HDOT Climate Resilience Action Plan | May 2021

Environmental Assessment: Provides technical support for MnDOT Districts and other stakeholders in the areas of aquatic resources, wetland mitigation, stormwater requirements, and wildlife, including federally threatened and endangered species. Also reviews and approves environmental documents (environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, and categorical exclusions) and provides guidance on the interpretation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Minnesota Environmental Protect Act regulations. Environmental Modeling and Testing: Provides technical expertise in the areas of transportation-related air, noise, soil, and water quality. Environmental Planning and Design: Provides technical and design support for all aspects of project development from project scoping to maintenance activities of MnDOT right-of-way corridors and district landscape and planning projects. Roadside Vegetation: Works to create safer traveling conditions, improved water quality, and aesthetically pleasing landscapes for the highway user. Erosion Control and Stormwater Management: Works with design, construction, and maintenance project managers to develop plans and procedures that promote cleaner project sites and to protect the waters of the state during construction and maintenance activities. Scenic Byways: A cooperative effort between MnDOT and local community groups to preserve, promote, and Given its location on Chesapeake Bay and with many other environmentally sensitive areas throughout the state, the State of Maryland has established numerous legal and regulatory processes that require state agencies such as MDOT to conduct extensive environmental studies when projects affect vulnerable areas. For many years, MDOT has been a national leader in various environmental areas, most recently in climate change adaptation (especially as it affects coastal areas). Of interest to HDOT in the context of the current Action Plan, MDOT has developed vulnerability assessment data and resiliency plans for current and future impacts of climate change. Data from the vulnerability assessment have been made available to the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) planning, programming, and design as input into the types of project designs that might be necessary in areas of high risk to changing climatic conditions. The SHA has developed a Vulnerability Viewer that can be used to see this data. Sea level change and coastal precipitation were modeled and mapped for 2015, 2050, and 2100 for the 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500-year return interval storms. MDOT consists of five business units (modal agencies) and one Authority, a structure somewhat like HDOT. The Secretary's Office provides overall policy and budgetary direction. Five administrations focus on specific modal networks: Maryland SHA, Maryland Transit Administration, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Port Administration, and the Maryland Aviation Administration. A Maryland Transportation Authority focuses on toll roads in the state. MDOT has adopted “Environmental Stewardship” as one of the state transportation policy goals, defined as: enhance some of the most scenic and historic state highway corridors. C.5.3 MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDOT)

“Ensure the delivery of the State’s transportation infrastructure program conserves and enhances Maryland’s natural, historic and cultural resources”

( C-8 ) HAWAI ‘ I HIGHWAYS | CLIMATE ADAPTATION ACTION PLAN