3.1.10 Environmental Plan Sheets
Refer to the
for information to include on the Environmental Plan Sheets.
3.1.10.1 Environmental Permits, Issues and Commitments (EPIC) Sheet
The EPIC sheet is a summary of all the environmental requirements the Contractor must meet during the life of the construction activities. The EPIC sheet must be completed by the District and list all environmental permits, issues, commitments, conditional requirements affecting the contractor and their work on that specific project. The
EPIC sheet is a communication tool to the contractor and should not include EPICs that are for TxDOT to resolve
- language on the EPIC sheet must be clear and actionable to the Contractor.The EPIC sheet can be supplemented by specific details shown on other plan sheets, but the areas of concern should be called out on the EPIC for the Contractor’s information. Include everything from conditional requirements from resource agencies to environmental commitments made to landowners and other entities (e.g., tree preservation) on the EPIC sheets.
Late changes to commitments that affect contractor work requirements are to be included in the PS&E by an addendum (see
). Changes in commitments after letting will require either a written notice to the Contractor (e.g., for identifying a restricted area) or a change order for added or reduced work.
The EPIC sheet does not require an engineer’s sign and seal. It can be modified electronically on a project-by-project basis.
Refer to EPIC Standard Sheet on the
for a template of the EPIC sheet and the EPIC sheet Guidance document for detailed information on completing the EPIC sheet.
3.1.10.2 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) Summary Sheet and Environmental Layouts
The SWP3 outlines erosion control, sediment control and behavioral best management practices (BMPs) to prevent or minimize sediment and other pollutants originating from construction sites from reaching surface waters of the state during those construction activities. Pollutants can enter waters of the state through direct discharges to water bodies or municipal separate storm sewer systems or can be carried in stormwater as it flows over a construction site. Refer to the TxDOT.gov
for more information on the SWP3 requirements including the SWP3 Summary Sheet and required contents of the Environmental Layout sheets.
SWP3 requirements apply to both Construction and Maintenance projects
disturbing 1 acre or more of soil
that meet the definition of a construction activity per the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction General Permit (TXR150000) (CGP), and for projects that disturb less than one acre of soil but have Environmental Permits, Issues, and Commitments (EPICs) dependent on stormwater quality controls and water quality measures (such as US Army Corps of Engineers permits and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for aquatic species). More information about these requirements in discussed in Section 1 of the TxDOT.gov
.For jobs which disturb no soil (seal coats, overlays, etc.), a
will serve as the SWP3 and the SWP3 Summary Sheet is not required for the plans. An environmental layout sheet may still be required if there are other resource areas that have information that needs to be conveyed on a layout sheet and described in the next sections.
The Temporary Erosion Control Item 506 is required on all projects and refers to a SWP3 in the project. This is the only item that can be included in an estimate without a quantity and price.
Refer to TxDOT’s
for more information on how to fill out the SWP3 Summary Sheet and the
for templates to be used in the plans.
Refer to TxDOT’s
for additional guidance on projects of different sizes.
3.1.10.3 Water Resources
Water resources include rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, coastal areas, aquifers, and a wide variety of other similar aquatic features. Many water resources are regulated by both the state and federal government and require identification in the plans.
The following content should be shown in plan view on the environmental layout sheets, and any other sheets as appropriate:
- Locations of vegetation to be preserved (see );
- Locations of water features to be avoided or protected;
- Locations of temporary crossings;
- Locations of dewatering areas;
- Locations of aquatic passage elements;
- Locations of non-structural water quality controls (e.g. vegetated swales);
- Locations and design of structural water quality controls;
- Locations of any sensitive aquifer features, and their construction exclusion zones; and
- Closure plans for any sensitive aquifer features.
Refer to the
for more discussion on water resources requirements for project development.
3.1.10.4 Biological Resources
Biological resources include species listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TWPD). Biological resources also include species of greatest conservation need (SGCNs) listed by TPWD. Each SGCN has BMPs and different forms of mitigation and avoidance measures. The engineer will need to coordinate with the District environmental staff and in some cases the ENV SME to determine the appropriate measures to incorporate into the plans. Use “wildlife friendly” erosion control products from the Erosion Control Approved Products List when project BMPs require these products to be used, especially when near sensitive habitats. Include in the General Notes notation of any work time restrictions related to biological resources (e.g. migratory bird nesting season, prairie chicken work restrictions, etc.)
