Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Florida DOT Audit #3 Report |
|---|
|
Nicole R. Nason
Federal Highway Administration
17 June 2020
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36657-36661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13005]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2019-0040]
Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Florida DOT
Audit #3 Report
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program allows a
State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for review,
consultation, and compliance for Federal highway projects. When a State
assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely
responsible and liable for the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu
of FHWA. This program
[[Page 36658]]
mandates annual audits during each of the first four years to ensure
the State's compliance with program requirements. This notice makes
available the final report of the Florida Department of
Transportation's (FDOT) third audit under the program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Marisel Lopez Cruz, Office of
Project Development and Environmental Review, (407) 867-6402,
marisel.lopez-cruz@dot.gov, or Mr. David Sett, Office of the Chief
Counsel, (404) 562-3676, david.sett@dot.gov, Federal Highway
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this notice may be downloaded from the
specific docket page at www.regulations.gov.
Background
The Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program, codified at 23
U.S.C. 327, commonly known as the NEPA Assignment Program, allows a
State to assume FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review,
consultation, and compliance for Federal highway projects. When a State
assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely liable
for carrying out the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA.
Effective December 14, 2016, FDOT assumed FHWA's responsibilities for
environmental review and the responsibilities for reviews under other
Federal environmental requirements.
Section 327(g) of Title 23, U.S.C., requires the Secretary to
conduct annual audits to ensure compliance with the memorandum of
understanding during each of the first four years of State
participation and, after the fourth year, monitor compliance. The
results of each audit must be made available for public comment. This
notice finalizes the findings of the third audit report on FDOT
participation in the program. A draft version of this report was
published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2020, at 85 FR 10212,
and was available for public review and comments. The FHWA received no
responses to the Federal Register Notice during the public comment
period for the draft report.
Authority: Section 1313 of Public Law 112-141; Section 6005 of
Public Law 109-59; 23 U.S.C. 327; 23 CFR 773.
Nicole R. Nason,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
Final: Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program, FHWA Audit #3
of the Florida Department of Transportation, May 2018 to April 2019
Executive Summary
This is the third audit of the Florida Department of
Transportation's (FDOT) assumption of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) responsibilities under the Surface Transportation Project
Delivery Program. Under the authority of 23 U.S.C. 327, FDOT and the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) executed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) on December 14, 2016, whereby FHWA assigned, and
FDOT assumed, FHWA's NEPA responsibilities and liabilities for Federal-
aid highway projects and other related environmental reviews for
transportation projects in Florida.
The FHWA formed a team in January 2019 to conduct an audit of
FDOT's performance according to the terms of the MOU. The team held
internal meetings to prepare for an on-site visit to the Florida
Division and FDOT offices. Prior to the on-site visit, the team
reviewed FDOT's 2019 Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Manual
and NEPA project files, FDOT's response to FHWA's pre-audit information
request (PAIR), and FDOT's NEPA Assignment Self Assessment Summary
Report. The team presented initial project file observations to FDOT
Office of Environmental Management (OEM) on August 1, 2019. The team
conducted interviews with FDOT and prepared preliminary audit results
from September 23-26, 2019. The team presented these preliminary
observations to FDOT OEM leadership on September 27, 2019.
The FDOT continues to develop, revise, and implement procedures and
processes required to carry out the NEPA Assignment Program. Overall,
the team found that FDOT is committed to delivering a successful NEPA
Program. This report describes numerous successful practices and one
non-compliance observation. The FDOT has carried out the
responsibilities it has assumed in keeping with the intent of the MOU
and FDOT's application. Through this report, FHWA is notifying FDOT of
the one non-compliance observation that requires FDOT to take
corrective action. By addressing the observation in this report, FDOT
will continue to assure a successful program. The report concludes with
the status of FHWA's non-compliance observations from the first and
second audit reviews, including any FDOT self-imposed corrective
actions.
Background
The purpose of the audits performed under the authority of 23
U.S.C. 327 is to assess a State's compliance with the provisions of the
MOU as well as all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, policies,
and guidance. The FHWA's review and oversight obligation entails the
need to collect information to evaluate the success of the NEPA
Assignment Program; to evaluate a State's progress toward achieving its
performance measures as specified in the MOU; and to collect
information for the administration of the NEPA Assignment Program. This
report summarizes the results of the third audit in Florida and
includes a summary discussion that describes progress since the last
audit. Following this audit, FHWA will conduct one more annual NEPA
Assignment Program audit.
