HDOT Climate Resilience Action Plan | May 2021

» HWY-CE, the Environmental Statewide Construction Section, manages the Statewide Solid Waste Management Program and conducts periodic audits of each of the District’s base yards. » HWY-P, the Planning Branch, and HWY-PA (Planning Branch’s Advanced Planning Section), conducts transportation studies using planning procedures and environmental evaluations. This Action Plan was developed in HWY-PA. HWY-PS (the Planning Branch’s Systems Planning Section) reviews and coordinates departmental evaluations of environmental review documents and land use applications. » HWY-L, the Lab Materials Testing and Research Branch, is responsible for both the Shoreline and Rockfall Programs. These programs conduct studies to identify and prioritize areas based on likely highway disruptions and propose engineering treatments. » Both the O‘ahu and Maui Districts have dedicated Environmental Management Sections and staff that manage, implement, and report on the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) stormwater programs. A 2015 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) review of HDOTs environmental program found HDOT to be generally in compliance with Federal regulations, although several areas of concern were noted (FHWA 2015): » Several important HDOT manuals, guides, and letters were unclear and incomplete and had not been updated in years. » Staffing at the FHWA Hawai‘i Division and HDOT is minimally enough to administer successfully the Federal- aid Highway Program. » Environmental resource agency coordination needs improvement. C.3 ROLES FOR A STATE DOT ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT Almost all state DOTs in the nation have very well defined organizational units with environmental responsibilities. However, every state DOT is different in how it organizes the environmental unit. Based on nationwide best practice examples and a review of the available literature, the benefits of having a separate environmental unit in a state DOT include the following: » Providing support on environmental requirements (e.g., reviews, documentation, and permits) for project delivery » Providing a central point of contact and communication with external agencies/groups for environmental issues and initiatives » Sending a message to the rest of the agency that environmental factors and concerns are critical aspects of the DOT’s business and in the project development process » Providing a point of advocacy for environmental considerations in the agency » Enhancing the DOT’s image among key environmental constituency and public groups » Working with other agencies (e.g.., CZM, DLNR, EPA) to align vision and share resources regarding environmental concerns and climate change-related impacts. » Elevating environmental concerns and issues higher in the decision-making hierarchy if the unit director is at a level commensurate with the responsibility and accountability given the unit » Acting as a centralized point of responsibility, authority, and accountability for environmental initiatives (e.g., implementing a climate adaptation action plan)

( C-2 ) HAWAI ‘ I HIGHWAYS | CLIMATE ADAPTATION ACTION PLAN