The following content should be shown in plan view on the environmental layout sheets:
- Locations of vegetation to be preserved (see );
- Locations of critical habitat within and adjacent to the project area;
- Locations of amphibian and reptile exclusion fence;
- Locations of any sensitive features and their construction exclusion zones;
- Locations of aquatic passage elements;
- Locations of bat houses;
- Locations of bat exclusion systems; and
- Locations of bird exclusion systems.
Refer to the
for more discussion on biological resources requirements for project development.
3.1.10.5 Wildlife Crossing Structure Plan
The wildlife crossing structure plan will consist of the detail design of each wildlife crossing, wildlife guard, fencing, exits/ramps, and gate requirements for the wildlife crossing structures on the proposed project. Additionally, reference the wildlife crossing structure plan on the EPIC sheet.
The following content should be shown in plan view on the environmental layout sheets or sheets where wildlife crossings are shown:
- Locations and start/end points of wildlife exclusion fencing;
- Locations of any wildlife exits/ramps, wildlife guards, and gates associated with fencing;
- Locations of plantings to screen wildlife crossing structures. The plantings provide protective cover for wildlife movement;
- For bridges with concrete or stone riprap, the locations of any wildlife ledges; and
- For culverts, indicate if a wildlife ledge/step is provided
3.1.10.6 Historical Resources
Historical resources can be impacted during project construction if not carefully considered during the preliminary engineering phase of project development. Projects with the most potential to impact historic resources include sidewalk projects, projects with culvert work, and projects in historic downtown areas. Historic resources need to be clearly shown on the plans and include appropriate protection notes in the General Notes and on the plan sheets. Special specifications and special provisions can also be implemented to address historic resources.
The following content should be shown in plan view on the environmental layout sheets:
- Historic markers to be relocated;
- Historic markers to be left in place, and required protection measures (such as orange fencing);
- Historic bridges if not being removed by project (identify/call out if being altered such as adding sidewalk, fixing channel, or widening);
- Historic culverts if not being removed by project (identify/call out if being altered such as adding sidewalk, fixing channel, or widening);
- Historic roadside parks (for instance do not allow equipment and material staging at them, too many resources that might have to be avoided by equipment);
- Historic brick streets (as a note, not all brick streets are historic, you will need to verify with environmental staff on whether the brick street is historic);
- Historic retaining walls (identify/ call out if being altered or impacted); and
- For sidewalk projects and urban areas:
- Historic building walls
- Historic curb tile (generally blue and white)
- Historic pavers such as limestone
- Tile entrance pavers
- Glass block in sidewalk (provide light for basements)
3.1.10.7 Archeological Resources
Protected archeological resources need to be captured in the plans to avoid unpermitted impacts to them. In general, no ground-disturbing activities can occur within the areas of these sites, unless the plans explicitly note an acceptable depth of construction impacts in the site area. Some sites will be buried sufficiently deep that typical construction impacts will not affect them. Depth of excavation needs to be discussed with District environmental staff as part of the environmental clearance process and include a note in the plans indicating the acceptable depth of impacts in the site area.
Archeological information is sensitive and cannot be disclosed to the public. Explicit information about archeological resources, especially location, should never be disclosed on the plans. Use language such as “environmental avoidance area” or generic “environmental resources” when making plan notes about archeological resources.
The following content should be shown in plan view on the environmental layout sheets:
- Avoidance areas labeled as “environmental avoidance area”. It is important not to disclose archeological information on the plan sheets but need to be aware of avoidance areas.
- Avoidance areas might be temporary or permanent. Incorporate into the project phasing when applicable.
- In most cases, the description of the avoidance area should note that no ground-disturbing activities should occur within it. When a site is deeply buried and some ground disturbance is permissible, include plan notes that denote the acceptable depth of excavation to avoid unintended impacts to those archeological resources. This depth was considered during the environmental evaluation of the project. Coordinate with District environmental staff.