Scope and Methodology
The overall scope of this audit review is defined both in statute
(23 U.S.C. 327) and the MOU (Part 11). An audit generally is defined as
an official and careful examination and verification of accounts and
records, especially of financial accounts, by an independent unbiased
body. With regard to accounts or financial records, audits may follow a
prescribed process or methodology and be conducted by ``auditors'' who
have special training in those processes or methods. The FHWA considers
this review to meet the definition of an audit because it is an
unbiased, independent, official, and careful examination and
verification of records and information about FDOT's assumption of
environmental responsibilities.
The team consisted of NEPA subject matter experts (SME) from FHWA
offices in Texas, Georgia, and Headquarters, as well as staff from
FHWA's Florida Division. The diverse composition of the team, as well
as the process of developing the review report and publishing it in the
Federal Register, are intended to make this audit an unbiased official
action taken by FHWA.
The team conducted a careful examination of FDOT policies,
guidance, and manuals pertaining to NEPA responsibilities, as well as a
representative sample of FDOT's project files. Other documents, such as
the August 2019 PAIR responses and
[[Page 36659]]
FDOT's August 2019 Self Assessment Summary Report, also informed this
review. In addition, the team interviewed FDOT staff in person and via
video conference. This review is organized around the six NEPA
Assignment Program elements: Program management; documentation and
records management; quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC); legal
sufficiency; performance measurement; and training program. In
addition, the team considered three cross-cutting focus areas: (1)
Interchange Access Requests (IAR); (2) project authorizations; and (3)
permanent Emergency Repair (ER) projects.
The team defined the timeframe for highway project environmental
approvals subject to this third audit to be between May 2018 and April
2019, when 616 projects were approved. The team drew judgmental samples
totaling 23 projects from data in FDOT's online file system, Statewide
Environmental Project Tracker (SWEPT). In the context of this report,
descriptions of environmental documents are consistent with FDOT's PD&E
Manual. The FHWA judgmentally selected all Type 2 Categorical
Exclusions (CEs) (21 projects) and all Environmental Assessments (EA)
with Findings of No Significant Impacts (2 projects). The audit team
selected all IARs that were pending for approval during the audit
period (five projects) to determine if FDOT was following protocols for
environmental review. The team reviewed all project authorization files
in the audit period (252 project files) downloaded from FHWA Fiscal
Management Information System (FMIS) to determine if the NEPA
certification was completed for these projects prior to the
authorization. For permanent ER projects, FHWA judgmentally sampled 41
projects in SWEPT and FMIS and identified those with construction
contracts to determine if the NEPA was completed prior to authorization
and if the NEPA scope was consistent with the contract.
The team submitted a PAIR to FDOT that contained 20 questions
covering all 6 NEPA Assignment Program elements. The FDOT responses to
the PAIR were used to develop specific follow-up questions for the on-
site interviews with FDOT staff.
The team conducted a total of 18 interviews. Interview participants
included staff from five FDOT District offices, Districts 3 through 7,
and the FDOT Central Office. The team interviewed FDOT legal,
financial, planning, and environmental staff.
The team compared FDOT policies and procedures (including the
published 2019 PD&E Manual) for the audit focus areas to the
information obtained during interviews and project file reviews to
determine if FDOT's performance of its MOU responsibilities are in
accordance with FDOT policies and procedures and Federal requirements.
Individual observations were documented during interviews and reviews
and combined under the six NEPA Assignment Program elements. The audit
results are described below by program element.
Overall Audit Opinion
The team recognizes that FDOT's efforts have included implementing
the requirements of the MOU by: Processing and approving projects;
refining policies, procedures, and guidance documents; refining the
SWEPT tracking system for ``official project files''; training staff;
implementing a QA/QC Plan; and conducting a self assessment for
monitoring compliance with the assumed responsibilities. The team found
evidence of FDOT's continuing efforts to train staff in clarifying the
roles and responsibilities of FDOT staff, and in educating staff in an
effort to assure compliance with all of the assigned responsibilities.
During the third audit, the team identified numerous successful
practices and one non-compliance observation that FDOT will need to
address through corrective actions. These results came from a review of
FDOT procedures, Self Assessment, PAIR responses, project files, and
interviews with FDOT personnel.
The FDOT has carried out the responsibilities it has assumed
consistent with the intent of the MOU and FDOT's application. The team
finds that FDOT is in substantial compliance with the terms of the MOU.
By addressing the observations in this report, FDOT will continue to
assure a successful program.
Successful Practices and Observations
Successful practices are practices that the team believes are
positive, and encourages FDOT to consider continuing or expanding those
programs in the future. The team identified numerous successful
practices in this report. Observations are items the team would like to
draw FDOT's attention to, which may improve processes, procedures, and/
or outcomes. The team identified no observations in this report.
