAS 2006-2008 work plan will likely be amended in September 2007.
If you have any questions about the CETAS group, please feel free to contact Bill Ryan,
Program Support Unit Manager at (503) 986-4200, or email at: William.A.RYAN@odot.state.or.us
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