3.1.10.8 Sound Walls and Noise Abatement
During the environmental review for a project a noise study may occur. This study might occur during preliminary engineering or early final design phase. Based on the study, noise abatement for traffic noise impacts may be proposed if reasonable and feasible. Noise abatement locations need to be refined during the final design phase of project development. Design staff should assist environmental staff with performing a constructability assessment on the proposed noise abatement and provide design information for noise workshops with affected property owners.
Engineers should be in communication with environmental staff and be aware if noise abatement is being considered. Refer to the TxDOT study “
” for additional detail.
- Design staff should coordinate with environmental staff about wall locations and heights proposed in the noise study as soon as feasible (as early in process as possible); and
- Design staff should look at the proposed locations for constructability issues and if possible, begin preliminary design:
- If there are constructability issues (utilities, drainage, site concerns), design staff needs to coordinate with environmental staff to:
- Verify location of proposed walls and/or relocate walls and check that new location still meets abatement criteria;
- Provide cost estimates for wall-specific construction elements (e.g., utility relocates, drainage, retaining walls, etc.); and
- Document that walls are or are not constructable in a Constructability Assessment if analysis has determined that walls are not reasonable and feasible
- Design staff may need to provide draft design information (proposed layout, aesthetic design, renderings, etc.) for environmental staff to use for the noise workshop.
Approval of walls (and subsequent incorporation into preliminary plan sets) will not be known until after the noise workshop is held. This workshop should be held when enough information is available to present a plan to adjacent property owners and residents. This may be during later phases of final design. This means that changes to the plans could occur as late as the Final (90%/95%) milestone based on the results of the noise workshop
Design staff should have early and frequent communication with District environmental staff to plan for noise abatement.
See
for more information on Retaining/Sound Walls.
3.1.10.9 Hazardous Materials
Due to the nature and location of TxDOT projects, there is potential for encountering hazardous materials and wastes before and during construction. Hazardous materials and wastes can be found in existing, adjacent, and proposed ROW. Studies are conducted during the project planning phases to identify potentially hazardous material sources and locations.
When appropriate for the situation and sequence of construction, show the following in the plan view on the environmental layout sheets:
- Locations of asbestos containing materials and structures;
- Locations of lead-based paint containing materials and structures;
- Locations of leaking underground storage tanks;
- Locations of known waste materials that the Contractor will need to mitigate (if that is included in the contract); and
- Locations where soil and groundwater management plans apply.
Additional information about hazardous materials is recorded on the EPIC sheet and in the General Notes.
Refer to the
for more information on hazardous materials.
3.1.10.10 Human Environment
Human environment impacts evaluated during the environmental phase of the project come in different forms. Some may require specific considerations during PS&E, and others are incorporated into other TxDOT processes, such as public involvement.
In Limited English Proficiency (LEP) cases, certain portions of the plans may need to be translated to meet community language needs. Any questions relating to Human Environment should be directed to District environmental staff and the ENV SME when appropriate.
The following is a general list of elements impacting the human environment:
- Consider design changes and aesthetic features to address public comments when such suggestions are feasible;
- Commitments made to communities, neighborhoods, etc., regarding access, ROW use, or other special commitments made as part of the public involvement process;
- Sequencing/phasing of construction that interrupt access to community activities, like accessing the local community center in a small town or interrupt daily habits such as loud construction activities occurring at night adjacent to a neighborhood; and
- Construction methods that cause nuisance situations or damage properties, such as air quality considerations from construction dust or vibration issues on residential developments caused by construction methodologies.
There is no one location to address human environment impacts in the plans. Depending on the issue or concern the appropriate solution might fall in the sequencing of construction, additional design considerations (like sound walls), additional outreach during public involvement, or restrictions on the type of equipment that can be used. Information might need to be documented in the General Notes, plan sheets, EPIC sheet, pay items, or a combination of PS&E elements to ensure the Contractor is adequately aware of the commitments made to the public.
3.1.10.11 Environmental Standards
Environmental standards such as rock filter dams, sediment control fence, construction exits, erosion control logs, etc. can be found on the
.