A non-compliance observation is an instance where the team finds
the State is not in compliance or is deficient with regard to a Federal
regulation, statute, guidance, policy, State procedure, or the MOU.
Non-compliance may also include instances where the State has failed to
secure or maintain adequate personnel and/or financial resources to
carry out the responsibilities they have assumed. The FHWA expects the
State to develop and implement corrective actions to address all non-
compliance observations. The team identified one non-compliance
observation during this third audit.
The team acknowledges that sharing initial results during the site
visit closeout and sharing the draft audit report with FDOT provided
them the opportunity to clarify any observation, as needed, and/or
begin implementing corrective actions to improve the program. The FHWA
will also consider actions taken by FDOT to address these observations
as part of the scope of Audit #4.
The Audit Report addresses all six MOU program elements as separate
discussions.
Program Management
Successful Practices
The team learned through interviews that FDOT has a strong process
for addressing its Self Assessment corrective actions. The process
includes creating an action plan, dedicating staff to the plan, and
identifying timeframes for follow up. The FHWA confirmed in FDOT's Self
Assessment documentation that FDOT provides a status regarding its
``opportunities for improvement'' which includes a strong process for
corrective actions and a corrective action status update section.
As FDOT's NEPA Assignment Program matures, communication continues
to improve between FDOT's SMEs, consultants, and FDOT's District staff.
Through interviews the team confirmed the improved communication. For
example, some districts invite environmental staff to the District
Interchange Review Committee meetings to discuss IAR projects early in
the process. The team encourages FDOT to implement this practice
statewide. Another example of good communication is the process that
OEM uses to implement new FHWA guidance. When new guidance is issued
and FDOT changes its process, it communicates with the districts
through changes in the manuals, periodic meetings, and training. During
the audit, the team confirmed broad awareness of how FDOT chose to
implement the FHWA June 12, 2018, Additional Flexibilities in CEs
memorandum.
The team learned that the enhancements to the SWEPT system continue
to create efficiencies for the NEPA Assignment Program
[[Page 36660]]
implementation and FDOT continues to dedicate resources to improve
SWEPT. Interviewees stated that these investments have resulted in more
consistent documentation from the districts. Additional enhancements to
SWEPT include cross references to FDOT's PD&E manual and updates to the
Type 1 CE, Type 2 CE, and reevaluation forms. The FDOT OEM now has
direct responsibility and control for SWEPT updates, which allows for
quicker revisions to SWEPT to adapt to its changing needs. For example,
when FDOT implemented its process for documenting legal sufficiency
determinations, modifications to SWEPT were needed to allow users to
specify the type of legal sufficiency review being performed, such as
for an Environmental Impact Statement or a Section 4(f) evaluation. The
FDOT expeditiously addressed this need and now SWEPT permits users to
distinguish type of document being reviewed for legal sufficiency.
The SWEPT is considered by FDOT staff to be a significant program
level QA/QC tool as it requires input of needed information prior to
allowing the project to advance further. For example, a project cannot
advance to FDOT OEM for QA/QC review until the QA/QC review is
completed at the district level by the Environmental Administrator and
the Engineering Administrator. Another example of SWEPT's QA/QC control
is the environmental certification process. The environmental
certification document is used to document NEPA completion to authorize
Federal funding in subsequent project phases. The SWEPT will generate
the environmental certification only after NEPA has been approved.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Successful Practice
During interviews, FDOT staff presented the Electronic Review
Comments internal review platform as a tool that allows continuous
engagement among environmental staff and SMEs. This tool allows
continuous QC as the environmental project is developed.
Legal Sufficiency
The team's review of FDOT's legal sufficiency program found that
FDOT has continued to structure the legal sufficiency process for the
NEPA Assignment Program by having in-house counsel, as well as outside
counsel with NEPA experience, available. The FDOT has made one legal
sufficiency Section 4(f) determination during the audit time frame,
implementing the internal procedures that were previously developed.
The FDOT's Office of General Counsel (OGC) continues to participate in
monthly coordination meetings and topic-specific meetings with OEM and
the districts. It also reviews other environmental documents when
requested for legal input. There remains close collaboration throughout
the process amongst and between OGC, OEM, and the district attorneys.
Successful Practice
The SWEPT has a form that has the capability to document the legal
sufficiency finding within the system. This tool ensures that proper
documentation is captured in the project file without the need for
additional supporting documentation.
Training Program
The FDOT's training program continues to be exemplary. The FDOT has
continued to focus resources ensuring staff, other agencies, and
consultants are adequately trained. In the last year, FDOT again
trained over 2,000 people in their NEPA process, endangered species,
traffic analysis, cultural resources, and noise technical areas.
