Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines
These guidelines provide a set of road maintenance policies and
practices that will meet the dual goals of contributing to the
conservation of ESA listed species, while meeting critical roadway
safety and maintenance needs. The Guidelines are the product of
a lengthy collaborative effort between local government agencies,
WSDOT, NMFS, and other interested parties.
The Regional Road Maintenance Program (RRMP) contributes to conservation
through ten program elements, including road maintenance best management
practices (BMPs), and an in-depth workforce training program.
For more information, contact Gregor Myhr at (360) 705-7853,
or email myhrg@wsdot.wa.gov.
- Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines
- WSDOT - Part 3 Application
- Under the Regional Program, each agency must prepare a Part 3 Application. Currently 24 local jurisdictions, including WSDOT have applied for and are receiving a take limit from NMFS. WSDOT Part 3 Application can be found here.
- Addendum (.pdf, 47.9kb)
- Addendum 1 of the Regional Program reflects the adaptive management improvements which include new technologies, new BMPs developed by field crews and lessons learned over the past five years of Regional Program implementation and adaptive management. Adaptive management improvements to the Guidelines in concurrence with NOAA Fisheries and the Regional Forum may occur as needed to meet outcomes. The Guidelines will be updated accordingly to reflect these improvements.
- Regional Road Maintenance Program Biological Opinion
- Attached is a document containing a Biological Opinion (BO) prepared by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act on the effects of the proposed qualification of the Regional Road Maintenance Program Submitted by 25 jurisdictions in Washington State for 12 threatened salmon ESU's, pursuant to Limit No 10 (ii) of the NMFS 4(d) Rule. In this opinion, NOAA Fisheries concludes that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of ESA-listed salmon or adversely modify their designated critical habitat.
- This document contains consultation on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
pursuant to section 305 (d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (MSA) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR Part
600). NOAA Fisheries concludes that the proposed action may adversely
affect designated EFH for 47 species of ground fish, 5 costal pelagic species,
and 3 species of Pacific Salmon. As required by section 305 (b)(4)(A)
of the MSA, included are conservation recommendations that NOAA fisheries
believes will avoid, minimize, mitigate, or otherwise offset adverse effects
on EFH resulting form the proposed action.
- Approval Letter
- Take prohibitions under section 9 of the ESA and applicable 4(d) rules will not apply to the routine road maintenance practices carried out by WSDOT in accordance with that plan, and are implemented in accordance with the requirements of this letter.
- WSDOT Best Management Practices Field Guide for ESA § 4 (d) Habitat Protection
- This guide is intended for WSDOT maintenance crews and regional maintenance
environmental coordinators who work within sensitive priority areas (red).
The guide was developed to train and alert staff as to when and where
to apply and report implementation of the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered
Species Act (ESA) Program Guidelines (RRMP) Best Management Practices (BMPs).
- Sequential Environmental Assessment and FONSI
- This document is a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) adoption for a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) of NOAA Fisheries NW Region Sequential Environmental Assessment (EA) for Routine Road Maintenance Activities.
- SEPA DNS Determination for the ESA 4d RRMP, January 31, 2008
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