HDOT Climate Resilience Action Plan | May 2021

C.5.2 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MNDOT) MnDOT has long held a national reputation for one of the more advanced DOTs in how environmental considerations are included in transportation decision making. MnDOT created an Assistant Commissioner and Chief Sustainability Officer position within the Department, which does not overlap with the Office of Environmental Services. The purpose of this position is to act as a central focus for MnDOT’s sustainability efforts. In 2016, MnDOT created a Sustainable Transportation Committee to identify sustainability goals and incorporate sustainability into agency decision making and business practices. The Assistant Commissioner acts as the main support for the committee. In response to state legislation, the major focus of this office is on strategies to reduce carbon emissions from transportation sources. Although not directed by the office, MnDOT has also included under its sustainability umbrella its climate change resilience efforts. For example, MnDOT’s sustainability website describes the Statewide Extreme Flood Vulnerability Analysis that has been conducted by the agency, which followed a pilot study of this issue in 2014-2015. The intent of this analysis is to develop a process for evaluating future flood risk toMnDOT bridges, large culverts, and pipes. The MnDOT Office of Environmental Services is located in the Engineering Services division (Figure C-3).

Source: Minnesota DOT. 2019. “Organization Chart.” Accessed April 15, 2020 at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/information/orgchart/chart.pdf

Figure C-3. Office of Environmental Services, MnDOT

MnDOT is organized into the following units: (MnDOT 2020): Cultural Resources Unit: Reviews FHWA undertakings for potential impacts to historic properties pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. FHWA undertakings are defined as anything funded and approved by FHWA, including Interstate Access Requests. In addition to Federal reviews, the unit reviews state-fundedMnDOT projects pursuant to applicable state statutes.

HAWAI‘ I HIGHWAYS | CLIMATE ADAPTATION ACTION PLAN ( C-7 )