Through information presented in the FDOT Self Assessment and through
interviews of FDOT staff, the review team learned of the variety in and
growth of FDOT's environmental training program.
The FDOT OEM promotes staff awareness of its Self Assessments
through multiple notices to districts, a statewide Self Assessment
kick-off Webinar, and the use of Self Assessment computer-based
training courses. Through information presented in the FDOT Self
Assessment and through interviews of FDOT staff, the team learned that
FDOT is one of the few NEPA assignment States to internally promote its
self assessments.
Successful Practice
The team learned through interviews of OEM staff that FDOT has
increased its environmental training outreach to multiple disciplines.
The Transportation Symposium has included environmental review training
on a wide spectrum of topics. This year, the number of environmental
training courses at the symposium increased by about 50 percent and
were targeted to individuals from a broad range of disciplines.
The team also learned that FDOT's YouTube channel includes a
variety of environmental training Webinars and videos. The FDOT has
migrated its Web trainings to YouTube so that trainings are available
and accessible to staff and the public through the MyFDOT channel.
Performance Measures
Based on information reported in FDOT's 2019 Self Assessment
Summary Report, FDOT is meeting or exceeding all performance measures.
Documentation and Records Management
The team reviewed the environmental documentation for 41 permanent
repair projects to determine if the NEPA was completed prior to
authorization and if the NEPA scope was consistent with the contract.
All 41 permanent ER projects were determined compliant.
The team reviewed all IAR projects (five projects) to determine if
FDOT was following protocols for environmental review. The projects
selected for the IAR file review had NEPA documents that were still
under development; therefore, no conclusions could be drawn from the
project file review.
Successful Practice
The FDOT Central Office has procedures that ensure IAR projects
receive NEPA review as part of the FHWA IAR approval. Systems planning
staff have been trained in SWEPT and verify that the NEPA documentation
supports FHWA's NEPA review expectations for IAR projects.
Non-Compliance Observation #1: Some FDOT project files contain
insufficient documentation to support the project authorization,
environmental analysis, or decision.
The team reviewed environmental documentation for 21 Type 2 CEs and
2 EAs to determine if the environmental review met Federal
requirements. The team found CEs missing U.S. Coast Guard permits and
Endangered Species Act consultation documentation (two projects).
Finally, at the time FDOT prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact,
the review team determined the scope of the EA was inconsistent with
the State Transportation Improvement Program.
The team also reviewed 252 Project Authorization files to determine
if the NEPA certification was completed for these projects prior to the
authorization. The team found that some Project Authorizations did not
have documentation verifying that NEPA was completed (18 projects).
The team's observations on the environmental documentation and on
the Project Authorization files were shared with FDOT for its
consideration and initial responses. The team received responses from
FDOT either resolving the observation or verifying missing
[[Page 36661]]
documentation and/or procedural deficiencies. While these projects were
found non-compliant at the time of the review, the missing documents
have subsequently been uploaded by FDOT or FDOT committed to
implementing a process improvement to address these concerns.
Update from 2017 Audit #1, Non-Compliance Observation #1 and 2018
Audit #2, Non-Compliance Observation #1: Some FDOT project files
contain insufficient documentation to support the environmental
analysis or decision.
The FHWA reported a non-compliance observation related to some FDOT
project files that lacked documentation to support the environmental
analysis or decision as part of Audit #1 and Audit #2. The FDOT and
FHWA have productively worked together to resolve documentation issues
from these previous audits. The FDOT continues to implement process
improvements to address noted procedural deficiencies. These
improvements will be considered during the next audit.
The FHWA and FDOT have also been working together through previous
audits to mutually understand FDOT's implementation of reasonable
assurance that the project impacts would not be significant when full
compliance for a project is not possible by the time the NEPA decision
has been prepared. Through the interviews and project file reviews, the
team received clarification from FDOT regarding the differences in the
applicability of standard specifications and special provisions when
addressing endangered species impacts and consultation, and how these
tools support reasonable assurances of no significant impacts to
support the NEPA decision. In addition, the team learned that FDOT
provided training and clarifications internally to ensure reasonable
assurance is appropriately applied during NEPA document development.
Finalizing This Report
The FHWA received no responses to the Federal Register Notice
during the public comment period for the draft report. This report is a
finalized version of the draft report without substantive changes.
The FHWA will consider the results of this audit in preparing the
scope of the next annual audit. The next audit report will include a
summary that describes the status of FDOT's corrective and other
actions taken in response to this audit's conclusions.
[FR Doc. 2020-13005 Filed 6-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P