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Statewide On-Call Environmental Services, New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), Environmental Section, 1996–2004
TEC has been awarded five NMDOT on-call environmental services contracts (September 1996, November 1997, December 1998, October 2000, and November 2002). Over the eight years of these contracts, TEC has completed over 230 assignments, most of which were for NMDOT in-house design and maintenance projects. The on-call projects have involved a wide range of environmental issues and reporting requirements, including archaeological surveys, wetlands studies, Section 404 Permits and 401 Certifications, the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) process, threatened and endangered species surveys, hazardous materials investigations, permits under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and urban projects involving air quality, noise, relocations, socioeconomic concerns, and public involvement. The work has required coordination with Department personnel, contractors, environmental interest groups, and the public at large.
Many of the on-call projects have involved relatively simple Categorical Exclusions (CEs) and clearances for routine, low-impact work. However, some of the assignments have been more complex, requiring specialized studies, permits, and full environmental assessments. Sample assignments are described below.
TEC completed surveys of nesting bird sites along US 285 to determine if nondisturbance commitments were followed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In this case, many of the nesting sites had been damaged, but the nesting birds remained on site.
To help Department personnel address long-standing public concerns about traffic noise and better understand public perceptions about proposed noise mitigation measures along I-40 between Wyoming and Tramway, TEC prepared and administered questionnaires to residents and property owners along the corridor. The questionnaire documented nearly unanimous support by residents for proposed noise walls, which District 3 is planning as part of the upcoming I-40 project.
I-40/Coors Interchange Environmental Assessment (EA), Bohannan-Huston, Inc. for NMDOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Albuquerque, NM, 2000-2004
TEC participated in the alignment study and prepared the project EA for a complex urban interchange design in Albuquerque, NM. In keeping with the NMDOT’s and FHWA’s focus on “context sensitive design,” the project involved extensive public involvement to resolve business and neighborhood conflicts and integrate the input of stakeholders into the design. The EA involved a visual simulation showing how the multi-level interchange would look in the future, development of noise wall designs, and a detailed evaluation of social and economic impacts. After six public meetings and numerous presentation to neighborhood groups, local businesses, public officials, and other members of the community, a design was developed that successfully balanced the transportation needs in the interchange and community’s need to maintain access and improve the capacity of the local street system.
Taos County Relief Route Corridor Study, Molzen-Corbin and Associates for Taos County, Town of Taos, Taos Pueblo, and NMDOT, 2002-04
The project involved a joint study, with Taos County, Town of Taos, Taos Pueblo, and NMDOT to evaluate alternatives for reducing downtown congestion. A range of outer relief route alternatives and access and circulation improvements within town were evaluated. Over 18 public and tribal meetings were held, and nine alternatives were defined and analyzed with Tmodel and traffic operational methodologies to evaluate impacts on safety and congestion. TEC’s role included assisting with the development of Tmodel land use data and the needs analysis for route alternatives, participating in public meetings, and writing parts of the Initial Corridor Study and Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives reports, which were prepared according to the NMDOT’s Location Study Procedures. The project was completed in June 2004 with recommendation for two preferred alternatives, consisting of a downtown Taos one-way-pair and western relief route.
US 54, New Mexico/Texas State Line to Alamogordo: Environmental Assessment, Cultural Resource Investigations and Data Recovery, NMDOT, 1998–2002
TEC prepared the environmental documentation and follow-up cultural resource investigations and data-recovery program for improvements to US 54 from Newman, Texas (near El Paso), for approximately 60 miles to Alamogordo, New Mexico. The NMDOT determined that it would be most effective to divide the proposed improvements into several discrete projects that could be designed and constructed in sequence. Consequently, three separate engineering firms were employed to develop the design plans. TEC’s role was to coordinate with the three firms to prepare the EA for the projects through the entire corridor.
One of the major environmental issues in the US 54 corridor was the presence of numerous archaeological sites and the Orogrande Historic District, which the cultural resource surveys showed could be affected by the improvements. TEC’s contract was amended to conduct an archaeological testing and data-recovery program to mitigate the impacts. A total of 21 sites were tested and a data-recovery program was implemented. The EA and cultural resource data recovery were completed within schedule and the project was issued a finding of new significant impact
(FONSI).
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